Tallinn University, Research Fellow of Digital Transformation and Lifelong Learning

Abiodun’s current research exists at the intersection of design studies, digital transformation, lifelong learning, and sustainability. He investigates the facilitation of tacit knowledge in onboarding scenarios within high-stress environments, such as correctional services. He promotes individual and collaborative audio-based learning with voice control for routine physical activities, including farming, and for individuals facing reading challenges like dyslexia. His other interests include designing ethical AI digital tools and implementing sustainable practices in digital transformation. Abiodun has co-organised conferences, including Africhi in 2016, 2021, and 2023, and CHI 2023, and is presently a co-organiser for Africhi 2025 and ECCE 2025. He serves on the steering committee for 4D ACM SIGCHI in Nigeria and is a member of the advisory board for Africhi.

Email: abiodun_afolayan.ogunyemi@tlu.ee

Tallinn University, Junior Researcher

Aladdin Shikhizada is a data-driven, open-minded, and proactive individual with a solid understanding of algorithms and a desire to discover and learn new technologies. Passionate about solving mathematical and algorithmic problems as well as designing and building apps.

Email: aladdin@tlu.ee

Tallinn University, Junior Researcher

Anar Abilakimova is a third-year PhD student at Tallinn University’s Information Society Technologies program. Her research focus is workplace learning, especially cross-organizational learning on the individual level and knowledge creation. Her current research context is the digital and green transformation of Estonian manufacturing industry.

Email: anarabil@tlu.ee

Tallinn University, Associate Professor of educational data mining

Danial Hooshyar is an Associate Professor of Educational Data Mining at the School of Digital Technologies, Tallinn University. His research focuses on Technology-Enhanced Learning, with a particular emphasis on Artificial Intelligence for Education.

Email: danial.hooshyar@tlu.ee

Tallinn University, School of Digital Technologies, Professor

David Lamas leads the HCI group at Tallinn University’s School of Digital Technologies and chairs the Estonian chapter of ACM’s SIGCHI. He specializes in design theory and has extensive experience. David established the Master in Human-Computer Interaction and the online Masters in Interaction Design. He organizes local HCI training events and the annual World Usability Day, attracting over 600 participants.

He has chaired major conferences like INTERACT 2019, NordiCHI 2020, and AfriCHI 2021.

Email: david.lamas@tlu.ee

Tallinn University, Junior Researcher

Iren’s research focuses on developing technology-enhanced learning solutions, particularly in the context of workplace learning. Her specialization includes voice-controlled auditory learning, augmented reality (AR), and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) systems. She works on creating an adaptive and inclusive learning tool aimed at improving the onboarding process for new employees in correctional services, providing personalized, accessible, and engaging learning environments. She aims to address challenges related to employee retention, motivation, and onboarding in a complex and high-stress environment.

Email: irbe@tlu.ee

Tallinn University, School of Digital Technologies, Junior Researcher

Janika Hirv-Biene is a Junior Researcher at the Centre of Educational Technology at Tallinn University. In her research, she investigates the role of self-directed workplace learning in transfer of learning across contexts (e.g. from education or training to workplace) and how this process can be supported with digital technologies.

Email: jaanika.hirv_biene@tlu.ee

Tallinn University, Professor of Adult Education and Non-Formal Learning

Her main research areas are interdisciplinary, blending informal education, sustainability studies, citizen science, educational technology, workplace learning and digitized culture and innovative learning. She holds a MA in Biology and teacher education, MSc in Science Education (both from University of Tartu), Ph.D. in Education from the University of Turku. She has contributed to international research projects under the Horizon Europe BioheadCitizen, iCamp, S-Team, IntelLEO, Learning-Layers, EduMap, e-Diploma and led Erasmus Programmes “INOS”, “Design-IT”, “Winnovators”. Currently, she is the PI of “ERA Chair in Sustainable Futures”.

Email: kai.pata@tlu.ee

Tallinn University, School of Digital Technologies, Professor of Technology-enhanced Learning

Kairit Tammets is Professor of Technology-enhanced Learning at Tallinn University. Her interests include educational technology, technology-enhanced teaching methods, including the application of learning analytics in teacher professional development, and socio-technical systems in lifelong learning. She has coordinated several large research and development projects funded by the European Commission.

Email: kairit.tammets@tlu.ee

Tallinn University, School of Digital Technologies, Research Professor in Digital Transformation

Merja Bauters, a docent of Semiotics at the University of Helsinki, specializes in co-design and technology-enhanced learning. She has lectured extensively, supervised many PhDs, and conducted research at several universities, including AALTO and Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University. Notable projects include Learning Layers, DesignIT, and IlluminatED. Her research focuses on learning through experience, habit change, and enhancing collaboration and creative thinking through design.

Email: merja.bauters@tlu.ee

Tallinn University, Junior Researcher

Naoto Hieda is a junior research fellow and a PhD student at the School of Digital Technologies, Tallinn University. They have a background in engineering (B.Eng. at Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan and M.Eng. at McGill University, Canada) and in media art (Diplom II, master’s equivalent, at the Academy of Media Arts in Cologne, Germany). Within the Movement, Digital Intelligence and Interactive Audience (MODINA) project, they fill the gap between dancers and technologists by proposing new tools and methodologies for collaboration.

Email: naoto.hieda@tlu.ee

Tallinn University, School of Digital Technologies, Associate Professor

He is an Associate Professor in Digital Transformation at Tallinn University. Since 2000, he has been teaching and conducting research in media art and interaction design, in several universities internationally (Aalto U., Goldsmiths U. London, U. Greenwich, U. Madeira). He holds a PhD in Art and Design in New Media, from Aalto U. (Finland), with the thesis ‘Interactive Audiovisual Objects’. Nuno is also an associated researcher at the Interactive Technologies Institute (U. Lisbon). He has led several research projects combining sound, image, embodiment and interaction design, including a Marie Skłodowska-Curie postdoctoral fellowship and two Creative Europe projects.

Email: nuno.correia@tlu.ee

Tallinn University, Junior Researcher

Pirgit Sillaots is a Junior Researcher at the Centre for Educational Technology at Tallinn University. Her research focuses on multi-stakeholder partnerships and communities of practice, exploring their role in scaling up educational innovation.

Email: pirgitv@tlu.ee

Tallinn University, School of Digital Technologies, Senior Researcher

Sónia Sousa is an Associate Professor of Interaction Design at Tallinn University, leading the Online MSc in Interaction Design and the Trustworthy HCI research lab. She serves on expert panels for the European Commission, AKA, AFOSR, and SNSF. With expertise in software design and HCI, she has completed two PhDs and two postdocs, focusing on trust in software design and interaction evaluation methods. Sónia Sousa is an active researcher in Human-Machine Trust and HCI, involved in several European and USA projects. She was honored by the Estonian Research Foundation as a notable female academic in 2022.

Email: sonia.sousa@tlu.ee