Dr Samiullah Paracha’s background is in creative technologies (VR/XR, Serious Games, AI, Eye-tracking, ITS, LMS, EdApps etc.,) with a particular interest in Game Studies, Digital Humanities and Media, HCI, LCD and LXD, Educational Robotics and Learning Analytic. Over the past 18 years, he’s strived to explore, invent, and inform ways that digital technology can serve as a tool, supporting education and positive youth development. Samiullah has delivered his vision through research and policy impact, innovations, partnerships, collaborations, and public engagements. Years of multidisciplinary work, with the United Nations (UN), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and eminent educational establishments in Europe, Asia and Africa, has enabled him to embrace the discomfort and complexity involved in digital education space. He’s employed field, lab, and lab-in- the-field experiments, developed systems, surveyed tools, and analyzed large panel data sets to better understand the intersection between education and technology. Thus, generating insights to inform theory and real-world decision-makers in the areas of ICTs for peace and development. His scholarly work has received Gold Medals, Silver Shields, Best Paper and First Prize Paper Awards from IEEE, IEEJ and IRES. Samiullah is also actively engaged in knowledge exchange activities whilst working with SMEs in Europe, Africa and Asia particularly in the creative, digital, and IT sectors in order to bridge the gap between academia and industry.

Creative Technologies (AI, IVR/XR, Serious Games, ITS, LMS, EdApps etc.)

Games Studies

Learning Analytics

Human-Computer Interaction

Creative Collaborations

Digital Peace

2022-present   Associate Professor— Digital Education

Department of Educational Studies, Xian Jiaotong-Liverpool University, China

2023-present   Exam Officer— Academy of Future Education

Xian Jiaotong-Liverpool University, China

2022-2022        IT Officer— Academy of Future Education

Xian Jiaotong-Liverpool University, China

2021-2022        Research & Innovation Specialist— Creative Fuse North East

Faculty of Arts and Creative Industries, University of Sunderland, UK

2021-present  Technical Advisor— PEN Academy Studio

Progressive Education Network, Pakistan

2019-2021       Head of Department— PEN Academy

Progressive Education Network, Pakistan

2016-2018       Research Fellow & Consultant—Digital Peace

Institute of Computing & Society, United Nations University, Macau

2015-2016       Advisor— KIC Quipper programme

Graduate School of Information Technology, Kobe Institute of Computing, Japan

2014-2016       Admission Officer— Post Graduate Recruitment

Graduate School of Information Technology, Kobe Institute of Computing, Japan

2014-2016       Director P-Lab — Creative Technologies

Graduate School of Information Technology, Kobe Institute of Computing, Japan

2013-2016       Assistant Professor— Creative Technologies

Graduate School of Information Technology, Kobe Institute of Computing, Japan

2011-2013       Research Associate—  Creative Technologies

Graduate School of Information, Production & Systems, Waseda University, Japan

2007-2011       Lecturer/ ALT— ESL

Board of Education, Japan

2005-2007       Project Manager and English Language Instructor— Digital Language Learning  

ANA English, Japan

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (2022-present)

Graduate School of Information Technology, Kobe Institute of Computing (2013-2016)

 Board of Education (2007-2013)

 PhD & Masters Supervision

2024-present                 Investigating the use of Serious Game for Climate Change Awareness, PhD Thesis, Xian Jiaotong-Liverpool University.

2024-present                 Towards an Adaptive Learning Management System Based on a Combination of Eye-Tracking, Participatory, and Learner-Centered Design Approaches, PhD Thesis, Xian Jiaotong-Liverpool University.

2024-present                 A Comparative Study of the Chinese New Gaokao Curriculum and the IB Curriculum in Developing Critical Thinking, PhD Thesis, Xian Jiaotong-Liverpool University.

2023-present                 Investigating the use of AI Chatbots for Mental Wellbeing, PhD Thesis, Xian Jiaotong-Liverpool University.

2023-present                  The role of AI counseling in building rapport in counseling, reducing stigma, and promoting self-disclosure, PhD Thesis, Xian Jiaotong-Liverpool University.

2023-present                 An Investigation into the use of Student Response Systems on Chinese primary students' engagement in English classes, PhD Thesis, Xian Jiaotong-Liverpool University.

2022-Present                 Exploring School Perspectives on the Use of AI and VR Technologies for Children’s Mental Healthcare in China,  PhD Thesis, Xian Jiaotong-Liverpool University.

2024-present                 Bringing Learner-centered Improvements in Learning Mall through Eye-tracking Methodology. Master’s Thesis, Xian Jiaotong-Liverpool University.

2024-present                 Boosting Students’ Ethical Competency through Serious Games. Master’s Thesis, Xian Jiaotong-Liverpool University.

2024-present                 Investigating the role of Learning Management Systems in K-12 educational environments from teacher perspectives. Master’s Thesis, Xian Jiaotong-Liverpool University.

2024-present                 Exploring the experiences & perspectives of primary school teachers on curriculum design in the digital age. Master’s Thesis, Xian Jiaotong-Liverpool University.

2022-2023                      Investigating the Professional Vulnerability of College Guidance Counselors Based in Chinese International High Schools, Master’s Thesis, Xian Jiaotong-Liverpool University.

2022-present                 AI for Mental Health: The Perspectives & Expectations of Chinese Adults, Master’s Thesis, Xian Jiaotong-Liverpool University.

2022-present                 Bilingual School Teacher Burnout in China: Causes, Consequences, and Coping Strategies, Master’s Thesis, Xian Jiaotong-Liverpool University.

2022-present                 Bringing Learner-centred Improvements in Learning Mall through Eye-tracking Methodology, Master’s Thesis, Xian Jiaotong-Liverpool University.

