International Conference on Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, Computing and Data Communication Systems (icABCD 2021)

General Chair
	Professor Van Greunen leads a research, engagement and innovation group at the Nelson Mandela University, namely the Centre for Community Technologies (CCT). The CCT integrates transdisciplinary research and innovation with community engagement through the development and implementation of apps and other smart technologies that enable the advancement of education, health, rural and social development, particularly in low income communities. This is combined with training, networking and policy analysis and advice. She is recognised as one of a handful of international user experience experts for developing countries, and is affectionately known as “the people’s professor” who has managed to introduce smart technologies to the man in the street. She was the first joint-appointment as a Senior Researcher between a South African University and the German multinational software corporation SAP AG in 2006. Over the past five years Prof Van Greunen and her team of change-maker researchers have won various awards and international acknowledgment for their ground-breaking research and application development within the African context and thus realising her vision of “ICT solutions for Africa, by Africans, in Africa”. Prof Van Greunen has published a number well cited scientific papers and also acts as external reviewer for a number of international journals and actively assists with the formulation of policy for the South African Government. As such, she is then recognised as one of the leading academics in the space of advancing the 4th Industrial Revolution in Education.

General Chair

Professor Van Greunen leads a research, engagement and innovation group at the Nelson Mandela University, namely the Centre for Community Technologies (CCT). The CCT integrates transdisciplinary research and innovation with community engagement through the development and implementation of apps and other smart technologies that enable the advancement of education, health, rural and social development, particularly in low income communities. This is combined with training, networking and policy analysis and advice. She is recognised as one of a handful of international user experience experts for developing countries, and is affectionately known as “the people’s professor” who has managed to introduce smart technologies to the man in the street. She was the first joint-appointment as a Senior Researcher between a South African University and the German multinational software corporation SAP AG in 2006. Over the past five years Prof Van Greunen and her team of change-maker researchers have won various awards and international acknowledgment for their ground-breaking research and application development within the African context and thus realising her vision of “ICT solutions for Africa, by Africans, in Africa”. Prof Van Greunen has published a number well cited scientific papers and also acts as external reviewer for a number of international journals and actively assists with the formulation of policy for the South African Government. As such, she is then recognised as one of the leading academics in the space of advancing the 4th Industrial Revolution in Education.

Co-Chairs

Dr. Upasana Singh is a Senior Lecturer in the Discipline of Information Systems and Technology at the University of KwaZulu Natal, Westville Campus, in Durban South Africa. She lectures on a wide-range of IT-related subjects and she has a keen interest in Educational Technologies. In 2019 she completed her Fellowship in “Teaching Advancement in Universities” (TAU), from the CHE. Her primary area of research is Digital Teaching and Learning in Higher Education.

Dr. Sameerchand Pudaruth is a Senior Lecturer & the Head of the ICT Department in the Faculty of Information, Communication & Digital Technologies, at the University of Mauritius (UoM). He has a PhD in Artificial Intelligence. He is the holder of an LLB from the University of London. He is an active member of ACM & IEEE. He is currently the Vice-chair of the IEEE Section of Mauritius. Sameerchand is also the author of a programming book in Python: Python in One Week.

International Advisory Committee

Prof. Zoran Bojkovic, University of Belgrade, Serbia	Prof. (Dr.) Subarna Shakya, Tribhuvan University, Nepal	Prof. Rajat Moona Director Indian Institute of Technology Bhilai India	Prof. (Dr.) inz D.Sc. Bozena Skolud, Silesia University of Technology, Gliwice, Poland

Technical Program Committee

Prof. Reggie Davidrajuh (Co-chair TPC), University of Stavanger, Norway	Dr. Vinaye Armoogum, University of Technology, Mauritius (UTM), Mauritius	Prof. Andrejs Romanovs, Riga Technical University, Latvia	Prof (Mrs.) Meera K. Joseph, Independent Institute of Education, South Africa

Prof. Delene Heukelman, Durban University of Technology, South Africa	Dr Anand Nayyar, Duy Tan University, Vietnam	Dr Brett van Niekerk, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa	Prof. Hlaing Htake Khaung Tin University of Computer Studies, Myanmar

