Mansour Amini | Education | Best Researcher Award

Assist. Prof. Dr. Mansour Amini | Education | Best Researcher Award

Senior Lecturer, Universiti Sains Malaysia Malaysia

Mansour Amini is a distinguished scholar in Translation Studies, currently serving as a Senior Lecturer at the School of Languages, Literacies, and Translation, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). With a rich academic background, he holds a Ph.D. in Translation Studies from USM, Malaysia, and a Master’s in English Language Teaching from Azarbaijan Teacher Training University, Iran. His research expertise includes conference interpreting, quality expectations, and the washback effect of language assessments. He is also a Research Fellow at Metharath University, Thailand, and has contributed significantly to various universities worldwide. 🏆

 

Publication Profile

Scopus

Orcid

🎓 Education

Mansour Amini’s academic journey includes a Ph.D. in Translation Studies from Universiti Sains Malaysia (2011-2016), focusing on conference interpreting and quality expectations. He completed his M.A. in English Language Teaching at Azarbaijan Teacher Training University (2007-2009), with a thesis on test washback effects. His undergraduate degree in English Language and Literature was earned at the University of Tabriz (2003-2007), Iran. Additionally, he has earned multiple certifications, including the Postgraduate Supervisory Skills certificate (2023) and various higher education teaching modules.

💼 Experience

Mansour Amini has held numerous academic roles, currently serving as Senior Lecturer at USM. He has also worked as Head of Research and Postgraduate Studies at UCSI University, Malaysia, and has been a Visiting Assistant Professor at Zhengzhou Normal University, China. His teaching career spans multiple institutions in Malaysia, Iran, and China, with roles ranging from Assistant Professor to English Instructor. Amini is also actively involved in academic administration and curriculum development. He has contributed to faculty committees, postgraduate supervision, and research initiatives.

🏆 Awards & Honors

Mansour Amini has earned several prestigious awards, including the Best New Lecturer Award (2018) and Best Researcher Award (2020) from UCSI University, Malaysia. He also received the Best Lecturer Award (2020), based on exceptional student evaluations, and the Best Employee Performance Award (2020) for outstanding KPIs. He was recognized with a Bronze Medal in 2022 for his work on translating proper names in “Harry Potter.” In 2024, he received the Research Advocacy Award and the Author Citation Award for his contributions to research and high citation impact.

🔬 Research Focus

Mansour Amini’s research focuses on Translation Studies, particularly conference interpreting, language assessment, and the impact of language tests on learning outcomes. His doctoral dissertation explored users’ and interpreters’ quality expectations in Malaysia. He has also researched the effects of language testing on vocabulary acquisition. Additionally, Amini has contributed to scholarly discussions on the intersection of language education, teaching practices, and the role of research in enhancing educational systems. His ongoing work aims to address challenges in translation and education.

Publication Top Notes

  1. Title: The mediating roles of academic self-efficacy and learning interest in the relationship between teaching style and math behavior engagement among junior high school students in China
    Authors: Geng, Q., Amini, M., Binti Hashim, S.N.A., Zhu, M.
    Year: 2024
    Citation: PLoS ONE, 19(10), e0311959

 

  1. Title: Strategies and Challenges in English to Chinese Translation of Selected Song Lyrics
    Authors: Amini, M., Xi, F.O.F., Xuan-En, S.A.C., Lee, K.-F., Ravindran, L.
    Year: 2024
    Citation: Jurnal Arbitrer, 11(3), pp. 244–262

 

  1. Title: Instructors’ perceptions and pedagogical approaches to online teaching in selected Malaysian private universities
    Authors: Heng, J.X., Lee, K.-F., Amini, M., Ravindran, L.
    Year: 2024
    Citation: International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education, 13(4), pp. 2650–2658

 

  1. Title: The application of Juliane House’s translation quality assessment model in the English translation of Yu Hua’s ‘Yanre de xiatian’
    Authors: He, H., Amini, M., Ganapathy, M., Lah, S.C.
    Year: 2024
    Citation: Cogent Arts and Humanities, 11(1), 2386781

 

  1. Title: Pragmatic functions and interpersonal communication using emojis in WeChat by Chinese undergraduate students: a corpus-based study
    Authors: Tingting, G., Lee, K.-F., Amini, M., Ravindran, L.
    Year: 2024
    Citation: International Journal of Marketing Semiotics and Discourse Studies, 12, pp. 1–30

 

