Handbook of Higher Education, Volume 5: Digitalization, AI & Future Accountability

Uma More is an educator, academic, and researcher with a strong commitment to advancing quality teaching, learning, and educational leadership. He is actively engaged in teacher education, curriculum development, and research in areas including reflective teaching, inclusive education, character education, digital leadership, and professional learning. Uma’s work reflects a passion for empowering educators through innovative, heutagogy, learner-centred and evidence-based practices. With extensive experience in higher education, He contributes to developing future teachers and educational leaders in the Pacific region. His scholarly interests focus on improving character education, educational equity, lifelong learning, and transformative practices that positively impact communities.

Marubini Christinah Sadiki is currently employed as a senior lecturer in the department of Inclusive Education at the University of South Africa. She holds a PhD degree from the University of Venda. She obtained a Master’s in Disability Studies from the University of Cape Town. She has sole-authored and co-authored several book chapters with established researchers. She has presented at several national conferences. She has published several research articles in peer-refereed journals, book chapters in prestigious accredited journals, and modules on disability issues. Her research interests include disability inclusion, advocacy and lobbying, parenting, disability studies, inclusive policies implementation, learner support, community integration which value social justice in education. She has assumed numerous positions in the fields of disability and human rights, governance, and administration.

Rismawati Rismawati is a senior lecturer in accounting at Universitas Muhammadiyah Palopo, Indonesia, specializing in sustainability accounting, carbon accounting, ESG governance, and environmental justice, with recent research on post-mining governance and nickel-to-EV supply chains in Sulawesi. She currently serves as an institutional accreditation assessor (asesor) for Indonesia's National Accreditation Agency for Higher Education (BAN-PT/AIPT, since 2023) and for LAMEMBA, the Independent Accreditation Agency for Economics, Management, Business, and Accounting (since 2025). She holds professional certifications including CSRS, CSRA, CRMP, CMA, and CERA. Her scholarship bridges accounting, quality assurance, and environmental accountability.

Hakikur Rahman is an academic with over 30 years of experience in Bangladesh and internationally, contributing to ICT4D projects funded by ADB, EU, UNDP, and the World Bank. He is Professor and Head of the CSE department at International Standard University and Director at the Ansted University Sustainability Research Institute. He previously served at Presidency University, Asian University of Bangladesh, BRAC University, and the University of Minho, Portugal. He has authored over 25 books, 60+ book chapters, and 200+ articles. He holds degrees from BUET, the American University of Beirut, and two PhDs in Computer Engineering and ICT. He is Editor-in-Chief of IJICTHD and IJKM.

Offia Tugwell Owo is a registered electrical engineer, lecturer and researcher in the Department of Technical Education, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. He obtained his Ph.D. in Electrical/Electronic Technology Education with Distinction from the prestigious Rivers State University, Port Harcourt. With over 40 publications as journal articles, book chapters and conference proceedings, Dr. Owo contributed in no small measures to the development of education and technological advancement. He’s a certified educator, STEM education expert, and technology education researcher whose works cover digital education, educational assessment, teaching strategies, employability skills development, and higher education policies and administration.

Onisomise Duvall Ogbapu is an accomplished academic, technology educator, researcher, and author with extensive experience in technical and vocational education. He currently serves as a Lecturer in the Department of Technical Education, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt. Prior to his current appointment, he was a Lecturer in the Department of Vocational and Technology Education, Federal College of Education (Technical), Omoku, where he contributed significantly to teaching, research, and development of technical education programmes. Dr. Onisomise holds a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Technical Education with specialization in Building Technology from Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

Ankur Nandi is now acting as a Ph.D. scholar as a Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Education of the University of Kalyani, Kalyani, Nadia, West Bengal, India. He had done a B.A. (Hons), an M.A. in Education, and M.Phil. Education and he is qualified for UGC NET/JRF and WB-SET in Education. He has published more than 35 papers in UGC CARE, SCOPUS and peer-reviewed referred national and international journals and more than 30 book chapters in edited books published by IGI Global, Springer, CRC Press, De Gruyter Brill. The author has participated in various National and international conferences and seminars where he has delivered papers.

Sourav Sen is a former master’s degree student in Education at Kazi Nazrul University, Asansol, West Bengal, India. He completed his undergraduate honours in Education. He has participated several national and international seminars, where he has presented papers. He has qualified UGC-NET, including JRF, on two occasions, and has also qualified the WBSET. He has published scholarly works with reputed international publishers such as Springer Nature and IGI Global, as well as in peer-reviewed journals.

Tupai Barman is now acting as a Ph.D. scholar as a Junior Research Fellow in the Department of Education of the University of Kalyani, Kalyani, Nadia, West Bengal, India. He had done a B.A. (Hons), an M.A. in Education, B.Ed. and he is qualified for UGC NET/JRF and WB-SET in Education. He has attended various national and international seminars, where he has presented papers. Additionally, he has published several papers.

