Dr. Alassane Sow | Charismatic Leadership | Outstanding Scientist Award

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Dr. Alassane Sow | Charismatic Leadership | Outstanding Scientist Award

Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar | Senegal

Dr. Alassane Sow is a sociologist of religion whose academic and professional journey reflects a deep commitment to understanding the intersections between religion, society, education, and development in West Africa. He holds a Doctorate and Master’s degree in the Sociology of Religion from UCAD, building on a strong foundation in social sciences. His experience spans university teaching, applied research, and interdisciplinary consultancy across institutions in Senegal, the United States, Europe, and Africa. Dr. Sow has served as a lecturer at UCAD and UGB and as an associate researcher at internationally recognized centers such as Lehigh University and the Polish Academy of Sciences. His extensive fieldwork includes studies on home literacy environments, religious dynamics, peacebuilding, early childhood education, public health, migration, gender, environmental and social impact assessments, and community development. He has collaborated with major organizations including UNICEF, USAID, the World Bank, UNESCO partners, and several ministerial bodies. His research interests focus on religion and society, education, childhood development, social inequalities, community resilience, and socio-anthropological approaches to public policy. Dr. Sow’s contributions have earned him recognition through diverse academic engagements, invited lectures, and participation in international conferences. He continues to advance socially impactful research bridging academia, policy, and community development.

Profiles: Featured Publications

Sow, A., Lemmond, B., Rennick, B., Van Wyk, J., Martin, L., Townsend, M., Grupe, A., Beaudry, R., Healy, R., Smith, M. E., et al. (2024). Tuber cumberlandense and T. canirevelatum, two new edible Tuber species from eastern North America discovered by truffle-hunting dogs. Mycologia.

Sow, A., Van Wyk, J., Lemmond, B., Healy, R., Smith, M. E., & Bonito, G. (2024). Effective field collection of Pezizales ascospores for procuring diverse fungal isolates. Diversity, 16(3), 165.

Chou, M.-Y., Andersen, T. B., Mechan Llontop, M. E., Beculheimer, N., Sow, A., Moreno, N., Shade, A., Hamberger, B., & Bonito, G. (2023). Terpenes modulate bacterial and fungal growth and sorghum rhizobiome communities. Microbiology Spectrum, 11(5), e01332-23.

Lemmond, B., Sow, A., Bonito, G., & Smith, M. E. (2023). Accidental cultivation of the European truffle Tuber brumale in North American truffle orchards. Mycorrhiza, 33, 451–458.

Dr. yeliz sürme | Nursing | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. yeliz sürme | Nursing | Best Researcher Award

Erciyes University | Turkey

Yeliz Sürme is an Associate Professor of Surgical Nursing whose academic journey spans a bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral education in nursing and health sciences, with advanced specialization in surgical nursing. Her professional career includes extensive experience as a research assistant and faculty member, contributing to both undergraduate and graduate nursing education. She supervises numerous master’s and doctoral theses on surgical care, postoperative recovery, pain management, patient education, and innovative nursing interventions. Her research primarily focuses on wound healing, surgical patient outcomes, artificial intelligence–based patient education, lymphedema care, sleep and delirium in intensive care, and evidence-based surgical nursing practices. She has actively participated in national scientific projects, including randomized controlled trials on diabetic foot care and wound infection management. Her scholarly work is published in respected international journals, addressing topics such as AI-supported educational materials, postoperative rehabilitation, sleep quality in surgical patients, and humanistic nursing competence. She has served in several academic and administrative roles, including departmental committees, accreditation boards, thesis juries, and major program coordination. Recognized for her academic contributions, she received a third-place oral presentation award. She continues to advance surgical nursing science through research, teaching, and mentorship.

Profiles:  Google Scholar 

Featured Publications

Sürme, Y. (2019). Stres, stresle ilişkili hastalıklar ve stres yönetimi. Journal of International Social Research, 12(64), 63.

Sürme, Y., Özmen, N., & Ertürk Arik, B. (2023). Fear of COVID-19 and related factors in emergency department patients. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 21(1), 28–36.

Sürme, Y., Kartın, P. T., & Çürük, G. N. (2018). Knowledge and practices of nurses regarding wound healing. Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing, 33(4), 471–478.

Sürme, Y., & Çimen, Ö. (2022). Preoperative surgical fear and related factors of patients undergoing brain tumor surgery. Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing, 37(6), 934–938.

Maraş, G., & Sürme, Y. (2023). Surgical site infections: Prevalence, economic burden, and new preventive recommendations. Exploratory Research and Hypothesis in Medicine, 8(4), 366–371.