  1. Title: A review on the social impacts of automation on human capital in Malaysia
    Authors: Amini, M., Ravindran, L.
    Year: 2024
    Citation: Machine Intelligence in Mechanical Engineering, pp. 327–342

 

  1. Title: Users’ quality expectations and their correspondence with the realistic features of translation applications
    Authors: Kuek, J.R., Amini, M., Siau, C.S., Amirdabbaghian, A.
    Year: 2024
    Citation: Texto Livre, 17, e42167

 

  1. Title: Systematic review: Factors influencing creativity in the design discipline and assessment criteria
    Authors: Zetian, D., Tan, W.H., Shumin, R., Amini, M., Shoushan, W.
    Year: 2023
    Citation: International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education, 12(3), pp. 1440–1448

 

  1. Title: Teaching critical thinking to Chinese students in English as a foreign language writing class: A review
    Authors: Xiaomeng, Z., Ravindran, L., Amini, M.
    Year: 2023
    Citation: International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education, 12(3), pp. 1735–1744

Michael Ciolfi | Design for Learning | Excellence in Research

 Dr. Michael Ciolfi |Design for Learning| Excellence in Research

 

Experienced educational administrator with a robust background in managing patient care services and professional education in North America. Renowned for introducing innovative programming with measurable improvements in learning, performance, cost-effectiveness, and administrative ease. Proven leadership in strategic planning, sustainability, fiscal responsibility, and timely execution, leveraging a diverse career in competitive athletics and military strategic planning. Holds advanced degrees in Business Administration, Chiropractic, and Physical & Health Education. Currently Dean of the College of Health Sciences at the University of Bridgeport, driving strategic planning, accreditation, and budget management while fostering program growth and faculty development.

Profile

  1. scopus

📚 Academic Administration * 🏆 Professional Practice * 🎓 Teaching

A qualified, experienced educational administrator with an extensive track record of managing both patient care services and professional education development in Canada and the USA. Have introduced state-of-the-art programming in every environment with measurable gains in learning, performance, cost-effectiveness, and ease of administration achieved in all cases.

Strong, proven leader of people and processes, combining a diverse professional career with a background in competitive athletics and military strategic planning. Known for a collaborative style in relationship building, bold planning and decision making, analytical problem solving, creative solution development, sustainability planning, fiscal responsibility, and timely execution.

🎓Education

DBA (Doctorate-Business Admin), Walden University, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2014 (Specialization: Leadership). MBA (Masters-Business Admin), University of Fredericton, Fredericton NB, 2010 (Specialization: General Business). Land Forces Military Command, Command & Staff College, Kingston ON, 2002 (Specialization: Light Infantry). DC (Doctor of Chiropractic), Life University, Marietta, Georgia, 1990. BSc (Nutrition), School of Chiropractic/School of Nutrition, 1990. HBPE (Physical & Health Education), Lakehead University, Thunder Bay ON, 1985

 

📚 Teaching Experience

🇨🇦 Canadian Army – Infantry Corps

Soldier Instruction: 1991-1996

  • Military conduct/military law/Queen’s Regulations and Orders
  • Navigating with map and compass
  • Extreme cold and extreme heat physiological adaptation and survival
  • Arctic survival, prevention, and treatment of cold injuries
  • Small arms instruction: M16 rifle, automatic weapons/machine guns/mortars/grenades/handheld antitank rocket and missile launchers

Officer Instruction: 1996-2003

  • Radio procedures/transmitting, receiving, storing and destroying classified information
  • Mission analysis and creation of military orders
  • Navigating with map, compass, and GPS
  • Directing indirect (artillery) and direct (tank) fire
  • Leading quick and deliberate light infantry platoon/company level attacks
  • Leading soldiers in ground, air-mobile and amphibious operations in multiple environmental conditions

🏫 Niagara College

Lead Instructor: Anatomy and Physiology for Nurses: 1996 – 2001

  • Lifelong Wellness Activities/Lifestyles Course: 2000-2001
  • EMT Physical Preparation Course: 2000-2001

🏫 North Florida Institute of Massage Therapy

Lead Instructor: Anatomy and physiology for massage therapists: 2003-2005

🏫 Palmer College of Chiropractic Florida

Outpatient Faculty Clinician: Clinical experience courses: 2005-2006

  • Chiropractic Technique Instructor: Low back spinal manipulation and rehabilitation: 2005
  • Classroom Instructor: Patient care documentation, E & M and CPT coding: 2006-2008

