Dr. Azar is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Language and Literacy Education, Faculty of Education, University of Malaya (UM), Malaysia. He earned his Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics from the Faculty of Languages and Linguistics, University of Malaya. With over 27 years of experience, he has served as an EFL/ESL senior lecturer, researcher, and curriculum developer in Iran, Turkey, Qatar, and Malaysia. His research interests include academic discourse analysis, genre analysis, corpus linguistics, TESL, educational technology, and English language teaching strategies. He has published widely in prestigious journals such as GEMA Online® Journal of Language Studies, Asian ESP Journal, Asian EFL Journal, Studies in English Language and Education, World Journal of English Language, and Education and Information Technologies (Springer). Dr. Azar is the corresponding author of two recent articles: “Humour Discourse in ESL Classrooms: A Critical Literature Review,” published in the European Journal of Humour Research, and “Exploring AI-Generated Feedback in Second Language Writing: Learner Perceptions, Effectiveness, and Challenges,” both contributing to ongoing discussions in applied linguistics, ESL pedagogy, and AI-assisted language education. He currently serves as the Head of Professional Development, Artificial Intelligence and Technology Outreach at the Malaysian Association of Applied Linguistics (MAAL). Dr. Azar is also the editor of several scholarly volumes published by IGI Global (USA), including Reconceptions of Policies, Strategies, and Challenges in Education 5.0; Innovations in Educational Robotics: Advancing AI for Sustainable Development; and Smart Education and Sustainable Learning Environments in Smart Cities. Additionally, he sits on the editorial boards of several academic journals, including the Asian Journal of University Education (AJUE) – Scopus Q1, Universiti Teknologi MARA; the International Journal of Modern Languages and Applied Linguistics (IJMAL) – Akademi Pengajian Bahasa, UiTM; Education Quarterly Reviews – ERIC-indexed, Asian Institute of Research; and the Journal of Pragmatics and Discourse Research – SINTA 3, PPJBSIP, Indonesia.

Seon-Hahn KIM, MD, PhD, FACS  Dr. Kim Seon Hahn is Professor and Consultant colorectal surgeon working at Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, as his new academic position appointed in Sep 2022. He had been Professor of Colorectal Division, Department of Surgery at Korea University Anam Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea (2006-2022). He has been specifically interested in robotic and minimally invasive surgery and surgical anatomy in the colorectum during the past 30 years.   Prof. Kim has performed more than 3500 laparoscopic colon and rectal resections and over 1000 robotic rectal resections, mainly for cancer. He performed many live robotic and laparoscopic surgeries at various international congresses and at oversea hospitals. He was honored to give several orations such as; the ‘BJS Lecture’ at the 2015 Congress of European Society of Coloproctology in Dublin, the very first ‘Yasunobu Tsujinaka Memorial Oration’ at the 27th Annual Jagelman/37th Turnbull International Colorectal Symposium 2016 held in Florida, ‘The William Hugh Isbister Lecture’ at the 2019 Saudi-International Colorectal Diseases Forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and ‘Dr. Pradeep Chowbay Oration’ at Indian Association of Gastrointestinal Endosurgeons (IAGES) 2023 Midterm Conference in Bhopal, India.   Prof. Kim was the Founding President of Korean Association of Robotic Surgeons (KAROS, 2013-15) and the Chairman of the Korean Society of Endoscopic and Laparoscopic Surgeons (KSELS, 2014-16). He was awarded the Yeoh Ghim Seng Professor of Surgery by National University of Singapore (2008-14), and Dr. Anthony PC Yim Professorship in Minimally Invasive Surgery and Innovative Technology by Chinese University of Hong Kong (2011). He has been also invited as visiting professor/scholarship worldwide, including Cleveland Clinic Cleveland, OH, USA (2009), Royal Brisbane Hospital in Australia (2011), National Cheng Gong University in Taiwan (2012/2015), Kumamoto University in Japan (2013), Karolinska Institute Hospital in Stockholm, Sweden (2015/2017), and University of Western Sydney, Australia (2018-2024).

Prof. Juliana Othman is a scholar in language education and a Professor at the Faculty of Education, University of Malaya. With over 30 years of experience in applied linguistics and teacher education, she has shaped language policies, teacher training, and bilingual education in Malaysia. She has held key leadership roles, including Chair of the Centre for Research in Language Education (CRiLE), Head of the Department of Language & Literacy Education (2015–2018), and Deputy Director of the Centre for the Initiation of Talent and Industrial Training, driving impactful research and curriculum reforms. Recognized globally, she has been awarded prestigious fellowships, including the Fulbright Scholar Fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania, Asian University Alliance Scholar at Tsinghua University, and Visiting Scholar at the University of Washington. Prof. Juliana plays a vital role in enhancing academic standards as an External Program Assessor and consultant for leading universities and education programs. Her research, supported by the British Council, the Ministry of Education, and Universiti Malaya, focuses on teacher professional development, second language pedagogy, and bilingual education, directly influencing policy and classroom practices. Beyond academia, Prof. Juliana actively contributes to national and international educational advancement. She has served as an External Program Assessor for leading institutions locally and internationally, such as Universiti Sains Malaysia, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Universiti Islam Antarabangsa and UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, Indonesia, ensuring academic rigor in language education programs. As a consultant and advisor, she has played a key role in shaping curriculum frameworks, including the BED Primary program at the Institute Pendidikan Guru Ilmu Khas and Universiti Utara Malaysia. A prolific author and advocate, she has published extensively on language education and has been instrumental in shaping national and institutional curriculum frameworks. Through her leadership and scholarship, she continues to elevate language education standards and empower educators, making a lasting impact in the field.