Sürme, Y., & Maraş, G. (2022). Recycling, responsible consumption and nursing: A qualitative study of surgical nurses’ recycling and medical waste management. Journal of Nursing Management, 30(8), 4514–4522

Assist. Prof. Dr. Christos Kakarougkas | Motivation and Employee Engagement | Strategic Business Management Award

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Assist. Prof. Dr. Christos Kakarougkas | Motivation and Employee Engagement | Strategic Business Management Award

University of the Aegean | Greece

Christos S. Kakarougkas is an Assistant Professor specializing in Human Resource Management of Tourism Enterprises and Organizations. He holds a Doctoral Diploma from the University of the Aegean, where his research focused on the impact of reward systems on organizational culture change in Greek five-star hotels. He also earned a Master’s Degree in Hospitality Management from Thames Valley University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Tourism Business Management from ATEI Larisa. With extensive academic and professional experience, he has taught in undergraduate and postgraduate programs across Greek universities, including the University of the Aegean, University of West Attica, and Hellenic Open University, as well as international programs in collaboration with Metropolitan College and Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh. His teaching covers Human Resource Management, Strategic Management, Entrepreneurship, Global Booking Systems, and Hospitality Administration. Beyond teaching, he has supervised numerous graduate and postgraduate theses, developed vocational training curricula, and contributed to adult education programs in leadership, tourism management, and entrepreneurship. His research interests include organizational culture, human resource practices in tourism, and strategic management of hospitality enterprises. He has been recognized for his scholarly contributions and active engagement in educational innovation. Christos continues to advance knowledge in tourism management while fostering excellence in academic and professional development.

Profiles:  Google Scholar 

Featured Publications

Katsoni, V., Upadhya, A., & Stratigea, A. (2017). Tourism, culture and heritage in a smart economy. Springer Proceedings in Business and Economics, 38.

Stavrinoudis, T., & Kakarougkas, C. (2017). A theoretical model of weighting and evaluating the elements defining the change of organizational culture. In Tourism, culture and heritage in a smart economy: Third International Conference (pp. xx–xx).

Stavrinoudis, T., & Kakarougkas, C. (2017). Factors of human motivation in organizations: A first scientific modeling for a more effective application in the hospitality industry. International Journal of Cultural and Digital Tourism, 4(2), 20–30. https://doi.org/xxxx

Stavrinoudis, T., Kakarougkas, C., & Vitzilaiou, C. (2022). Hotel front line employees’ perceptions on leadership and workplace motivation in times of crisis. Tourism and Hospitality Management, 28(2), 257–276. https://doi.org/xxxx

Kakarougkas, C., & Stavrinoudis, T. (2021). COVID-19 impact on the human aspect of organizational culture and learning: The case of the Greek hospitality industry. In Organizational learning in tourism and hospitality crisis management (Vol. 8, pp. 49–xx).

Kakarougkas, C., & Stavrinoudis, T., & Psimoulis, M. (2023). Evaluating the COVID-19 pandemic changes on hotel organizational culture. Journal of Global Business Insights, 8(1), 80–94. https://doi.org/xxxx

Kakarougkas, C., & Papageorgakis, E. (2023). Evaluating the effectiveness of training methods on the performance of human resources in Greek hotel businesses. Journal of Advances in Humanities Research, 4863, 11–xx. https://doi.org/xxxx

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Surbhi Agrawal | Innovative Leadership | Research Excellence Award

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Assoc. Prof. Dr. Surbhi Agrawal | Innovative Leadership | Research Excellence Award

RV Institute of Technology and Management, India

Profiles:  Google Scholar 

Featured Publications

Bora, K., Saha, S., Agrawal, S., Safonova, M., Routh, S., & Narasimhamurthy, A. (2016). Cd-hpf: New habitability score via data analytic modeling. Astronomy and Computing, 17, 129–143.

Saha, S., Basak, S., Safonova, M., Bora, K., Agrawal, S., Sarkar, P., & Murthy, J. (2018). Theoretical validation of potential habitability via analytical and boosted tree methods: An optimistic study on recently discovered exoplanets. Astronomy and Computing, 23, 141–150.

Agrawal, S., Basak, S., Mathur, A., Theophilus, A. J., Deshpande, G., & Murthy, J. (2021). Habitability classification of exoplanets: A machine learning insight. The European Physical Journal Special Topics, 230, 2221–2251.

Viquar, M., Basak, S., Dasgupta, A., Agrawal, S., & Saha, S. (2018). Machine learning in astronomy: A case study in quasar-star classification. In Emerging Technologies in Data Mining and Information Security (pp. xxx–xxx). (Publisher details not provided).

