Presidents Panel: Education 2030 and Beyond
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| Darkhan Ahmed-Zaki, PhD, President, University of International Business |
Şirin Karadeniz, PhD, President, Bahçeşehir University | Moderator: Patrick J. Moreo, EdD, Dean, CHT, University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee |
Darkhan Ahmed-Zaki, PhD
University of International Business
Prof. Darkhan Ahmed-Zaki is the President of the University of International Business, where he is carrying out progressive transformations on the way of increasing university’s competitiveness at local and international levels.
Prof. Ahmed-Zaki has more than 100 scientific papers in the field of computer science and mathematical modeling of various processes published in leading Kazakhstani and international journals. He works as a scientific consultant for research projects in the field of digital transformations of cities focusing on the behavior of city residents. As a leading expert he participated in the national team’s activities on reforming of the higher education system under the projects of Erasmus. He gained internship experience in research centers of European, Asian countries and the USA.
Ahmed-Zaki’sindustrial experience combines different areas including production companies and the banking system. He was engaged in projects on implementation and assessment of an effective internal control system, operational and financial risks, process management, analysis and cost control of a bank holding company.
He was the Head of Informatics Department in Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Dean of the Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics and Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs. He took an active part in the implementation of the transformation and development strategy for Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, as well as in the modernization of the educational process in accordance with international practices.
He worked as the Director of the Higher and Postgraduate Education Department of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan and significantly contributed to the process of establishing the principles of academic freedom in the context of increasing the global competitiveness of local universities.
Şirin Karadeniz, PhD
Bahçeşehir University
Prof. Şirin Karadeniz is the President of Bahçeşehir University (BAU) since July 2019. She is also the vice-chairman of International Training Center for Authorities and Leaders, CIFAL Istanbul, an affiliated center of United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). In her prior roles, she has served as Dean of Faculty of Educational Sciences at BAU, chairman of Innovative Education & Research Center, and chairman of Center for Teaching & Learning. She has also served on the boards of Turkish Industry & Business Association, Association of the Future of Education and Foundation of Bahçeşehir Uğur Educational Institutions.
Prof. Karadeniz is an educational technologist. She has earned her bachelor’s degree in Computer System Education, master’s degree in Computer Education and Ph.D. in Educational Technology. Prof. Karadeniz has published books and articles and conducted classes and seminars on the integration of emerging technologies into education, learning designs for 21stcentury competencies and STEM education.
Prof. Karadeniz has led projects on developing computer science education frameworks and curricula for Bahçeşehir Uğur Education Institutions. She has also served as Academic Commission Member to develop Computer Science and Software curricula for primary, secondary and high schools for the Ministry of National Education of Turkey in 2016-2017. She has served as the head of Research & Development of Harezmi Educational Model of Istanbul Directorate of National Education since 2016. In light of her efforts and dedication to developing the quality of and increasing inclusion in education, she was awarded as the Woman Educator of the year in Women’s Leaders of Technology prize organized by Microsoft and The Women Entrepreneurs Association of Turkey in 2016, and BAU Social Benefit Award in 2018.
Prof. Karadeniz has served as a consultant, researcher and leader of national and international projects for Scientific Research Council of Turkey, Ministry of National Education, UNICEF, World Bank and European Union.
Moderator: Patrick J. Moreo, EdD
University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee
Dr. Patrick J. Moreo was appointed Dean of College of Hospitality & Tourism Leadership at USF Sarasota-Manatee in July of 2016. He is responsible for providing leadership to the faculty, students and industry constituents. He brings to USFSM more than 30 years of experience at college hospitality programs. Prior to his appointment at USFSM, he was a Professor and Associate Dean at the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration.
At UNLV, he oversaw operations of a teaching restaurant and catering operations of the College. He also led the International Gaming Institute and the Hospitality Research and Development Center.
Before his move to Las Vegas he served as the Director of the School of Hotel and Restaurant Administration at Oklahoma State University where he was the Lanphere Professor, teaching primarily in the hotel operations area and directed the Hospitality Studies in Switzerland Program. He also taught in the School’s Asia Doctoral Program. The School grew from 180 to 500 students during his seven year tenure there.
Moreo has assisted in the planning and execution of two new buildings, he served as co-director and cofounder of the Summer Studies in Switzerland Program, and served as the Director of the Graduate Program in the College of Hotel Administration at UNLV.
Dr. Moreo’s professional experience includes positions as a consultant for Pannel Kerr Forster and Company (now PKF Consulting), manager of Howard Johnson Motor Lodges, and food service management in the U.S. Navy. He has participated in many consulting assignments and conducted numerous seminars on front office management and Italian Cuisine. His publishing has focused in the area of organizational structures in hospitality management and education, the needs of female business travelers, and hotel operating systems design.
Moreo received his Doctorate and Bachelor degrees from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas; the Master of Professional Studies from the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University, and a Hotel/Culinary Associate degree from New York City Technical College.