INSODE 2026
Honorary Presidents
Rector of Mother Teresa University (UNT)
Skopje, North Macedonia
TAEG Center Coordinator
University of Kyrenia, North Cyprus
Keynote Speakers
Founder and Rector of the University for Business and Technology (UBT)
Prishtina, Kosovo
Keynote Title: Will be announced
Biodata: The experience of Professor Hajrizi is mostly focused on entrepreneurship in higher education, management, teaching, research, development, training, consulting, certification, and publishing. Professor Hajrizi holds a PhD degree from Vienna University of Technology and a Post Doc. from City University London. Prof. Dr. Edmond Hajrizi possesses more than 20 years of experience in managing higher education institutions, teaching, research, and international research and capacity development projects. Prof. Dr. Edmond Hajrizi is the founder and Rector of College UBT and, as of 01.10.2019, serves as the President of the Management Board of College ESLG, an independent higher education institution within the UBT Group. Professor Harjrizi’s specialization fields are: Complex Systems Design and Management, Intelligent Systems, Sustainable Development, Quality Management, Project Management, Leadership and Business Management, Knowledge Management, Information Systems, Mechatronics Management, Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
President, Canadian Institute of Technology (CIT), Tirana, Albania
Keynote Title: Human Intelligence and Artificial Intelligence: Building the University of the Future
Biodata: Prof. Dr. Ramiz Zekaj is President of the Canadian Institute of Technology (CIT), Albania, and a distinguished academic, researcher, and higher education leader with extensive experience in university management, research, and international academic cooperation. Throughout his career, he has been actively engaged in advancing higher education, fostering interdisciplinary research, and promoting collaboration between academic institutions across Europe and beyond. Holding the academic title of Professor and a Doctor of Science degree in History, Prof.Zekaj has authored and co-authored numerous scientific publications, books, and conference papers in the fields of education, history, culture, civilization studies, leadership, and sustainable development. His research has been published in internationally recognized peer-reviewed journals, including Scopus-indexedpublications, contributing to scholarly discussions on contemporary social, cultural, and educational challenges. In addition to his research activities, Prof. Zekaj has served in senior academic and leadership positions and has been an active participant and keynote speaker at International conferences and scientific forums. Through his academic work and institutional leadership, he continues to support innovation, quality assurance, internationalization, and the development of higher education in the Western Balkans and beyond. Research Interests: Higher Education, Leadership and Management, History and Civilization Studies, Cultural Heritage, Sustainable Development, Innovation, and International Academic Cooperation.
Prof. Dr. Özcan Asilkan
Higher Colleges of Technology
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Keynote Title: AI-Powered Personalized Learning Pathways
Biodata: Prof. Dr. Özcan Asilkan is an accomplished Computer Science Engineer and Academic with a robust background spanning higher education and multiple industries, including software development, data analysis, manufacturing, tourism, and healthcare. His research interests cover a broad range of interdisciplinary topics such as Management Information Systems (MIS), Business Analytics, Computer Science, Database Systems, Data Mining, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), and Hospitality Management.
With nearly 30 years of combined academic and industry experience, Prof. Asilkan has held numerous teaching and professional engagements across almost 10 countries and 15 universities worldwide.
In academia, he has served in various leadership and instructional capacities, including Dean, Chair, and Lecturer, and has taught a wide array of courses while publishing nearly 70 academic papers. He has also participated as a Chair and Keynote Speaker at more than 10 international conferences.
As a Computer Science Engineer, Prof. Asilkan has undertaken diverse professional roles such as Systems Analyst, Database Administrator, Application Developer, and Consultant, contributing to several major projects, including the implementation of CRM and ERP systems.
Since July 2024, he has been serving at the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Blerta Prevalla Etemi
CIT Program Head and Assistant Professor, RIT Kosovo
Keynote Title: Redefining Innovation in Intelligent Educational Systems: The Transition from Human Cognition to Human–AI Co-Adaptive Learning Networks
Biodata: Dr. Blerta Prevalla Etemi Head of Department | Project Leader | Professor | IT Consultant Dr. Blerta Prevalla Etemi is the Head of the Department of Computing and Information Technologies at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) Kosovo, where she also serves as a professor with over 18 years of experience in teaching, academic leadership, and international Her areas of expertise include software engineering, user experience design, databases, broadband policy, and digital education. She holds a Doctor of Science degree in Computer Science Education and Instructional Technology from Near East University in Cyprus. In addition to her research work, she serves as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Modern Technology. Her scholarly work includes over 30 peer-reviewed publications indexed in Scopus, Springer, and IEEE, covering topics such as artificial intelligence in education, cybersecurity, smart systems, and flipped learning. As a proven project leader, Dr. Prevalla Etemi led a key World Bank consultancy project for the Bureau for Development of Education in North Macedonia, where she provided expert guidance on the technical specifications and strategic design of national educational software systems. She also serves as an IT Expert at the National Broadband Competence Office under the Ministry of Digital Transformation (North Macedonia) and as an ICT Consultant with Salience Consulting, contributing to broadband infrastructure and digital transformation projects across the region. Throughout her career, Dr. Prevalla Etemi has held multiple leadership roles, including Dean and Vice Dean of the Computer Science Faculty, and has successfully coordinated multidisciplinary teams and large-scale academic and policy-driven initiatives. She has played a leading role in organizing international conferences, served as Publication Chair of the 5th Springer ISSIP 2024, and participated through the Erasmus+ STEFORA Project in the IVI Summit 2024 held at Maynooth University, Ireland.