Nazir Jogezai | Leadership in Business | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Nazir Jogezai | Leadership in Business | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Nazir Jogezai, National Research University Higher School of Economics, Russia

Dr. Nazir Ahmed Jogezai is a distinguished scholar in educational leadership, technology, and innovation, holding a PhD and serving as Research Fellow at the Higher School of Economics, Moscow. With cross‑cultural collaborations across Russia, Malaysia, China, and Pakistan, he has significantly contributed to global research on AI in education, culture, and leadership. Known for publishing eight peer‑reviewed papers in Web of Science and Scopus indexed journals during his postdoctoral tenure, he also presents internationally as keynote and conference speaker. His strengths include development of theoretical frameworks, international academic writing facilitation, and supervision of graduate research. Renowned for bridging cultural dimensions and technological innovation in higher education, Dr. Jogezai is forging the future of educational leadership globally through interdisciplinary scholarship and impactful teaching.

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Education 🎓

Dr. Jogezai earned his doctorate in education (PhD) with a focus on leadership, innovation, and emerging learning technologies. He has completed several prestigious short courses, including “Academic Writing in English as a Foreign Language (Advanced level)” at HSE Moscow (2023); “Critical Thinking in Global Challenges” at University of Edinburgh (2014); “Information & Communication Technologies” at Save the Children‑US (2014); “Creativity, Innovation and Change” at Pennsylvania State University Australia (2013); “Gender Mainstreaming” at Aga Khan University (2012); and “Follow‑Up Course to Histories and Cultures” at AKU‑ISMC London (2006). These formal and supplemental qualifications underscore his expertise in academic writing, innovation, gender issues, global thinking, and ICT, contributing to his holistic and interdisciplinary academic foundation.

Experience 💼

As Research Fellow at the Institute of Education, Higher School of Economics, Moscow (since September 2022), Dr. Jogezai leads projects on AI in Education and Cultural Dimension of Human Enhancement Technologies. He has co‑developed theoretical models, written grant articles, supervised collaborations with international partners (e.g., HSE and XJTLU, China), and designed course materials in change, innovation, digital technologies, and AI pedagogy. He mentors master’s students in educational technology, leadership, assessment, and AI research, evaluates undergraduate and graduate submissions, and facilitates the HSE Academic Writing Center. From 2019 to 2022, he served as Academic Faculty at Balochistan’s Bureau of Curriculum (Pakistan), developing curriculum frameworks and textbooks for K‑12, designing capacity building tools and needs assessments, and teaching leadership, curriculum development, assessment, and research methods. As Visiting Faculty at BUITEMS (2020–2022), he designed postgraduate courses on educational leadership, administration, digital citizenship, and supervised nine postgraduate research projects. At Universiti Sains Malaysia (2017–2019), he taught organizational development, innovation, change, and mentored international students while contributing to CPD programs.

Research Interest 🔬

Dr. Jogezai’s research interests center on AI in education, leadership in higher education, innovative pedagogies, cross‑cultural influences on technology adoption, and educational policy and curriculum transformation. He investigates how Hofstede’s dimensions of national culture influence university teachers’ and students’ adoption of AI tools, comparing data from institutions in Russia and China. He delves into emotional‑cognitive drivers of human enhancement technologies, and the design, implementation, and impact of digital pedagogies in HEIs. His work extends to curriculum policy alignment, monitoring and evaluation frameworks, digital citizenship, and civic education. He is passionate about synthesizing qualitative, quantitative and mixed‑methods research to understand leadership capital, institutional innovation, and learner readiness. His goal is to generate actionable strategies that facilitate transformational change in education systems through AI, leadership development, and culturally informed technology adoption.

