Wafaa Elsawah

Wafaa Elsawah

Digital Learning Lead | Educational Technology Scholar | AI in Education Advocate

Designing technology-enhanced learning experiences and championing the responsible use of AI in education.

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Experience

Regional Program Manager — Digital Readiness & EMEA Partnerships

Intel Corporation – UAE

  • Lead end-to-end execution and strategic implementation of Intel's Digital Readiness programs across the EMEA region
  • Partner with ministries, educational institutions, and public sector stakeholders to drive national digital transformation and workforce development initiatives
  • Manage trainer enablement, curriculum localization, program operations, and cross-functional collaboration
  • Represent Intel at high-level events to ensure sustainable adoption, measurable impact, and scalable program delivery

Key Achievements

  • Driving region-wide adoption of digital readiness curricula in partnership with national ministries

Researcher

The British University in Dubai (BUiD) – UAE

  • Work closely with the Dean of Education and the PhD Program Coordinator on a project exploring teachers' attitudes and self-efficacy towards inclusive education in UAE schools
  • Contribute to the literature review, support research design, and participate in data collection and analysis
  • Generate insights that inform educational policy and practice in the region

Senior Manager of Digital Training & Lead Instructor

Kaplan Professional Middle East – UAE

  • Led digital training initiatives in AI, data analytics, and cybersecurity
  • Managed cross-functional teams of trainers and instructional designers
  • Applied assistive technologies and AI tools to enhance learner engagement and inclusivity
  • Identified market opportunities, designed innovative learning solutions, managed stakeholder relationships, and supported business development and content creation

Key Achievements

  • Scaled AI, data, and cybersecurity training programs across the Middle East market

Education Program Manager

Sandooq Al-Watan | THE_CODE – UAE

  • Designed robotics and coding curricula for the UAE Coder program
  • Provided professional development for teachers on inclusive teaching strategies for students with autism, learning disabilities, and gifted learners

Key Achievements

  • Built nationally deployed coding and robotics curricula serving Emirati learners

ICT Educator

Al-Ansar International School – UAE

  • Delivered ICT curricula (algorithms, programming, data analysis) to diverse learners, including students with learning difficulties and gifted students
  • Applied differentiated teaching methods and inclusive practices

STEM Trainer

PL Fab Lab – KSA

  • Facilitated STEM programs tailored to varied student needs
  • Supported gifted learners and adapted lessons for students with language delays and other challenges

Instructional Designer

Zagazig University – Egypt

  • Developed online courses and interactive materials to support inclusive higher education
  • Designed accessible content for students with different learning needs

Expertise

Skills & Capabilities

Educational technology, AI in education, curriculum design, and digital learning programs at national scale.

Educational Technology & Digital Learning

Designing, evaluating, and scaling technology-enhanced learning experiences across K-12, higher education, and adult learning contexts.

  • Learning Design
  • Digital Curriculum
  • EdTech Strategy
  • Blended Learning
  • LMS Platforms

AI in Education

Researching and applying AI tools to enrich teaching, learning, and assessment while championing responsible adoption in classrooms.

  • AI Tools for Learning
  • Generative AI in Assessment
  • AI Policy in Education
  • Adaptive Learning
  • Assistive Technologies

Curriculum & Instructional Design

Building inclusive, accessible curricula in coding, robotics, STEM, and ICT for diverse learners and ability profiles.

  • Curriculum Development
  • Instructional Design
  • Inclusive Education
  • Differentiated Instruction
  • Accessibility

Program Management & Partnerships

Leading cross-functional programs with ministries, universities, and public sector partners to drive digital transformation at national scale.

  • Program Management
  • Stakeholder Engagement
  • Trainer Enablement
  • Curriculum Localization
  • Partnership Management

Research & Publications

Active researcher in EdTech, AI in education, and inclusive learning — published with IGI Global, Springer, and ScienceDirect.

  • Educational Research
  • Literature Review
  • Mixed Methods
  • Conference Presentations
  • Peer Review

Programming & STEM Education

Teaching coding, robotics, and STEM to diverse learners, including students with autism, learning disabilities, and gifted learners.

  • Block-Based Programming
  • Tynker
  • Robotics
  • STEM Programs
  • Teacher Professional Development

Selected Work

Research & Publications

Peer-reviewed work on AI in education, programming pedagogy, gamification, and inclusive learning — published with IGI Global, Springer, and ScienceDirect.