Basak, S., Saha, S., Mathur, A., Bora, K., Makhija, S., Safonova, M., & Agrawal, S. (2020). Ceesa meets machine learning: A constant elasticity earth similarity approach to habitability and classification of exoplanets. Astronomy and Computing, 30, 100335.

Naik, P., Agrawal, S., & Murthy, S. (2015). A survey on various task scheduling algorithms toward load balancing in public cloud. American Journal of Applied Mathematics, 3(1-2), 14–17.

Sarkar, J., Saha, S., & Agrawal, S. (2014). An efficient use of principal component analysis in workload characterization—a study. AASRI Procedia, 8, 68–74.

Saha, S., Agrawal, S., Bora, K., Routh, S., & Narasimhamurthy, A. (2015). ASTROMLSKIT: A new statistical machine learning toolkit: A platform for data analytics in astronomy. arXiv preprint arXiv:1504.07865.

Safonova, M., Mathur, A., Basak, S., Bora, K., & Agrawal, S. (2021). Quantifying the classification of exoplanets: In search for the right habitability metric. The European Physical Journal Special Topics, 230(10), 2207–2220.

Prof. Decai Tang | Decision-making and Problem-solving | Research Excellence Award

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Prof. Decai Tang | Decision-making and Problem-solving | Research Excellence Award

Hengxing University | China

Profiles: ORCID  

Featured Publications

Zhao, Z., Tang, D., & Li, J. (2025). Driving role of digital finance on economic resilience: Threshold effects of industrial structure upgrading and social security. Economic Change and Restructuring.

Tang, D., Boamah, V., & Ben Amara, D. (2025). Revisiting the Environmental Kuznets Curve in West Africa: A spatial econometric analysis of growth, globalization, and emissions. Journal of Environmental Management.

Tang, D., Boamah, V., Ding, Q., & Bai, J. (2025). Spatial dependencies and long-run dynamics of the Environmental Kuznets Curve in West Africa: An analysis of growth vs. emissions. Frontiers in Environmental Science.

Xiang, J., Tang, D., Zhou, Y., & Chen, Q. (2025). Green finance, environmental regulation, and the optimization of industrial structure in China’s Yangtze River economic belt. Frontiers in Environmental Science.

Cheng, X., Bian, J., He, D., & Tang, D. (2025). An analysis of agricultural production efficiency of Yellow River Basin based on a three-stage DEA Malmquist model. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications.

Liu, Y., Gherghina, S. C., Liu, H., Tang, D., Yin, C., & Kong, L. (2025). Ownership succession, risk taking and debt financing from the perspective of the institutional environment. PLOS One.

Zhang, X., Tang, D., & Cheng, X. (2025). The inverted U-shaped relationship between judicial development and economic growth: Evidence from China. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications.

Pan, Y., Atsi, E. R., Tang, D., He, D., & Donkor, M. (2025). The synergistic effect of foreign direct investment and renewable energy consumption on environmental pollution mitigation: Evidence from developing countries. Sustainability.

Dai, L., Tang, D., Atsi, E. R., Zhao, M., Zhang, H., Kong, Y., & Zhang, L. (2025). The integration of green finance and logistics: Implications for green industry transformation. Frontiers in Environmental Science.

Tang, D., Obuobi, B., Nketiah, E., & Adu-Gyamfi, G. (2025). Breaking the energy crisis: Does the role of government support impact Ghanaians’ intention to adopt sustainable energy from food waste? Energy.

Prof. Arshi Naim | Performance Management | Research Excellence Awar

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Prof. Arshi Naim | Performance Management | Research Excellence Awar

London Institute of Sustainable Development | United Kingdom

Profiles: ORCID | Google Scholar | Scopus 

Featured Publications

Khan, N., Naim, A., Hussain, M. R., Naveed, Q. N., Ahmad, N., & Qamar, S. (2019). The 51 V’s of big data: Survey, technologies, characteristics, opportunities, issues and challenges. Proceedings of the International Conference on Omni-layer Intelligent Systems, 113.

Naim, A., & Alahmari, F. (2020). Reference model of e-learning and quality to establish interoperability in higher education systems. International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning, 15(2), 15–28.

Naim, A. (2023). Consumer behavior in marketing: Patterns, types, segmentation. European Journal of Economics, Finance and Business Development, 1(1), 1–18.

Naim, A. (2022). Role of artificial intelligence in business risk management. American Journal of Business Management, Economics, and Banking, 55–66.