Award 🏆

Dr. Jogezai has been nominated for the 2025 Global Educational Leadership Innovation Award, recognizing his groundbreaking contributions to AI-enhanced pedagogy and international leadership development. Drawing on his Cambridge‑style academic writing credentials and extensive short‑course training, he is lauded for advancing digital transformation in HEIs across continents. His nomination emphasizes his successful supervision of master’s research, his leadership in curriculum design, and his role as reviewer for Emerald, Elsevier, and Taylor & Francis journals. His eight publications in WoS and Scopus‑indexed journals within two postdoctoral years underscore the rapid scholarly impact. The nomination acknowledges his service as keynote and presenter at multiple international conferences and his pioneering model of cross‑cultural AI adoption in education. This award nomination reflects his visionary scholarship, educational leadership, and transformative influence in academic innovation and policy.

Publication Top Notes📚

The desire path: unleashing expectations, discussing apprehensions, and proposing a way forward for GAI use in higher education

University teachers at the crossroads: unpacking their intentions toward ChatGPT’s instructional use

Predictability of school principals’ leadership orientation for their intentions of implementing nutrition education

COVID-19 and school leadership: a tale of transition

Steps to Prepare Bilingual Data for Analysis: A Methodological Approach.

From technology to pedagogy: determinants of university faculty’s pedagogically relevant use of generative AI

Hindering and enabling factors towards ICT integration in schools: A developing country perspective

Teachers’ digital competence in the post COVID-19 era: The effects of digital nativeness, and digital leadership capital

Understanding the effects of educational decentralization through the perspectives of education managers and teachers

Head teachers’ change facilitation styles and teachers’ concerns about ICT integration

Conclusion 💡

Dr. Nazir Ahmed Jogezai, PhD, exemplifies the synergy of global scholarship, educational leadership, and technological innovation. With robust teaching and research portfolios, cross‑cultural collaborations, and a clear focus on AI in education and leadership, his academic trajectory is forward‑looking and transformative. His contributions to curriculum design, postgraduate mentorship, and academic writing facilitation have strengthened institutional capabilities across countries. The nomination for the educational leadership award encapsulates his status as an emerging global leader in education technology. Dr. Jogezai’s future endeavors—especially further publications, theoretical model development, and international research collaborations—promise to shape educational leadership discourse and institutional innovation worldwide.

Guangfan Zheng | Innovation and Technology Strategy | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Business Strategy

Prof. Guangfan Zheng –  Innovation and Technology Strategy – Best Researcher Award

Alignment with Award Category

His groundbreaking research, academic excellence, and international recognition position Dr. Guangfan Zheng as an ideal candidate for the Best Researcher Award or the Excellence in Innovation category. His work not only demonstrates scientific creativity and rigor but also promotes environmentally friendly approaches aligned with future trends in chemical research.

Northeast Normal University | China

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🎓Early Academic Pursuits 

Education and Training

Guangfan Zheng’s academic journey began with a strong foundation in chemistry, which he cultivated at some of China’s most prestigious institutions. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in 2010 from Jilin University, a leading research university known for its emphasis on scientific disciplines. Driven by a growing interest in organic chemistry, Zheng pursued graduate studies at Northeast Normal University, China, where he completed his M.S. in Organic Chemistry in 2014 under the guidance of Prof. Qian Zhang. His early exposure to research during this time laid the groundwork for his future endeavors in catalysis and radical transformations.

💼Professional Endeavors 

Academic Positions

After obtaining his Ph.D., Guangfan Zheng embarked on an impressive professional journey across prominent research institutions in China. From 2017 to 2018, he served as an Assistant Research Fellow at the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, one of the country’s leading scientific bodies. Following that, between 2018 and 2020, he worked as an Associate Research Fellow at Shaanxi Normal University, where he continued to refine his expertise in catalysis and organic synthesis. In 2020, Zheng returned to his academic roots, joining Northeast Normal University as an Associate Professor in the College of Chemistry. He currently holds this position, contributing to both teaching and cutting-edge research in the field of organic chemistry.

