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CENTER FOR INNOVATION IN HUMAN EXPERIENCE

ABOUT US

The Centre for Innovation in Human Experience comprises a group of academics from Middlesex University Dubai and other professionals with varied backgrounds and expertise in the field of Data Science, Robotics, VR/AR and Human Centred Design; working together to meet the needs of organisations, entrepreneurs, and government for humanised digital transformation in business and society. We believe in and practice innovation, empathy, collaboration, safety, integrity, lawfulness and excellence.

As the first of its kind in the United Arab Emirates, the Centre for Innovation in Human Experience (CIHx) brings together 3 specialised labs: Insightsx Lab, RoboTechx Lab, and Immersive VRx Lab – each equipped with specialist resources and technology.

Aiming to build communities of practice that capitalise on humanising technologies, CIHx is based on 3 pillars:

Research and Development

CIHx aims to promote research opportunities for stakeholders and experts in various emerging technologies and domain, enabling them to come together with faculties, external researchers and students to solve real-world problems in business and society. Outcomes of such collaboration can result in product development, further publications, and many other opportunities.

Consultancy

CIHx has the expertise and the facilities to offer corporate training, advisory services and to undertake consulting projects in the areas of Data Science, Robotics, Virtual Reality, User Experience, and others.

Preparing the Next Generation

CIHx aims to nurture the talent of students through involving them in projects and research; thus, preparing for the next generation of industry ready IT professionals and entrepreneurs.

HEAD OF THE CIHX

DR FEHMIDA HUSSAIN SFHEA FBCS CITP
(Deputy Director Engagement and Student Experience, Associate Professor, Head of Computer Engineering and Informatics)

e. [email protected]

ADVISORY BOARD

Professor Cody Morris Paris PhD

Deputy Director of Research & Business, Head of the Business School

Engie Bashir SFHEA MSc

Senior Lecturer Computer Engineering and Informatics, Campus Programme Coordinator – Undergraduate Computer Engineering and Informatics

CIHX hosts a panel discussion at ERPBSS 2022 – "Humanising Technology: The Role of Policy, Law and Ethics in Technological Innovation"

As part of the Sixth International Conference on Emerging Research Paradigms in Business and Social Sciences and in line with one of the key values of the Centre for Innovation in Human Experience (CIH^X) at Middlesex University Dubai, we organised an exciting panel discussion, that explored the role of policy, law, and ethics within technological innovation. Main themes of the discussion included the legality of autonomous AI, the role of education in the context of the future, financial implications, and environmental considerations. Given the multidisciplinary nature of the topic and the diverse backgrounds of our expert panel, the session was broad in its scope and covered various topics within the concept of “humanising” technology, including practical suggestions for incorporating these values.

The panel included experts across various disciplines –

Dr. Tenia Kyriazi

Deputy Director Academic Operations at Middlesex University Dubai, UAE

Dr. Eduard Fosch-Villaronga

Assistant Professor at eLaw- Center for Law and Digital Technologies, University of Leiden, Netherlands

Paul Kayrouz

Head of Fintech, Blockchain & Emerging Technologies at PwC Middle East

Prof. William Wong

Professor of Human-Computer Interaction, and Head Interaction Design Centre at Middlesex University London, UK

Dr. Fehmida Hussain

Head of Center for Innovation in Human Experience (CIH^X), Associate Professor at Middlesex University Dubai, UAE

Moderated by: Dr. Sameer Kishore

Dr. Krishnadas Nanath named as global Data Science Academic Leader by CDO Magazine

We are delighted to congratulate Dr. Krishnadas Nanath, Associate Professor in our Department of Computer Engineering and Informatics, Head and Founder of the Middlesex Insights Lab and Campus Programme Coordinator Data Science, who has been recognised by CDO (Chief Data Officer) Magazine as one of its 2022 Leading Academic Data Leaders.

According to the magazine, Dr. Krishnadas has been granted this prestigious accolade and named among the field's leading educators and researchers for his work "inspiring the next generation of data scientists" and "paving the way through breakthrough data and analytics-driven concepts".

Dr Krishnadas features in the list in CDO Magazine alongside fellow academics from global institutions such as Cornell University, Columbia University, Stanford University, University of California, Berkeley, and University of Washington in the USA; Tshwane University of Technology in South Africa; National University of Singapore Business School in Singapore; and ESADE Business & Law School in Barcelona, Spain.

Dr Krishnadas said: “I am truly humbled to share this space with the analytics superstars of the world! It’s an absolute honour to feature in the list of leading academic data leaders published by the CDO Magazine and MIT Sloan. I want to thank Middlesex University (MDX) Dubai for the fantastic ground they have offered me to experiment with my ideas. This would not have been possible without the support of amazing students, industry partners, and the incredible leadership team at MDX Dubai. I hope I can live up to this honour and contribute more in the field of data science.”

This is the second award Dr Krishnadas has received in recent months. In November 2021, the Middlesex Insights Lab research centre, which was founded and is led by Dr Krishnadas, was named the winner of the Smart Data Excellence Award in Education at the Smart Data Summit PLUS 2021.

