Plenary Speakers

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS 

Marcel Pikhart, PhD

Department of Applied Linguistics

Faculty of Informatics and Management

University of Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic

Assoc. Prof. Marcel Pikhart, PhD, is an academician and Senior Researcher in the Department of Applied Linguistics at the Faculty of Informatics and Management, University of Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic. His research interests span across various domains of linguistics, including psycholinguistics, cognitive linguistics, and applied linguistics. In particular, his work delves into psycholinguistic aspects such as L2 acquisition and the quality of life associated with L2 acquisition in older age, cognitive linguistics focusing on intercultural categories and their interpretation, and applied linguistics, encompassing L2 acquisition, ESL, and foreign language acquisition. He also explores the intersection of cognitive and technological aspects of communication, with a specific emphasis on human-computer interaction (HCI) and its implications in higher education. His research also extends to managerial, business, and intercultural communication, showcasing a holistic approach to understanding various facets of human communication. He has garnered recognition for his contributions to the field, as evidenced by his inclusion in the Stanford University Global List of the World Ranking Top 2% of Scientists in 2022. He has received the title of Fellow Researcher from INTI International University & Colleges Malaysia. His academic output is substantial, with numerous publications, including impact journal papers, books, Scopus, SSCI, and ESCI journal papers, and conference papers listed in Scopus and Web of Science. His commitment to scholarly activities is evident through his roles as an active reviewer for numerous journals, membership in various editorial boards, and serving as an academic editor for several journals. He has participated as a Chair or Keynote speaker in dozens of academic conferences across the world. Additionally, his international engagement includes being a visiting lecturer in over 30 universities worldwide, where he imparts knowledge on intercultural business communication, managerial communication, applied linguistics, and psycholinguistics.

Michael Thomas, PhD  

School of Education

Faculty of Arts Professional and Social Studies

Liverpool John Moores University  

Michael Thomas BA (Hons) Cert. TESOL M.Ed. MBA Ph.D. (Newcastle) Ph.D. (Lancaster) PFHEA has held academic positions at universities in the UK, Germany and Japan. He is Professor of Education Liverpool John Moores University in the UK. His research interests are in project-based learning, online and distance education, digital discourse analysis and the future of higher education in the age of neoliberalism. He is the lead commissioning editor of four world-leading book series, including "Digital Education and Learning" (Palgrave) and "Advances in Digital Language Learning and Teaching" (Bloomsbury).