Yusef Waghid, a leading African philosopher of (higher) education, holds three doctorates in the fields of education, policy, and philosophy from the University of the Western Cape and Stellenbosch University in South Africa, respectively. As a tenured professor since 2002 he was honoured with the title of distinguished professor (2014-2023) on the grounds of his research excellence at Stellenbosch University. He was awarded the status of emeritus professor in 2024. He has been a prolific author with 435 publications to date of which 63 are academic books and edited collections and, 90 invited contributions to books. He promoted 35 PhD candidates to completion, examined 60 doctorates and, received the Association for the Development of Education in Africa’s prestigious Education Research in Africa Award: Outstanding Mentor of Education Researchers (2015). Throughout his tenure, he occupied leading management positions at Stellenbosch University, such as having been appointed Chair of the Department of Education Policy Studies (2003-2007, 2022); and Dean of the Faculty of Education (2007-2012; 2017-2018). In the main, his long-standing relationship with education began as a high school science teacher (1979-1996) before he joined higher education as a senior teaching advisor at UNISA to advance his professional career in higher education (1996-1997).
He received his undergraduate degree from Istanbul University, Faculty of Literature, Department of Geography and graduated in 1982. He completed his master's degree at Istanbul University Institute of Marine Sciences and Geography, Department of Geomorphology in 1986 and his doctorate degree at Istanbul University Institute of Marine Sciences and Management, Department of Geomorphology in 1993. He worked as a geomorphologist in the mining and construction sector between 1984-1992. In 1992, he joined Istanbul University, Faculty of Literature, Department of Geography, Department of Physical Geography as a Research Assistant. In 2006, he became an associate professor of physical geography and in 2012, he received the title of Professor at Istanbul University. He still continues to work as a lecturer at I.U. Faculty of Letters, Department of Geography, Department of Physical Geography. Founded in 2015, he is one of the founders of the "Geomorphological Association" and served as the founding president of the association for 2 terms in 2015-2019 and 2019-2021. He has supervised 21 Master's and 15 PhD students who graduated by completing their theses. Applied Geography, Natural Disasters and Disaster Management, Geography Education, Student-centred constructivist education, Physical Planning, Geographical Information Systems, Watershed Management; 6 original books, 14 book chapters, 11 international articles, 31 international papers, 48 articles in national refereed journals, 44 papers presented at national-international scientific meetings. In 2020, he served as the chairman of the board in the Ministry of National Education General Directorate of Teacher Training and Development, Geography Teachers Professional Development Programme. In the same period, in order to contribute to the field knowledge, skills and competencies of geography teachers at the basic level, published in May 2020; He contributed as a book editor to the book "Geography Education (Basic Level)" (ISBN 978-975-11-5328-9), which consists of 5 chapters: "Activity-Based Course Design and Technology Use in Geography Teaching", "Natural Disasters and Disaster Management", "Sustainable Use of Climate and Natural Resources", "Population Dynamics and Settlements", "Economic Activities and Sustainability".
He graduated from Dokuz Eylül University, Buca Faculty of Education, Department of History Education in 1988. She completed her master's degree at the same university and her doctorate at the University of Leeds (UK). Her master's and doctoral theses are on history textbooks. Her areas of specialisation are history, social studies and life science teaching. Her research interests include evidence-based learning, action research, empathy, ideology-education relationship, active learning methods, oral history, local history. In addition to his monograph "Social Studies Teaching from Theory to Practice", he is the author of "Developing with Empathy, Developing Empathy: Children and Empathy", "Evidence-Based Learning from Theory to Practice in Identity-Determining Lessons", "High School Young Historians Writing Üsküdar's Local History and Filming the Documentary", "Education-Based Non-Governmental Organisations as the Fifth Power of Democracy", "Action Research in Social Studies and History Teaching from Theory to Practice". He has written and presented many articles and papers in his fields of expertise.
Assoc. Prof. Dr Hasan AZIS served as the Mayor of Kardzhali. Kardzhali ''Hristo Botev'' He graduated from the Department of Mathematics at the High School. He graduated from Sofia University of Architecture, Construction and Geodesy as a Civil Engineer, Industrial and Civil Construction Master's Degree, and then from Sofia University of National and World Economy, as an Economist, Management and Marketing Master's Degree. Deputy Governor of Kardzhali, area of responsibility - Administrative Control, State Property, Regional Development and European Integration. Foreign languages: English, Russian. Other activities: 2007- Member of the Committee of Regions, Brussels; 2009- Candidate for Parliament from Electoral District No. 09 in Kardzhali; 2009- Chairman of the Municipal Organisation of Kyrjali HÖH; January 2016- March 2016- Provincial Chairman of HÖH, April 2016 - Vice Chairman of the Central Executive Committee of HÖH.