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Join us for our final Curriculum Conversations event with seven educators from around the globe on education and AI. Our cosponsors for this event include the Institute for Collaborative Research and Evaluation and the International Education Studies Center from the School of Education.

Keynote Description

How are educators around the world navigating the rapid integration of AI into teacher education? What is lost, what is gained, and what must remain human? This event brings together researchers and educators from across the globe to share findings from a year-long international collaborative project examining AI integration in teacher education. Participants from Fiji, South Africa, Tanzania, Portugal, Switzerland, Thailand, Cambodia, Nepal, Pakistan, and the United States will read from a jointly authored report, sharing perspectives grounded in their own national and institutional contexts. The event will close with an open discussion about equity, ethics, and the future of global teacher preparation in an age of AI.

About the Speakers 

• Yusra Saleem (Pakistan) is a clinical psychophysiology researcher whose work advances interdisciplinary understandings of stress, well-being, and human functioning at the intersection of mind, body, and learning. Her research centers on biomarker-informed, non-pharmacological interventions, particularly yoga and mindfulness, bridging physiological science with real-world applications in health and education. She has authored over 35 peer-reviewed publications and leads research that translates complex biological insights into accessible, human-centered models of care and learning. Actively engaged in global scholarly dialogues, including initiatives on education in the age of AI, her work reflects a commitment to rethinking how scientific knowledge can meaningfully inform educational and societal transformation.
• Adimaitoga Rabuku (Fiji) is an Environmental Science educator at Fiji National University, Fiji, with experience in teaching, research, and environmental consultancy. Her work focuses on environmental sustainability, climate change, and STEM education, integrating scientific knowledge with practical field-based learning.
• Zayd Waghid (South Africa), PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) in South Africa. He is the South African National Research Foundation (SARChI) Chair in Transformative Education, Social Justice and Innovation at CPUT. He is a South African National Research Foundation-rated researcher, a recipient of the CHE-Heltasa National Teaching Excellence Award (Commendation) in 2019 and was a Fulbright Visiting Scholar at Cornell University in 2024.
• Manasa Vulabunuya (Fiji) is a Technician in Applied Science at Fiji National University (FNU) Fiji. He holds a Bachelor of Science and a Postgraduate Diploma in Environmental Science and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree. In 2025, he participated in the Belt and Road Shanghai Spring Exchange Project, gaining international academic exposure.
• Theresia Julius Shavega (Tanzania) is an education researcher with a strong interest in early childhood development, particularly behavior and social-emotional  well-being among preschoolers.
• Filipa Matos (Portugal) is a teacher and coordinator of citizenship education projects at the João da Rosa School Group, and a teacher trainer in Digital Citizenship Education. She conducts research on Media, Digital Citizenship and Civic Participation at ISCTE – University Institute of Lisbon. Her work has been featured in national and international initiatives, including projects of the Council of Europe, UNESCO, and the OECD/TTF.
• Prof. Maria S. Nnyepi (Botswana) (Ph.D. & MS Human Nutrition; BS dietetics) holds a teaching and research appointment at the University of Botswana.  She is currently the Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor for Teaching and Learning) at the University. Previous to this she  held academic leadership positions as   Dean, Deputy Dean and Head of Department at various stages of her professional journey in higher education. 
• Dr. Velankanni Alex (Thailand) holds a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Assumption University, Graduate School of Human Sciences in Thailand. His academic and research interests span mathematics education, the administration of international primary and secondary schools, and leadership development among college students. He plays an active role in teaching and mentoring within three international graduate programs: the Master of Education in Educational Administration, the Doctor of Education in Educational Administration, and the Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Administration and Leadership.