We are extremely proud to count Krishnadas as part of our global faculty. Learn more about his pioneering work as part of the Middlesex Insights Lab here: https://www.mdx.ac.ae/insightsx-lab

Dr Fehmida Hussain awarded BCS Fellowship, IT’s most prestigious accolade

We are delighted to congratulate Dr Fehmida Hussain, our longstanding Head of Computer Engineering and Informatics and Associate Professor – Faculty of Science and Technology, for being awarded Fellowship of the BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, which is one of the most prestigious accolades presented to professionals in the field of Information Technology.

Dr Fehmida has been granted this illustrious status in recognition of her authority and seniority in Computer Science and long-term, unwavering contribution to progressing the industry’s development and influence on a global scale. Her experience and knowledge of the IT field is unrivalled, and we are extremely proud to count her among our internationally renowned faculty.

Dr Fehmida has now been teaching Middlesex University Dubai students for 11 years, using her real-life industry experience to instill in her classes a passion for innovation and the will to use technology to solve pressing societal challenges for the advancement of humanity. She teaches with the desire to close the gap between a traditional classroom education and the working world, incorporating the skills that IT graduates need to succeed in the industry into her curriculums. Alongside her educational role, Dr Fehmida is Head and Founder of the Center for Innovation in Human Experience (CIHx), which focuses on humanising digital transformation, and Chair of the Student Research Committee.

As a passionate pioneer of IT education, Dr Fehmida began her career in the industry when personal computing was on the cusp of revolutionising our daily lives – meaning she is a witness to the entire history of modern technology. After rising through the ranks and gaining invaluable experience overseeing major digital transformation projects, including optimising the latest computer systems for prominent multinational companies, Fehmida took a career break to pursue her doctorate and quickly realised her passion belonged in education and academia.

A passionate advocate for women in STEM, Dr Fehmida represents the University as Ambassador to the Target Gender Equality programme by the United Nations. Among her many other accolades, she is also a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (UK).

Middlesex University Dubai’s Insights Lab wins prestigious Smart Data Excellence Award for innovation in education

Middlesex University (MDX) Dubai’s Insights Lab has announced that it was named the winner of the Smart Data Excellence Award in Education at the Smart Data Summit PLUS 2021 on Thursday 18^th November.

The SDS+ Data Awards are presented to those organisations that have gone above and beyond in their approach to AI and Data Analytics, setting them apart from entities within their category as well as other industries. MDX Dubai’s Insights Lab was also placed in the top five nominated organisations for the Smart Data AI Innovation Award, which celebrates innovation in AI in all industries, alongside four other prestigious firms from across the region: Abu Dhabi Police, Saudi Aramco, Bee'ah, and Ajman Municipality & Planning Department.

Insights Lab, a research centre of excellence that forms part of MDX Dubai’s Centre for Innovation in Human Experience (CIHx) and is led by Dr. Krishnadas Nanath, received this prestigious award for its outstanding implementation of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (AI) principles to achieve excellence in the education sector. The award was received by the Insights Lab team and senior representatives from the University at the Le Méridien Dubai Conference Centre.

Dr Cedwyn Fernandes, Pro-Vice Chancellor of Middlesex University and Director of Middlesex University Dubai, said: “This illustrious award is a testament to our commitment to setting high standards for using Analytics and AI in the education sector. It confirms that the work of our academic researchers, who are leaders in the field, is world-leading and makes a global impact. Producing pathbreaking research that drives academic excellence is the foundation of our approach to teaching and learning. On behalf of the University, I wholeheartedly congratulate our Insights Lab team for this momentous achievement.”

Dr. Krishnadas Nanath, Head and Founder of Insights Lab and Campus Programme Coordinator Data Science at Middlesex University Dubai, said: “This is a very proud moment for Insights Lab and the MSc Data Science programme at Middlesex University Dubai. It is the hard work of students, top management, and our industry partners that resulted in the Lab achieving its vision in such a short time. I am grateful to Beinex, who trusted us in this journey and partnered with the Lab to make a difference in the analytics community. This award reflects the efforts we put in to bring in the best of the analytics world, not only for our students and members but also our industry partners.”

Since its founding in November 2019, Insights Lab has connected researchers and the UAE’s cross-sector Data Science community with companies who wish to better understand how to monetise and derive insights from their data. These partnerships help participating companies develop and apply new predictive models and analytical approaches that are commercially and operationally beneficial.

The Lab has also partnered with prestigious UAE government entities, such as Dubai Taxi Corporation and the Roads and Transport Authority, to conduct data hackathons that allow students and professionals to work with real datasets. In addition, the Insights Lab team has delivered corporate training and consulting programmes to major organisations including Emirates NBD, DAMAC Properties, ADNOC Group, Majid Al Futtaim, Landmark Group and First Abu Dhabi Bank. This strong industry network has resulted in several internship opportunities for Middlesex University Dubai students interested in pursuing a career in data analytics.