Dr Yiannis Koumpouros, Technological Educational Institute of Athens, Greece	Dr Balasubramani R, NMAM Institute of Technology, India	Dr Nitish, Chooramun, University of Mauritius	Prof. Etienne Ntagwirumugara, University of Rwanda, Rwanda

Prof. Cecilia Maria Schultz, Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa	Temitope Adetunji Vaal University of Technology, South Africa	Prof. Bakhe Nleya, Durban University of Technology, South Africa	Dr Rushan Ziatdinov, Keimyung University, South Korea

Sajid M. Sheikh, University of Botswana	Nikodemus Angula, Durban University of Technology, South Africa	Prof. Naison Gasela North West University, South Africa	Topside Ehleketani Mathonsi Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa

Kudakwashe Zvarevashe University of Zimbabwe	Dr Ntima Mabanza, Central University of Technology, South Africa	Prof. Pius A. Owolawi Tshwane University of Technology South Africa	Thipe Modipa University of Limpopo, South Africa

Emmanuel Mudaheranwa, University of Rwanda, Rwanda	Dr Jean Vincent Fonou-Dombeu, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa	Adeyinka Akanbi, Central University of Technology, South Africa	Isaiah Adebayo, University of Zululand, South Africa

Kayode Emmanuel Adetunji, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa	Kingsley Ogudo, University of Johannesburg South Africa	Ayotuyi Tosin Akinola, University of Zululand South Africa	Patricia Lutu, University of Pretoria South Africa

Shirish Patil Enterprise Data Architect Austin, Texas	Dr Carlos Caldeira, University of Evora, Portugal

Publicity Committee

Natasha Madhav, The Independent Institute of Education (Pty) Ltd, South Africa	Sampson Asare, University of Botswana, Botswana	Paul Macharia, Data Manager, Kenya	Jeraline Dwarika, Durban University of Technology, South Africa

Local Organizing Committee
	Dr. Upasana Singh is a Senior Lecturer in the Discipline of Information Systems and Technology at the University of KwaZulu Natal, Westville Campus, in Durban South Africa. She lectures on a wide-range of IT-related subjects and she has a keen interest in Educational Technologies. In 2019 she completed her Fellowship in “Teaching Advancement in Universities” (TAU), from the CHE. Her primary area of research is Digital Teaching and Learning in Higher Education.
	Mr Mogandren Govender is currently the Operations Manager for the Enterprise Development Unit of Durban University of Technology. In 2014, Mogandren graduated with his Masters in Education from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. His other qualifications include a Bachelor of Social Sciences Honours in Psychology. Since he graduated, his work has been centered on the education and skills development sector, focusing specifically on the areas of youth, rural communities and digital skills. Within this space, Mogandren has made a substantial impact in terms of coordinating training and contributing to the broader aims of digitally upskilling marginalized people in South Africa. Mogandren is also very involved coordinating research events which contribute to dialogue and academic discussion about key topics pertaining to digital skills and education. He has planned and executed conferences, research seminars and engagement sessions for both public and private sectors including the National Electronic Media Institute of South Africa (NEMISA), Accenture, CISCO and even international partners such as the University of Ontario and University of Northumbria. He has served on the IEEE icABCD committee since 2016, and was Programme Coordinator for the Digital Skills conference in 2020. As an Operations Manager, Mogandren can be best described as a calm and collected personality who is able to handle any challenge effortlessly.
	Ms Anelita Kuhle Njili is currently the Programme Coordinator and Executive Assistant to the Director at the Enterprise Development Unit of Durban University of Technology. Anelita graduated with her Bachelor of Technology Public Relations Management from the Durban University of Technology. Within this space, Anelita has executed graduations, research seminars, conferences, team building with 100+ delegates for both public and private sectors including the National Electronic Media Institute of South Africa (NEMISA), and even international partners such as the University of Ontario and University of Northumbria. Anelita is best described as easy going, friendly and with a willingness to help