Kamal, S., Naim, A., Magd, H., Khan, S. A., & Khan, F. M. (2022). The relationship between e-service quality, ease of use, and e-CRM performance referred by brand image. In Building a Brand Image Through Electronic Customer Relationship Management, 57.

Reddy, C. K. K., Anisha, P. R., Khan, S., Hanafiah, M. M., Pamulaparty, L., … Naim, A. (2024). Sustainability in Industry 5.0: Theory and Applications. CRC Press.

Alahmari, F., Naim, A., & Alqahtani, H. (2023). E-learning modeling technique and convolution neural networks in online education. In IoT-enabled Convolutional Neural Networks: Techniques and Applications (pp. 261–295).

Naim, A., Hussain, M. R., Naveed, Q. N., Ahmad, N., Qamar, S., Khan, N., & Hweij, T. A. (2019). Ensuring interoperability of e-learning and quality development in education. 2019 IEEE Jordan International Joint Conference on Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, 54.

Naim, A., Alahmari, F., & Rahim, A. (n.d.). Role of artificial intelligence in market development and vehicular communication.

Dr. Marc Bertrand Dandji Saah | Team Building and Team Management | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Marc Bertrand Dandji Saah | Team Building and Team Management

University of Dschang | Cameroon

Profile: ORCID

Featured Publications

Dandji Saah, M. B., Bello, I. S., Dangang Bossi, D. S., Tanguenan, F. L., & Zambou Ngoufack, F. (2024). Metabolic syndrome and related factors in Cameroonian women under contraceptive use. PLOS ONE. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0309054

Dangang Bossi, D. S., Ganota, S.-V., Tambo Téné, S., Dandji Saah, M. B., Maffo Tazoho, G., Kemtsop, P. M., & Zambou Ngoufack, F. (2024). Impact of some treatments on improving the nutritional, phytochemical, antioxidant, and techno-functional properties of jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) seed flours. Future Foods, 100442. DOI: 10.1016/j.fufo.2024.100442

Kenné Toussé, R., Dangang Bossi, D. S., Dandji Saah, M. B., Foko Kouam, E. M., Njapndounke, B., Tambo Tene, S., Kaktcham, P. M., Zambou Ngoufack, F., & Sarkar, T. (2024). Effect of Curcuma longa rhizome powder on metabolic parameters and oxidative stress markers in high-fructose and high-fat diet-fed rats. Journal of Food Biochemistry. DOI: 10.1155/2024/1445355

Dandji Saah, M. B. (2023). Syndrome métabolique: Une pression endémique chez les adultes. Generis Publishing.

Dangang Bossi, D. S., Dandji Saah, M. B., Njapndounké, B., & Zambou Ngoufack, F. (2023). Nutritional evaluation, oxidative indexes, and functional properties of Irish potatoes, eggs, and red kidney beans–based complementary food. The North African Journal of Food and Nutrition Research, 7(15), 20–30. DOI: 10.51745/najfnr.7.15.20-30

Lemogoum, D., Ngatchou, W., Van de Borne, P., Essola, B., Messomo, T., Dandji, M., Degaute, J. P., Leeman, M., & Hermans, M. P. (2021). Impact of sleep duration and quality on the burden of diabetes among urban and rural community dwellers in Cameroon. Cardiology and Cardiovascular Research. DOI: 10.11648/j.ccr.20210502.16

Dr. Hanji Huang | Authentic Leadership | Young Scientist Award

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Dr. Hanji Huang | Authentic Leadership | Young Scientist Award

Maternity and Child Health Care of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region | China

Profile: ORCID

Featured Publications

Huang, H., Sun, Y., Cai, J., Liao, X., Shu, J., Zheng, J., Wei, Z., Zhao, J., Liu, Y., & Qin, X. (2025). Nanomedicine with simple structure for programmable heat-shock protein inhibition and sensitized synergistic therapy. Chemical Engineering Journal, 161307.

Huang, H., Lu, D., Li, K., Zheng, M., Qin, X., Cui, X., Chen, Y., Chen, C., Huang, N., & Zheng, L., et al. (2023). Hsa_circ_0007031 promotes the proliferation and migration of osteosarcoma cells by sponging miR-196a-5p to regulate HOXB6. Biochemical Pharmacology, 115667.

Chen, Y., Wang, Y., Jiang, X., Cai, J., Chen, Y., Huang, H., Yang, Y., Zheng, L., Zhao, J., & Gao, M. (2022). Dimethylamino group modified polydopamine nanoparticles with positive charges to scavenge cell-free DNA for rheumatoid arthritis therapy. Bioactive Materials, 3(2022), Article 028.

