Prof. Rustam Shadiev

Zhejiang University, China

Brief: Dr. Rustam Shadiev is a tenured professor at the College of Education, Zhejiang University. He has an accomplished academic career distinguished by significant contributions to the field of educational technology. He earned his PhD from Taiwan Central University in 2012, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at Taiwan Cheng Kung University. Before joining Zhejiang University, he served as a professor in the School of Education Science at Nanjing Normal University for six years, until 2022. In recognition of his academic excellence, he was awarded the title of Distinguished Professor of Jiangsu Province in 2019.

Dr. Shadiev is a Fellow of the British Computer Society (BCS) and a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). His outstanding research achievements have earned him recognition as one of the Most Cited Chinese Researchers by Elsevier, SCOPUS, and Shanghai Ranking for four consecutive years (2020–2023). Additionally, he was ranked among Stanford/Elsevier’s Top 2% Scientists in both 2023 and 2024.

A prolific scholar, Dr. Shadiev has authored over 200 publications in prestigious academic journals and conferences. His research focuses on advanced learning technologies, particularly their applications in language learning and cross-cultural education. His work continues to influence global educational practices and research.

Dr. Shadiev is an editorial board member of several esteemed journals, including the Journal of Educational Technology & Society, the Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, and Smart Learning Environments. He also serves as a guest editor for special issues in journals such as Educational Technology & Society and Discover Education.

Speech Title: Exploring New Frontiers in Education: AI, VR, and UAVs for Language and Culture Learning

Abstract: This speech explores the transformative role of emerging technologies, specifically virtual reality (VR) based on 360-degree video, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and artificial intelligence (AI), in reshaping how students engage in cross-cultural learning, acquire languages, and develop intercultural competence.

A key focus is how these technologies enhance language and cultural learning outcomes by providing immersive and authentic learning experiences. Special attention will be given to their role in fostering engagement and their impact on learner progress.

We will examine how these technologies facilitate the development of cross-cultural knowledge and attitudes, drawing on research involving VR-supported learning activities and telecollaborative projects. Additionally, we will explore their impact on fostering creativity and innovation among students, linking these essential skills to the demands of a globally connected world. UAVs will be highlighted for their role in exploring cultural artifacts and their connections to local history and traditions, particularly those that are otherwise inaccessible and require both aerial and close-up examination. Furthermore, we will discuss how AI technologies contribute to a deeper, more critical understanding of diverse cultural knowledge contexts. The speech will conclude with an overview of future trends in educational technology, potential challenges, and the expanding role of AI in enhancing these learning experiences - ushering in a new era of global education.

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Brief: Professor Dr Holger BRIEL is Professor in Media and Communication Studies Programme. He holds a Ph.D. in Cultural Theory from the University of Massachusetts, 

Amherst, an M.A. in Comparative Literature from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and a B.A. in English and German from Eberhardt-Karls Universität Tübingen, Germany. A portion of his graduate studies was also undertaken at the Université de Paris, Sorbonne. Previously, Dr Briel has taught at New York University, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Aristotle University Thessaloniki, the University of Innsbruck, the University of Surrey, Indiana State University and Xi'an Jiaotong Liverpool University. He has held numerous Visiting Professorships and lectured at Oxford University, UC Berkeley, CUNY, Ateneo de Manila, the National University of Malaysia, the National University of Singapore, Universität Rostock and many others. Besides many other engagements, he continues to supervise Ph.D. and Master students in countries around the globe. He has published copiously in media and cultural studies, philosophy, the social sciences, and international management studies and remains active a as journalist for several international newspapers. For many years, he has been the Editor-in-Chief of the influential IAFOR Journal of Cultural Studies and sits as an Editor and Joint Editor on many journal boards. Furthermore, he is the recipient of numerous prestigious research grants and fellowships, most recently the endowed National South Korean Senior Fellowship in Cultural Studies. In recognition of his expertise in global education, he has been elected to several national education supervisory bodies, including those of Greece, Hungary and Spain and membership in the EU Council for Higher Education.

Speech Title: Recent Sinicisations of Science Fiction

Abstract: Abstract Science Fiction has often been thought of as a Western genre, and in many ways that is (still) the case. This article suggests though that with new movements such as Asian Futurism, Sinofuturism, Afrofuturism or Gulf Futurism, one can observe a new multilateralism in the description of the future. Especially with Sinofuturism, things become more complex. One of its forerunners, Cyberpunk, in the 1980s introduced a changing power differential between the East (Japan at the time) and the West, retiring older orientalist colonial dreams of dominating Asia. This was especially evident in William Gibson’s Neuromancer (1984) or Alexander Besher’s Virtual Reality Trilogy (Rim (1994), Mir (1998), Chi (1999), demonstrating the superiority of Japanese design and, implicitly, its society. By the 2010s, Japanese leadership in technology had been replaced by China with its world leadership in day-to-day digital technologies. This article suggests that this changing power differential can be read via the rise of Sinofuturism and that it is an important socio-political phenomenon to study Asian-western interactions for times to come.

Adam Mickiewicz University, Poland

Brief: Joanna Rak is an associate professor at the Faculty of Political Science and Journalism of Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań. From 2016 to 2024, she was a visiting researcher at CEU San Pablo University in Madrid, the University of Navarra, Charles III University of Madrid, and Valladolid University. She is the principal investigator of the research project “Civil Disorder in Pandemic-ridden European Union,” financed by the National Science Centre, Poland. The laureate of the Barbara Skarga Scholarship, the START Scholarship by the Foundation for Polish Science, and the POLITYKA Scientific Awards. The author of the books Pandemic-Era Civil Disorder in Post-Communist EU Member States (Routledge 2024), Theorising Cultures of Political Violence in Times of Austerity: Studying Social Movements in Comparative Perspective (Routledge 2018), editor of Why Neo-Militant Democracies Endure: The Inner Six in Comparative Perspective (Routledge 2024), and co-editor of Democracy and Its Enemies in Europe Successes and Failures in Combating Autocratic Threats (Routledge 2025) and Neo-Militant Democracies in Post-Communist Member States of the European Union (Routledge 2022). Research interests: political violence, militant democracy, democratic and nondemocratic regimes, contentious politics, and protest movements.

SpeechTitle: Erosion of Democratic Resilience in Europe: Populism and Civil Unrest

Abstract: This study examines the factors undermining European democracies in the face of populist challenges and the failure of democratic safeguards during civil unrest. Through qualitative analysis, two contrasting explanations emerge. The first argues that democratic institutions are ill-equipped due to outdated militant democracy mechanisms, while the second attributes the crisis to the misuse or neglect of these tools, often with public approval. The study evaluates legal restrictions on democratic freedoms, assessments from the Venice Commission and Freedom House, and their relevance to contemporary threats. The findings emphasize the role of socioeconomic inequalities and political uncertainty in fostering public support for populist movements, which leveraged anti-democratic measures to consolidate power and limit electoral competition. Simultaneously, civil society’s diminished capacity for political organization facilitated the emergence of hybrid regimes. These regimes became increasingly fragile as neo-militant democracy measures were weaponized or disregarded, with civil society surrendering its political influence to populist actors. Moreover, the study highlights how digital misinformation and strategic narratives accelerated this process, shaping public perception and justifying authoritarian shifts under the guise of restoring order. The erosion of institutional checks and balances contributed to democratic backsliding. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for rethinking safeguards against hybrid regimes in Europe.