Prof. Dr.Umesh Ramnarain | Social Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Professor at University of Johannesburg | South Africa

Prof. Dr. Umesh Ramnarain is a highly accomplished scholar and Professor of Science Education at the University of Johannesburg, widely recognized for his influential contributions to advancing inquiry-based science teaching and learning in diverse educational contexts. As the Director of the Centre for Advanced Learning Technologies in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics, he has played a pivotal role in transforming science education through innovative pedagogical models that integrate technology and equity-driven approaches. His academic journey reflects a strong foundation in science and education, culminating in advanced qualifications that underpin his expertise in curriculum design, teacher development, and inquiry-oriented pedagogy. Over the course of his distinguished career, Prof. Dr. Umesh Ramnarain has held various academic and leadership positions, including head of department and research center director, where he has mentored numerous postgraduate students and led multidisciplinary research initiatives. His extensive publication record includes 102 scientific documents and more than 1,055 citations from 835 scholarly sources, earning him an h-index of 18, which highlights his sustained academic impact and influence. His research primarily focuses on inquiry-based learning, science teacher education, technology-enhanced instruction, and the contextual challenges of implementing equitable and effective science teaching in under-resourced environments. He has contributed to internationally recognized journals such as Journal of Research in Science Teaching, Research in Science Education, and Science & Education, while also editing and authoring several key books that have shaped science education discourse in Africa and beyond. In addition to his research and teaching excellence, Prof. Dr. Umesh Ramnarain has been honored with awards recognizing his leadership in research capacity development, transformative education, and innovation in pedagogical practice. His work continues to bridge the gap between theory and classroom practice, emphasizing inclusivity, critical thinking, and the integration of emerging technologies such as virtual and augmented reality in science education. Through his scholarship, mentorship, and leadership, Prof. Dr. Umesh Ramnarain has established himself as a thought leader committed to fostering a generation of educators equipped to meet the demands of 21st-century learning in a rapidly evolving global landscape.

Profile: Scopus | Orcid | Google Scholar | Linkedin

Featured Publications:

Ojetunde, S. M., & Ramnarain, U. (2025). Like objects or like subjects? Effects of student–robot interaction (SRI) and mathematical ability on students’ learning outcomes. Smart Learning Environments, 12(1), 1–9.
Chanetsa, T., & Ramnarain, U. (2025). The effect of textbook analysis as a teacher professional development tool on teacher understanding of nature of science. Science and Education, 34, 73–93.
Mhlungi, X., Ramaila, S., & Ramnarain, U. (2025). The cognitive complexity of technical sciences: An analysis using the depth-of-knowledge level scheme. International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, 24(2), 613–635.
Van Wyk, L., Ramnarain, U., & Segun, O. (2025). The effects of inquiry-based learning on STEM-related career aspirations of grade 9 natural sciences students. Research in Science Education.
Ojetunde, S. M., Ramnarain, U., & Teo, T. (2024). Task-technology fit of Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) education technology for inquiry-based learning (IBL). Educational Media International, 62(1), 29–53.
Lotter, L., & Ramnarain, U. (2025). An exploratory study on the use of a flipped classroom model for supporting inquiry-based learning in natural sciences classrooms. African Journal of Research in Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 29(1), 99–112.
Ogegbo, A. A., Ramnarain, U., & Krajcik, J. (2024). Factors predicting teachers’ implementation of inquiry-based teaching practices: Analysis of South African TIMSS 2019 data from an ecological perspective. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 1–35.
Ramnarain, U., Penn, M., & Mdlalose, N. (2025). Engaging science learners at disadvantaged schools in South Africa in the use of culturally-anchored virtual reality simulations for inquiry-based learning. LUMAT-B: International Journal on Math, Science and Technology Education, 10(2), 7.
Ramnarain, U., & Moosa, S. (2023). The impact of an empowerment evaluation approach on teachers’ TPACK-P proficiency levels. African Journal of Research in Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 27(2), 180–191.
Adeyele, V. O., & Ramnarain, U. (2024). Exploring the integration of ChatGPT in inquiry-based learning: Teacher perspectives. International Journal of Technology in Education, 7(2), 200–217.

Dr.Naveed Sheikh | Social Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Lecturer in International Relations at Keele University | United Kingdom

Dr. Naveed Sheikh is a distinguished scholar and educator at Keele University’s School of Social Sciences, United Kingdom, specializing in politics, religion, and international relations. He earned his Ph.D. in International Studies from the University of Cambridge, where his doctoral research explored the influence of religious imagination on strategic culture in South Asia and the Middle East. With over two decades of academic excellence, Dr. Naveed Sheikh has served in esteemed roles, including Lecturer in International Relations at Keele University, Visiting Fellow at the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, University of Notre Dame, Visiting Professor at the College of Europe in Warsaw, and Associate Fellow at the Indonesian International Islamic University. His teaching spans international relations, foreign policy, and Middle Eastern politics, while his supervisory experience includes mentoring multiple Ph.D. candidates. Dr. Naveed Sheikh’s research focuses on political Islam, strategic culture, religious politics, and the interaction between theology and international security. As Editor-in-Chief of Politics, Religion & Ideology, he has contributed to shaping global discourse on radical ideologies and religious movements. His scholarly output includes influential publications such as The New Politics of Islam: Pan-Islamic Foreign Policy in a World of States and several chapters in leading academic handbooks and edited volumes published by Routledge and Springer. His recent studies examine the geopolitics of religion, the hermeneutics of jihad, and postcolonial subjectivity within Islamic movements. Recognized with multiple awards for teaching and research excellence,Dr. Naveed Sheikh’s work bridges academic inquiry and policy relevance, offering nuanced insights into the complex relationships between religion, identity, and global politics. His research achievements are reflected in 10 citations across 10 documents, 4 indexed publications, and an h-index of 2 according to Scopus. Through an impressive record of publications, global collaborations, and leadership in academic discourse, Dr. Naveed Sheikh continues to contribute profoundly to advancing knowledge in social sciences, fostering critical dialogue on religion and international affairs, and mentoring the next generation of scholars committed to global understanding and peace.

Profile: Scopus

Featured Publications:

1. Sheikh, N. S. (2023). Reaction, restoration, and the return of Alpha-Islam: Wahhabism from premodern ideas to postmodern identities. In E. Orofino & W. Allchorn (Eds.), Routledge Handbook on Non-Violent Extremisms: Groups, Perspectives, and New Debates. Abingdon: Routledge.

2. Sheikh, N. S. (2023). Islam v. Islamic State: Charges, arguments, and evidence in the Islamic case against ISIS. In A. Akande (Ed.), Politics Between Nations: Power, Peace, and Diplomacy. New York: Springer.

3. Sheikh, N. S. (2021). Making sense of Salafism: Theological foundations, ideological iterations, and political manifestations. In J. Haynes (Ed.), Routledge Handbook on Religion and Ideology (pp. 177–196). Abingdon: Routledge.

4. Sheikh, N. S. (2007). The New Politics of Islam: Pan-Islamic Foreign Policy in a World of States. London and New York: Routledge.

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