Uchenna Kingsley Okeke | Research Excellence | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Uchenna Kingsley Okeke | Research Excellence | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Uchenna Kingsley Okeke | University of Johannesburg | South Africa

A dedicated researcher and educator, this academic professional has established a strong interdisciplinary footprint in Physics Education, STEM/STEAM pedagogy, and curriculum innovation. Their work spans instructional strategy design, educational assessment, and the integration of indigenous knowledge systems into science education, with a particular emphasis on decolonizing STEM pedagogy and advancing gender-responsive teaching aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 4. With teaching and research experience across university and secondary school settings, they have contributed significantly to the development of physics education through innovative instructional approaches, classroom engagement research, and psychomotor domain advancement within STEAM frameworks. Their scholarly achievements include numerous peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, and conference proceedings covering topics such as cognitively guided instruction, contextualized physics pedagogy, assessment practices, student mental health, and gender-related barriers in STEM. Their research also explores comparative instructional models, students’ learning difficulties, cognitive development, and the role of science education in fostering social dimensions of scientific understanding. In addition to publishing in respected international journals, they serve as a peer reviewer for several academic outlets, demonstrating commitment to scholarly quality and academic leadership. The candidate’s professional experience includes university-level instruction, curriculum development, supervision of teaching practicums, and management of school-wide academic programmes. They possess expertise in quantitative and qualitative research methods, especially SPSS statistical analysis and thematic interpretation of qualitative data. Their contributions extend to professional development initiatives for educators and community-based engagement focused on social and environmental issues. They have presented research at international conferences and participated in capacity-building programmes and workshops dedicated to gender equity, African studies, and early-career research development. Their academic competencies span instructional design, assessment development, cross-cultural collaboration, and evidence-based teaching practices. As an active member of relevant professional bodies, they continue to contribute to the growth of science education through research, leadership, and transformative educational practice.

Profiles: Scopus | Orcid | LinkedIn| Research Gate

Featured Publications

Okeke, U. K., & Ramaila, S. (2025). Decolonizing secondary school science education through contextualized instruction: An exploration of the nature of science, adaptive expertise, instructional implications and pedagogical frameworks for knowledge integration. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 11, 101614. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.101614

Okeke, U. K., & Ramaila, S. (2025). Reimagining the psychomotor domain: Pedagogical implications of STEAM education. Education Sciences, 15(11), 1497. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci15111497

Okeke, U. K. (2025). Instructional design considerations: Cognitive development and physics comprehension in secondary education. International Journal of Studies in Psychology, 5(2), 1–4.

Okeke, U. K., & Ramaila, S. (2025, June 28). Teachers’ TPACK: Evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of online assessment in K-12 science instruction. In Education and New Developments (END) 2025 Conference Proceedings (pp. 171–174).

Okeke, U. K., & Ramaila, S. (2025, June 28). The emergence of STEAM and its pedagogical implications: A re-evaluation of the psychomotor domain. In Education and New Developments (END) 2025 Conference Proceedings (pp. 151–155).

Adeduyigbe, A. M., Ukoh, E. E., & Okeke, U. K. (2025). Influence of gender on secondary school physics students’ learning difficulties in electricity. Physics Education, 60, 025017. https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6552/adab5d

Mansour Amini | Research Excellence | Innovative Research Award

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Dr. Mansour Amini | University Sains Malaysia | Innovative Research Award 

Dr. Mansour Amini | University Sains | Malaysia

Dr. Mansour Amini is a distinguished academic, researcher, and translator whose expertise spans translation studies, applied linguistics, and English language teaching. He serves as a senior lecturer at Universiti Sains Malaysia, where he contributes actively to teaching, research, and postgraduate supervision. His professional journey includes leadership roles in higher education, where he has coordinated courses, guided research teams, and contributed to programme development and innovation. Fluent in multiple languages, including English, Persian, Azerbaijani, and Turkish, with working knowledge of others, he brings a unique cross-cultural perspective to his scholarship. Dr. Amini’s research covers translation quality assessment, interpreting, language pedagogy, feedback practices, and the integration of artificial intelligence in translation studies. He has published widely in reputable international journals, with his body of work comprising more than forty scholarly documents that have collectively earned over 216 citations across more 152  academic sources, reflected in a citation index of 7. Beyond research, he has been recognized with awards for teaching excellence, academic leadership, and impactful scholarly contributions. His professional engagements also extend to international collaborations, visiting professorships, and fellowships, reflecting his global academic footprint. Dedicated to fostering academic growth, he continues to inspire students and colleagues through innovative research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and a passion for multilingual education.

Profile: Scopus | Google Scholar | Orcid

Featured Publications

Amini, M. (2025). Book review: AI revolution: Profitable opportunities in the age of artificial intelligence. Journal of Multidisciplinary in Social Sciences.

Amini, M., & Zahabi, A. (2025). Communicating across borders: Unveiling the pragmatic foundations in applied linguistics. International Review of Pragmatics.

Amini, M., Lee, K.-F., & Yiqiu, W., & Ravindran, L. (2025). Proposing a framework for ethical use of AI in academic writing based on a conceptual review: Implications for quality education. Interactive Learning Environments.

Amini, M., Wang, Q., Amini, D., Ravindran, L., Tan Ai Lin, D., Ganapathy, M., Singh, M. K. M., Bartsch, D. U. G., Cheng, L., & Ferreyra, H. A., et al. (2025). The significance of humanistic approach and moral development in English language classrooms. Discover Education.

Alavi, S., Amini, M., & Zahabi, A. (2025). Postgraduate TEFL students’ perceptions towards thesis supervision quality in Thailand: The role of expectations and negotiation in supervision quality. Reflections.

Yeoh, S. W., Amini, M., Lee, K.-F., & Oumeng, H. (2025). Analysing individual racism portrayal in Hanna Alkaf’s novel The weight of our sky. Cogent Arts & Humanities, 12(1).

Wu, S., Amini, M., & Mahfoodh, O. H. A. (2025). Unveiling certainty and doubt: A systemic functional exploration of epistemic modality in courtroom discourse. International Journal for the Semiotics of Law – Revue internationale de Sémiotique juridique.

Amini, M. (2025). Navigating health information in the age of artificial intelligence. Multimedia and Sensory Input for Augmented, Mixed, and Virtual Reality.

Amini, M. (2025). Cutting-edge approaches in translator education and pedagogy. Cutting-Edge Approaches in Translator Education and Pedagogy.