🏫 Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College

Lead Instructor: Foundations of spinal manipulation and manual therapies: 2009-2014

  • Guest Lecturer: Business procedures, accounting and finance, strategic planning, operational management, and leadership: 2010-2014

🏫 University of Bridgeport

Chiropractic history, philosophy, and evidence-informed care: 2020

  • Navigating with map and compass: UG Health Sciences Adventure Course: 2022

🎓 Current Professional Responsibilities at the University of Bridgeport

Dean, College of Health Sciences (CHS)

  • Facilitated and created a strategic plan for the CHS.
  • Responsible for the academic and clinical competency attainment of ten health sciences programs.
  • Staffed chiropractic and acupuncture clinicians at Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC).
  • Managed operations of on-campus UB Clinics and post-graduate continuing education department.
  • Held financial oversight for all programs, including P & L reporting.
  • Facilitated strategic plans for various schools within the university.

WITH FACULTY

  • Evaluated full-time and part-time faculty.
  • Approved professional development and research projects.
  • Supervised schedule development.
  • Authorized hiring of program directors and faculty, and purchase of equipment and supplies.

ENCOURAGING AND SUPPORTING GROWTH

  • Managed growth of CHS programs, including UB Clinics and Health Sciences post-graduate education.
  • Developed a spine/neuromusculoskeletal model of care.
  • Integrated chiropractic and acupuncture into FQHCs and established residency training programs.

ACCREDITATION

  • Completed a self-study for the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE) for UBSC accreditation.
  • Participated in past accreditation studies at Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College and Palmer Chiropractic College.

BUDGET

  • Developed and managed annual budgets for CHS, UB clinics, post-graduate education, and FQHC clinical sites.
  • Utilized zero-based and other budget development strategies.
  • Balanced economic and educational concerns under resource-challenging conditions.

UB CLINICS

  • Oversaw operations of UB Clinics.
  • Allocated resources for off-site clinics and analyzed monthly financial income statements.
  • Created P & L projections for new program planning and analyzed financial statements for FQHC residency programs.

INFRASTRUCTURE ASSETS

  • Facilitated capital funds for renovations and equipment purchases.
  • Oversaw renovations to the radiology department, technique/physical exam instruction areas, and UB Clinics.

VISION, MISSION & STRATEGIC PLANNING

  • Initiated a review of the mission, vision, values, and paradigm of care for the School of Chiropractic.
  • Developed strategic plans with initiatives for enrollment and retention, curriculum enhancement, programmatic assessment, communications, research, professional leadership, and facilities enhancement.

STRATEGIC PLANNING – COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES

  • Facilitated the creation of a strategic plan for CHS, involving all schools and institutes.

STRATEGIC PLANNING – SCHOOL OF NURSING

  • Developed a strategic plan for the School of Nursing, aligning it with the CHS plan.

STRATEGIC PLANNING – PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT INSTITUTE

  • Facilitated a strategic plan for the Physician Assistant Institute following leadership changes and accreditation reaffirmation.

STRATEGIC PLANNING – SCHOOL OF DENTAL HYGIENE

  • Facilitated a review and creation of a strategic plan for the School of Dental Hygiene, including new program proposals.

EVALUATION

  • Developed and implemented a faculty self-assessment process within established tenure and non-tenure track protocols.

Publications Top Notes 📝

  • The application of UDL and SoTL to health care education
    • Year: 2024
    • Authors: Ciolfi, M.; Howard, L.
    • Source: New Directions for Teaching and Learning

 

  • Perceptions of Ontario chiropractors on business education in chiropractic schools
    • Year: 2021
    • Authors: Ciolfi, M.A.; Azad, A.; Al-Azdee, M.; Nguyen, A.; Panah, B.A.
    • Source: Journal of Chiropractic Education

 

  • Gender diversity in chiropractic leadership: a cross-sectional study
    • Year: 2021
    • Authors: Azad, A.; Maiers, M.; Stuber, K.; Ciolfi, M.
    • Source: Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association

 

  • Response of Chiropractic Organizations to the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Descriptive Report
    • Year: 2020
    • Authors: Johnson, C.D.; Little, C.S.; Sterling, T.A.; Boghosian, K.; Ciolfi, M.A.
    • Source: Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics

 

  • The relationship between chiropractor required and current level of business knowledge
    • Year: 2017
    • Authors: Ciolfi, M.A.; Kasen, P.A.
    • Source: Chiropractic and Manual Therapies