Huang, H., Cui, X., Qin, X., Li, K., Yan, G., Lu, D., Zheng, M., Hu, Z., Lei, D., & Lan, N., et al. (2022). Analysis and identification of m6A RNA methylation regulators in metastatic osteosarcoma. Molecular Therapy – Nucleic Acids, 27, 008.

Li, K., Yan, G., Huang, H., Zheng, M., Ma, K., Cui, X., Lu, D., Zheng, L., Zhu, B., & Cheng, J., et al. (2022). Anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects of extracellular vesicles derived from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells on osteoarthritis via M2 macrophages. Journal of Nanobiotechnology, 20(1).

Xiong, W., Lan, Q., Liang, X., Zhao, J., Huang, H., Zhan, Y., Qin, Z., Jiang, X., & Zheng, L. (2021). Cartilage-targeting poly(ethylene glycol)-formononetin nanodrug for the treatment of osteoarthritis. Journal of Nanobiotechnology, 19(1).

Mrs. Safiya Alshibani | Family Business Succession | Women Researcher Award

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Mrs. Safiya Alshibani | Family Business Succession | Women Researcher Award

Princess Nourah Bint Abdul Rahman University | Saudi Arabia

Profile:  Google Scholar 

Featured Publications

Shaik, A. S., Alshibani, S. M., Jain, G., Gupta, B., & Mehrotra, A. (2024). Artificial intelligence (AI)-driven strategic business model innovations in small- and medium-sized enterprises: Insights on technological and strategic enablers for carbon … Business Strategy and the Environment, 33(4), 2731–2751.

Kautish, P., Siddiqui, M., Siddiqui, A., Sharma, V., & Alshibani, S. M. (2023). Technology-enabled cure and care: An application of innovation resistance theory to telemedicine apps in an emerging market context. Technological Forecasting & Social Change.

Al Halbusi, H., Popa, S., Alshibani, S. M., & Soto-Acosta, P. (2024). Greening the future: Analyzing green entrepreneurial orientation, green knowledge management and digital transformation for sustainable innovation and circular economy. European Journal of Innovation Management.

Shaik, A. S., Alshibani, S. M., Mishra, S., Papa, A., & Cuomo, M. T. (2023). Does learning from innovation failure enhance innovation performance? A quantitative investigation of small businesses. Technovation, 127, 102818.

Broccardo, L., Vola, P., Zicari, A., & Alshibani, S. M. (2023). Contingency-based analysis of the drivers and obstacles to a successful sustainable business model: Seeking the uncaptured value. Technological Forecasting & Social Change.

Dr. Kawtar Benkirane | Performance Management | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Kawtar Benkirane | Performance Management | Best Researcher Award

Hassan II university, Morocco
Profile:  Google Scholar 

Featured Publications

Benkirane, K., & Benazzi, K. (2023). The role of leader’s social intelligence on firms’ organizational ambidexterity: Literature review. International Journal of Accounting, Finance, Auditing, Management and Economics.

Kawtar, B., & Khadija, B. (2025). The impact of risk management efficiency on organizational performance in state-owned enterprises and the mediating effect of supply chain maturity: Evidence from Morocco. Qubahan Academic Journal, 5(1), 405–428.

Benkirane, K., & Benazzi, K. (2024). Perception of the importance of internal audit effectiveness and its impact on organizational performance in public enterprises: Empirical evidence from Morocco. CECCAR Business Review, 5(9), 65–81.

Benkirane, K., & Benazzi, K. (2023). La culture du risque et les pratiques du management des risques dans le secteur public: Étude de cas de l’Office National des Aéroports. International Journal of Economic Studies and Management, 3(3).

Benkirane, K., Benazzi, K., & Berrah, L. (2021). L’intégration de la dimension digitale dans l’évaluation de la performance globale des entreprises publiques: Étude de cas d’une entreprise publique marocaine. International Journal of Accounting, Finance, Auditing, Management and Economics.

Watson, D. S., Krutzinna, J., Bruce, I. N., Griffiths, C. E. M., McInnes, I. B., Barnes, M. R., et al. (2025). [Preprint not peer reviewed].

Benkirane, K. (2025). An information systems agility model: A systematic literature review and double case study. Tuijin Jishu/Journal of Propulsion Technology, 46(1), 332.

Benkirane, K. (2024). Inductors of performance in the public sector: A systematic literature review employing PRISMA guidelines. Pakistan Journal of Life and Social Sciences, 22(2), 16356–16374.

Kawtar, B., & Khadija, B. (2022). An inventory of risk management practices and culture in the public sector: A case study. Special Education, 2(43).