2022-present                 Exploring the experiences & perspectives of primary school teachers on curriculum design in the digital age, Master’s Thesis, Xian Jiaotong-Liverpool University.

2022-present                 Investigating the role of learning management systems in K-12 educational environments from teacher perspectives, Master’s Thesis, Xian Jiaotong-Liverpool University.

2022-present                 Boosting students’ ethical competency through serious games, Master’s Thesis, Xian Jiaotong-Liverpool University.

2015-2017                    VR Intervention to Prevent Children Drug Addiction in Afghanistan, Master’s Thesis, Graduate School of Information Technology, Kobe Institute of Computing.

2015-2017                    E-PAZ Conflict Mitigation System (Mozambique), Master’s Thesis, Graduate School of Information Technology, Kobe Institute of Computing.

2015-2017                    Computer Assisted Language Learning: Kenyarwanda” (Rwanda), Master’s Thesis,  Graduate School of Information Technology, Kobe Institute of Computing.

2015-2017                    Intelligent Agent for Information Retrieval (Kenya), Master’s Thesis, Graduate School of Information Technology, Kobe Institute of Computing.

2015-2017                    Intelligent Tutoring System for Reading Proficiency (Kenya), Master’s Thesis, Graduate School of Information Technology, Kobe Institute of Computing.

2015-2017                    Mobile Learning Platform for Capacity Building (Tanzania), Master’s Thesis, Graduate School of Information Technology, Kobe Institute of Computing.

2015-2017                    Mobile Learning Platform for On-job Trainees (Egypt), Master’s Thesis, Graduate School of Information Technology, Kobe Institute of Computing.

2015-2017                    Cloud-based e-Learning (Afghanistan), Master’s Thesis,  Graduate School of Information Technology, Kobe Institute of Computing.

2014-2016                    Tackling Learning Disorders through Eye-tracking Technology (Japan), Master’s Thesis, Graduate School of Information Technology, Kobe Institute of Computing.

2014-2016                    Peacebuilding in Information Technology Age in Afghanistan: E-Solha (Afghanistan), Master’s Thesis, Graduate School of Information Technology, Kobe Institute of Computing.

2014-2016                    E-Mushkilyabi : A Robust real-time IT Support and Trouble Ticketing System (Afghanistan), Master’s Thesis, Graduate School of Information Technology, Kobe Institute of Computing.

2014-2016                    e-Ketabtoon: Ushering an era of Innovation in Library Management System (Afghanistan), Master’s Thesis, Graduate School of Information Technology, Kobe Institute of Computing.

2014-2016                    Why projects fail in Afghanistan? Lacking ICT or Poor Management (Afghanistan), Master’s Thesis, Graduate School of Information Technology, Kobe Institute of Computing, Japan.

2014-2016                    E-Tadarokat: A step towards improving e-Management in Afghanistan (Afghanistan), Master’s Thesis, Graduate School of Information Technology, Kobe Institute of Computing.

2014-2016                    Urban Regeneration Based on Transit Oriented Development Using GIS Data (Afghanistan), Master’s Thesis, Graduate School of Information Technology, Kobe Institute of Computing.

2014-2016                    Utilization of SMS and Web Technology for Monitoring the Operation and Maintenance of Water Supply Facilities: A Case Study of Tanzania Rural Water Supply” (Tanzania), Master’s Thesis, Graduate School of Information Technology, Kobe Institute of Computing.

2013-2015                    Cross-Cultural Investigation of Eye-Gaze Patterns for e-Learning Content Optimization (Japan), Master’s Thesis,  Graduate School of Information Technology, Kobe Institute of Computing.

2013-2015                    MMTT System, A Potential for Improved Teaching and Learning in Afghanistan, Master’s Thesis,  Graduate School of Information Technology, Kobe Institute of Computing.

2013-2015                    The Prospects of e-Kankor Exam Prep System in Afghanistan, Master’s Thesis, Graduate School of Information Technology, Kobe Institute of Computing.

2020  Appreciation Award, PEN COVID-19 Humanitarian Fund, Pakistan.

2019  Award Shield, 1st International Multidisciplinary Graduate Conference 2019, Pakistan.

2017  Letter of Appreciation, Embassy of Afghanistan, Tokyo, Japan.

2016  IEEE Best Paper Award, IEEE ICASI June 2016, Okinawa, Japan.

2016  Won 7 IEEE First Prize Paper Awards, IEEE ICASI June 2016, Okinawa Japan

2016  Won 2 Gold Medals, International Conference on e-Education, e-Management and e-Learning, (Paper IDs: IRES-IC4EJAPAN-18026-1933/ IRES-IC4E, JAPAN-18026-1929), Japan.

2016  The IERS Annual Award Shield, Institute of Research Engineers & Scientists, Tokyo, Japan.

2016  Won 2 Best Paper Awards, International Conference on e-Education, e-Management and e-Learning, (Paper IDs: IRES-IC4EJAPAN-18026-1933/ IRES-IC4E, JAPAN-18026-1929), Japan.

2011  Appreciation Award, Sekijo ESL Teachers Training Workshop 2011 Oita, Japan.

2011  Appreciation Award, ESL Teachers Training Workshop 2011 Oita, Japan.

2011  Appreciation Award, Yunohira ESL Teachers Training Workshop 2011 Oita, Japan.

2010  Appreciation Award, 62nd Oita Jr. High School English Speech Contest 2010, Oita, Japan.

2010  Appreciation Award, TESOL Teachers Training Workshop-III 2010 Oita, Japan.

2009  Appreciation Award, TESOL Teachers Training Workshop-II, 2009 Oita, Japan.

2009  Appreciation Award, TESOL Teachers Training Workshop-I 2009 Oita, Japan.

2009  IEEJ Best Paper Award, IEEJ-EIS Conference 2009, Japan.