📚Contributions and Research Focus on Innovation and Technology Strategy

At the heart of Guangfan Zheng’s scientific contributions lies his deep interest in the development of N-Heterocyclic Carbene (NHC)-catalyzed and visible-light-mediated radical cascade transformations and asymmetric catalytic reactions. His work seeks to address challenges in organic synthesis by focusing on aldehyde and carboxylic acid derivatives—such as esters, acyl fluorides, and amides—and converting them into value-added organic molecules using novel catalytic strategies. Zheng’s research stands out for its interdisciplinary scope, merging organocatalysis, photoredox chemistry, and transition-metal catalysis. His lab’s focus on radical and asymmetric transformations positions them at the forefront of modern organic synthesis, contributing to the development of more sustainable, efficient, and selective chemical reactions. His representative publications in high-impact journals highlight the innovation and applicability of his work. Noteworthy among them is his 2024 Nature Communications article on 1,3-aminoacylation of cyclopropane and multiple entries in Angewandte Chemie International Edition, showcasing significant advancements in chiral aldehyde synthesis, C-H activation, and metal-catalyzed coupling reactions.

🏆Accolades and Recognition 

Guangfan Zheng’s achievements have earned him significant national and international recognition. He was featured in the Organic Chemistry Frontiers Emerging Investigator Series (2022–2023) and was recognized by Chemistry – A European Journal in their Young Chemists edition in 2022. His early research excellence was acknowledged with the Excellent Doctoral Dissertation Award in Jilin Province in 2017. Zheng also received the Special Support Award from the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (pre-station) in 2019, a testament to the impact and promise of his postdoctoral work. Moreover, his tenure at Shaanxi Normal University was distinguished by the Outstanding Achievement Award (Special Class) in Science and Technology Research in 2022.

🌍 Impact and Influence 

Community Impact

As an Associate Professor at Northeast Normal University, Guangfan Zheng plays a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of chemists. Through both his teaching and mentorship, he has fostered a rigorous academic environment that encourages innovation and excellence. His publications serve as valuable resources for fellow researchers, influencing the direction of contemporary research in radical chemistry and asymmetric catalysis. Zheng’s research not only pushes scientific boundaries but also holds practical implications for pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and materials science, as it facilitates the development of structurally complex and functional molecules through sustainable methods.

🔮Legacy and Future Contributions 

Guangfan Zheng’s career trajectory and research output suggest a scientist deeply committed to advancing the field of organic chemistry. With a growing body of impactful publications and a rapidly expanding research group, his legacy is already taking shape. His efforts in catalyst design, photoinduced transformations, and green synthetic methodologies are likely to lead to new paradigms in chemical synthesis. Looking ahead, Zheng is poised to lead collaborative efforts across disciplines and borders, potentially impacting industrial applications and environmental sustainability through chemistry. His dedication to fundamental discovery, combined with a focus on real-world applications, ensures that his contributions will remain influential in years to come.

 

Conclusion

In summary, Guangfan Zheng is a rising star in the field of organic chemistry whose early academic rigor, strategic professional experience, and innovative research have earned him national and international accolades. As an Associate Professor at the College of Chemistry, Northeast Normal University, China, his work bridges the gap between fundamental science and practical applications. His focus on NHC catalysis, visible-light-mediated transformations, and asymmetric catalysis is both timely and transformative. With a clear vision for sustainable and efficient chemical synthesis, Zheng continues to inspire through his scientific contributions, mentorship, and leadership.

📚Publications

Visible light-mediated 1,3-acylative chlorination of cyclopropanes employing benzoyl chloride as bifunctional reagents in NHC catalysis

Authors: M., Li, Mingrui, X., Song, Xiao, X., Lu, Xueyun, … G., Zheng, Guangfan, Q., Zhang, Qian

Journals: Science China Chemistry

Visible light-mediated organocatalyzed 1,3-aminoacylation of cyclopropane employing N-benzoyl saccharin as bifunctional reagent

Authors: M., Li, Mingrui, Y., Wu, Yingtao, X., Song, Xiao, … G., Zheng, Guangfan, Q., Zhang, Qian

Journals: Nature Communications

Synthesis of axially chiral thiourea by NHC-catalyzed desymmetrizative amidation

Authors: Y., Wu, Yingtao, X., Guan, Xin, K., Jiao, Kehan, … G., Zheng, Guangfan, Q., Zhang, Qian

Journals: Green Chemistry