Milan Barman is now acting as a Ph.D. scholar as a Junior Research Fellow in the Department of Education of the Kazi Nazrul University, Asansol, Paschim Burdwan, Asansol West Bengal, India. He had done a B.A. (Hons), an M.A. in Education, B.Ed. and he is qualified for UGC NET/JRF and WB-SET in Education. He has attended various national and international seminars, where he has presented papers. Additionally, he has published several papers.

Sudhakar Venukapalli is Chair Professor at Chanakya University, Bengaluru, and Honorary Professor at the Institute of Educational and Development Studies, New Delhi–Noida, and a member of the Indian Council of Philosophical Research and the National Council for Teacher Education. He has previously served as Professor and Dean at the English and Foreign Languages University and Osmania University, and held senior leadership roles at Wipro Technologies. With two PhDs in Psychology and Education and postgraduate degrees in Physics, Philosophy, Psychology, and Education, his work spans multidisciplinary educational studies, philosophy of science, psychology, and the arts. He has served as advisor and visiting professor at several national institutions, received major academic awards, is a Fellow of the American Philosophical Practitioners Association, and has contributed to research and policy initiatives with organizations such as the World Bank, DFID, and UNICEF while actively supporting education for vulnerable children.

Tapash Das is now an Assistant Professor in the Department of Education at Kazi Nazrul University, Asansol, West Bengal, India, with more than seven years of teaching experience. He has done M.A, M.Phil. and Ph.D. in Education from University of Kalyani, Nadia, West Bengal, India and qualified UGC NET & SET in Education. He has authored many chapters in National and International edited volumes as well as many articles in a number of reputable UGC Care, Scopus, peer-reviewed Journals with high impact factors. The author has participated in various National and International conferences and seminars, where he has delivered papers also.

Tarini Halder is working as a Professor in the Department of Education, University of Kalyani, Kalyani, Nadia, West Bengal, India. He obtained an M.A. in History and Education, and a Ph.D. in Education from the University of Kalyani, West Bengal, India. He has qualified for NET and SET in education. He has acted as a resource person in many national and international seminars and conferences and presented many research his research work at many universities, state, national, and international level seminars, and conferences. He has published more than 50 papers in peer-reviewed national and international journals and more than 20 book chapters in edited books. Along with these publications he also published more than 10 textbooks for different higher education level courses. Under his supervision, many scholars were awarded M.Phil. and Ph.D. degrees.

Shiuli Maity is an ICSSR Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Educational Technology. Her research focuses on educational technology, digital learning, teacher education, and technology-enhanced teaching and learning. She is actively engaged in interdisciplinary research and has contributed to scholarly publications in the field of education.

Michael Oyedele Oyenuga holds a PhD in Marketing and Communication, and a diploma in Educational Administration and Management. He has over 25 years of experience in scholarly and practitioner roles, spanning education policy, digital transformation, and inclusive learning. His research interests cut across marketing, branding, consumer behaviour, education and sustainability. He is an Associate Professor and the pioneer Assistant Dean at the School of Business, Woxsen University, Hyderabad, India.

Mohamed Mosala is an award-winning South African academic, neuro-inclusion scholar, and researcher at the University of Johannesburg’s Centre for Neurodiversity. His pioneering scholarship earned the Chancellor’s Medal, Vice-Chancellor's Medal, and the EASA Best Master's Dissertation award. A widely published author of foundational papers and book chapters, Mosala bridges theory with practice as a Learner Support Educator for the Gauteng Department of Education. Weaponizing Ubuntu and critical pedagogy, his research radically deconstructs systemic exclusion for neurodivergent learners, individuals with Down syndrome, and those with undiagnosed difficulties, authoritatively reshaping African educational policy and institutional safety.

Juan Manuel Castro Carracedo is Full Professor in the Faculty of Education at the Pontifical University of Salamanca, Spain. His academic work focuses on teacher education, internationalisation of higher education, global competences in educational contexts, and the pedagogical implications of educational technology. He has served as Vice-Rector for Internationalisation and Student Affairs at his university. He leads and participates in research and innovation projects on 21st-century skills, Erasmus+ cooperation, and human-centred approaches to teaching and learning. His recent work addresses internationalisation in evolving contexts, the development of global competences and critical thinking, language education, and AI in higher education.

Maria Niari holds a PhD in Education from the Hellenic Open University, with research focusing on collaborative learning and distance education. She is a member of the teaching staff (SEP) at the Hellenic Open University, contributing to postgraduate programmes in digital education and public administration. She also works in the Greek Ministry of Interior, where she is involved in policy development related to digital governance, public sector innovation, and international cooperation. Her research interests include digital transformation, AI in public administration, collaborative learning, and capacity building in the public sector. She has published in international journals and conference proceedings and is the author of a recent book on collaborative learning in distance education.