Rethinking Student Assessment in the Age of AI

Book chapter (2026) in Integrity, Assessment, and Collaboration in the AI Classroom (IGI Global). Proposes assessment frameworks for Gulf-based educational programs navigating generative AI in learning.

Key Contributions

  • Surveyed assessment practices across a Gulf-based educational program in the era of generative AI
  • Proposed framework principles for academic integrity, authenticity, and AI-aware evaluation
  • Connected practitioner insights with policy recommendations for higher education in the region

Topics

  • AI in Education
  • Assessment
  • Higher Education
  • IGI Global
  • Book Chapter
  • 2026

Effectiveness of Gamification in Adult Education

Peer-reviewed article (2025) on ScienceDirect exploring how gamification mechanics influence engagement and learning outcomes among adult learners.

Key Contributions

  • Analyzed gamification design patterns applied in adult learning contexts
  • Examined learner engagement, motivation, and retention outcomes
  • Drew implications for corporate L&D and continuing professional education

Topics

  • Gamification
  • Adult Learning
  • ScienceDirect
  • 2025

UAE Parents' Awareness of the Importance of Programming

Springer book chapter (2024) examining parental awareness of programming education at the primary school level in the UAE.

Key Contributions

  • Surveyed UAE parents on perceptions of early programming education
  • Identified gaps between parental awareness and curriculum priorities
  • Recommended outreach strategies to align home and school on coding literacy

Topics

  • Programming Education
  • Primary Education
  • UAE
  • Springer
  • Book Chapter
  • 2024

Barriers to Programming Education in UAE Primary Schools

Springer Open Journal article (2023, with C. Hill) investigating systemic and pedagogical barriers to programming education in UAE primary schools.

Key Contributions

  • Identified curriculum, training, and infrastructure barriers
  • Captured teacher and school-leader perspectives
  • Proposed actionable interventions for primary CS education

Topics

  • Programming Education
  • K-12
  • UAE
  • Springer Open
  • Journal Article
  • 2023

Emirati Students Learning Block-Based Programming Online

Springer book chapter (2023, with T. Charles) investigating Emirati students' practices when learning block-based programming in online environments.

Key Contributions

  • Examined student learning practices in remote, block-based coding contexts
  • Highlighted engagement patterns and online learning challenges
  • Informed design of inclusive online programming experiences

Topics

  • Block-Based Programming
  • Online Learning
  • K-12
  • Springer
  • Book Chapter
  • 2023

Effectiveness of the Tynker Platform for Early Coding Skills

Springer book chapter (2022, with R. Thabet) evaluating how Tynker helps early-age students acquire foundational coding skills for the 21st century.

Key Contributions

  • Evaluated Tynker's platform features for early coding education
  • Assessed acquisition of foundational programming concepts
  • Reflected on classroom adoption and 21st-century skill alignment

Topics

  • Tynker
  • Early Childhood
  • Coding Skills
  • Springer
  • Book Chapter
  • 2022

Affiliations

Memberships & Speaking

Academic memberships, research collaborations, and selected conference presentations.

Memberships & Speaking

AIEOU — Interdisciplinary Research Hub on AI in Education

University of Oxford

PhD Student Representative — Learning, Teaching & Blended Learning Committee

British University in Dubai

Educational Development Leader

Gulf Higher Education Network (GULF HE)

Speaker — AIEOU Conference 2025

University of Oxford

Speaker — ICEDU 2024 (10th International Conference on Education)

Colombo, Sri Lanka

Speaker — ICISIA 2022 (Information Systems & Intelligent Applications)

UAE

Education

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Educational Technology

British University in Dubai (BUiD), UAE

Sep 2023 – Sep 2026

Master of Education (MEd)

ICT in Education

British University in Dubai (BUiD), UAE

Jan 2021 – Jun 2022

Bachelor of Computer Science

Computer Science

Zagazig University, Egypt

2004 – 2008

eLearning Diploma

eLearning

Information Technology Institute (ITI), Egypt

2008 – 2009

Let's Connect

Get in Touch

Open to research collaborations, EdTech advisory, AI-in-education partnerships, and speaking engagements.

Location

Dubai, UAE

Profiles

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