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.

Dr. Seong Lin DING is Associate Professor of Sociolinguistics at the Faculty of Languages and Linguistics, University of Malaya. She was formerly an OeAD scholar and a Korean Foundation for Advanced Studies Fellow. She has held visiting positions at the University of Manchester (UK), Lancaster University (UK), Hong Kong Polytechnic University (HK), Yonsei University (South Korea), and University of Glamorgan (University of South Wales, UK). She has also been invited to present lectures and seminars at the University of Zadar (Croatia), University of Graz (Austria), and National Cheng Kung University (Taiwan). Her research focuses on minority/heritage languages and communities. She is also interested in migration linguistics, sociology of education, language and identity, and linguistic landscape. Her academic articles have appeared in leading journals in linguistics (e.g., Applied Linguistics Review; Current Issues in Language Planning; International Journal of Bilingualism; International Journal of Heritage Studies; Language in Society; Lingua; Multilingua; Social Semiotics), and educational research (e.g., Australasian Journal of Educational Technology; Educational Technology Research and Development; Innovations in Education and Teaching International). Her most recent publication examines the migration from mainland China to Malaysia from the perspectives of language, social presence, and politics of identity: Chinese on the Move: Migration, Language, and Identity (2025, Palgrave Macmillan).

Dr. Parvathi Wajindram is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Indian Studies, University of Malaya. She holds a PhD in Social Science from the University of Malaya, a Master’s degree in Corporate Communication from Universiti Putra Malaysia, and a Bachelor’s degree in Media Studies and Communication. With professional experience in academia, broadcasting, and corporate communication, she brings a multidisciplinary approach to her teaching in civilisation studies, gender and society, Indian politics, media and communication, and traditional Indian arts. Dr. Parvathi’s scholarship is anchored in the intersections of civilisation, gender, and power, with a focus on how cultural worldviews, historical narratives, and social institutions shape identity, authority, and agency in plural societies. She examines how gendered power operates within minority communities and diasporic contexts, illuminating how individuals negotiate inclusion, representation, and empowerment. A significant dimension of her work bridges civilisation studies with communication and media analysis, examining how power is communicated, framed, and performed within organisations, public discourse, and digital spaces. Drawing from her background in corporate communication and media production, she investigates the role of strategic communication, leadership narratives, and cultural storytelling in shaping collective memory and social behaviour. Complementing this, Dr. Parvathi also conducts research on traditional Indian music and dance from an academic and cultural perspective. She explores these art forms as civilisational knowledge systems that transmit values, ethics, gender norms, and community identity across generations. Her work analyses how Indian classical and folk arts function as forms of cultural communication—embedding power relations, reinforcing or challenging social structures, and fostering identity formation among Malaysian Indians and diasporic youth. Through this lens, she highlights how traditional arts become spaces where culture, gender, creativity, and social change intersect. Together, these strands form a cohesive research agenda that foregrounds the role of culture, communication, and power in shaping human experience. Ultimately, Dr. Parvathi’s scholarship contributes to understanding how communities navigate tradition and modernity, build resilience, and cultivate agency in an increasingly interconnected world.