UMC 2024
Unicaf Master’s Conference 2024: Celebrating Global Scholarship and Collaboration
The second Unicaf Master’s Conference, held in 2024, marked a significant milestone as one of the largest academic conferences ever organised within the Unicaf network. The event brought together a remarkable 3,730 participants—3,669 attendees and 61 distinguished panellists—from 137 countries, reflecting the global reach of the Unicaf ecosystem.
The event was structured around Unicaf’s dual academic ecosystem—its own degree-awarding Unicaf University and its partnerships with leading UK universities—highlighting contributions from across both domains. Over five days, the conference showcased 30 oral presentations by Unicaf Master’s students from its three academic Schools: 10 from the School of Business, 9 from the School of Sciences, Health Sciences, Technology and Engineering, and 11 from the School of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences.
The programme also featured 8 plenary presentations, 1 interactive session, and 1 workshop, fostering interdisciplinary dialogue and highlighting cutting-edge research.
The event underscored Unicaf’s commitment to high-quality, accessible education and its strong international partnerships. Among the presenters were 15 students studying through Unicaf’s partnership with Liverpool John Moores University, 5 from the University of East London, 5 from the University of Suffolk, as well as 3 from Unicaf University in Zambia and 2 from Unicaf University in Malawi.
Mrs Isabella Frangouli, Director of Partnerships at Unicaf, reflected on the importance of the conference:
“This forum showcases the transformative power of partnerships in advancing inclusive and accessible education. By bringing together participants from diverse cultures and institutions worldwide, it highlights how collaboration drives innovation, amplifies voices, and fosters global progress in higher education.”
She added that the 2024 event is “a testament to the partnerships that enable Unicaf to bridge educational gaps, create opportunities, and empower learners to thrive globally.” She also acknowledged the invaluable support of Unicaf’s partner institutions in making the conference possible.
Dr Elena Papadopoulou, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Teaching and Learning at Unicaf, praised the enthusiastic participation of students, faculty and senior management:
“It was clear from the presentations that students were engaged in community-driven research aligned with Unicaf’s environmental, social and corporate governance. Their work contributes to inclusive education, public health, and economic development in their communities.”
Featured Contributions
Several powerful presentations reflected the breadth of research across Unicaf University and its partner institutions:
- Mrs Torsney, a Professional Doctorate (ProfDoc) researcher at Liverpool John Moores University, examined how stereotypes and limited resources hinder inclusive education for autistic learners in the UK, advocating for neuroaffirmative, student-centred approaches.
- Dr Daniel Mpolomoka, Dean of the School of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences at Unicaf University Zambia, and Dr Christine Mushibwe, Vice-Chancellor of Unicaf University Zambia, explored mentoring models that foster youth innovation and regenerative practices in higher education.
- Dr Flaherty, Senior Lecturer in Law at the University of Suffolk, discussed the evolving role of artificial intelligence in copyright law, questioning whether AI-generated content should be eligible for legal protection.
- Mr Wez Nolan, Media Production Programme Lead at Liverpool John Moores University, shared longitudinal research on creative industries education and its transformative impact on first-generation university students.
- Dr Christopher Owens, Senior Lecturer in Public Health at the University of Suffolk, presented Ripple Effects Mapping as a method for evaluating public health programmes, capturing both intended and unintended outcomes.
- Dr Kezia Njoroge, Senior Lecturer in the School of Health Sciences at Liverpool John Moores University, explored the practice of clay ingestion among African migrant women during pregnancy, calling for culturally tailored health education.
- Dr Rachael Frost, Senior Lecturer in Health and Social Care at Liverpool John Moores University, led a scoping review of over-the-counter supplements for mental health, identifying key research gaps—especially in older adult populations.
- Dr Stratis Efthymiou, Programme Leader at Unicaf Federal, spoke on the evolving role of Human Resources in future-ready organisations, touching on AI, talent development, and sustainability.
The conference also featured a workshop by Dr Reginald Dennis Gwisai, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academics) at Unicaf University, who used the Lobatse landfill in Botswana as a case study to examine heavy metal contamination and its environmental health impacts.
The Unicaf Master’s Conference 2024 provided a vibrant platform for research, networking and academic exchange, reaffirming Unicaf’s mission to deliver transformative, globally relevant education through both its own university and its valued academic partnerships.
Video recordings and the abstract booklet containing the full programme can be accessed via the links below.