MDX Dubai’s School of Science and Technology, representatives from which have founded other core research labs at the University such as the RoboTechx Lab and Immersive VRx Lab, is renowned across the MENA region for its industry-relevant educational offering. The School’s faculty prepares students to enter industry with both the latest theoretical knowledge and practical skills that employers covet in today’s evolving tech environment. Programmes open for entry in January 2022 include BSc Honours Information Technology, BSc Honours Business Information Systems and MSc Data Science.

Learn more about the work of the MDX Dubai Insights Lab here: https://www.mdx.ac.ae/insightsx-lab/

Hackathon Organised by RTA and Middlesex University Dubai Showcases How Data Science Can Empower Dubai’s Public Transport Sector

A predictive data analysis product that uses AI to recommend how Dubai’s taxi drivers can boost their job performance won the top prize at a Roads and Transport Hackathon organised by Middlesex University (MDX) Dubai’s Insights Lab in partnership with Dubai Taxi Corporation (DTC) and the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).

The online hackathon, which concluded with a virtual closing ceremony on Wednesday 8^th September, saw 236 teams made up of students, professionals and freelancers from 18 countries compete to design a product using analytics, machine learning or visualisations that could enhance RTA and DTC operations and improve Dubai’s public transport efficiency.

Participants used an extensive RTA and DTC dataset to come up with real-world solutions and also had access to exclusive training sessions delivered by the hackathon’s partners throughout the five-month initiative. Beinex, SAS Institute and Accord Business Group joined forces with MDX Dubai, RTA and DTC to sponsor the hackathon.

Mehran Abul and Rupa Kumari of Tata Consultancy Services emerged as the winning team. Using factors such as income, distance, and income per kilometre, their predictive model classified individual drivers into performance categories, suggesting whether each driver was suited to shorter or longer routes and providing a forecast for potential maximum revenues per taxi.

The model also generated a heat map that indicated which geographical areas were performing well and which needed more resources. It then used AI-generated insights from the best-performing routes to recommend how lesser-performing routes could improve.

Abdul Manan, MSc Data Science student at MDX Dubai, and Bilal Thonnam and Chuhan Yang, students at New York University Abu Dhabi, were awarded the joint runner-up positions. Their respective products used predictive modelling to forecast trips across Dubai during different times of the day, with the aim of improving taxi availability across the RTA network. Maria Gonzalez and Christiano Cardarelli from Middlesex University Dubai and Mohan Manivannan of cybersecurity firm Digital 14 received Special Mention Awards.

The winning projects were announced at the closing ceremony last week, just before RTA revealed that Dubai saw the highest number of daily public transport users since the beginning of the pandemic. More than 1.3 million people used taxi, metro, bus, tram and marine services on Thursday 9^th September 2021.

The winning teams were awarded a cash prize of AED 3,500 and seven internship positions offered by the hackathon’s partners and sponsors. SAS was the AI partner and provided all participants with free training and software access. Technical sponsor ABG provided free cloud access for hackathon analytics. RTA, DTC, and Beinex provided further training opportunities for participants, as well as data access and cash prizes.

The judging panel included Dr Krishnadas Nanath, Dr Supriya Kaitheri and Dr Fehmida Hussain, MDX Dubai’s Insights Lab faculty team; Ammar Rashid, Director of Assets Management at Dubai Taxi Corporation; Badshah Mukherjee, Principal Customer Advisory Manager at SAS; Ferda Tanguner, Business Solutions Manager at SAS; and DTC’s analytics team.

Hisham Airan, Operation Control and Data Analysis Manager at DTC, spoke at the closing ceremony about the importance of data analytics in solving challenges in the public transport sector. He said: “Data is the fuel, and analytics is the engine to burn this fuel. This hackathon has proved that data can be mined innovatively not only to help Dubai Taxi Corporation but public transportation in general.”

Sreejith Surendran, Chief Delivery Officer at Beinex, announced the winners of the hackathon. He commented: “It’s a massive event to bring so many industry leaders together for the community to solve a real-world problem. Analytics has much more potential than we think about it today, and Beinex is more than happy for the community to realise this potential.”

Dr Cedwyn Fernandes, Pro-Vice Chancellor of MDX and Director of MDX Dubai, said: “I would like to congratulate the winners of this prestigious event on their amazing solutions and ideas. We are proud to have partnered with RTA and DTC on this hackathon, which is the first of its kind in the region and provides the opportunity for tomorrow’s data science leaders to contribute to designing Dubai’s future. This initiative has enabled our MSc Data Science students to collaborate with leading industry professionals and benefit from an unrivalled learning experience that complements their classroom education.”

Dr Krishnadas Nanath, Campus Programme Coordinator of MDX Dubai’s renowned MSc Data Science and Founder of the University’s Insights Lab, said: “It is imperative in the field of data science and AI to be a lifeline student, and the best way to keep learning is to keep solving problems. This hackathon presented an opportunity for the global data science community to work on fantastic public transport data shared by the Dubai Taxi Corporation. It also prepared our students for getting hands-on with big data government analytics.”

Ahmed Kamal, Global Program Manager at SAS, commented: "SAS and Middlesex University Dubai partnered to close the talent gap in the space of the AI and analytics by enabling students and expert communities to feel and taste AI in a different way. We commit to power and inspire people with a trusted and reliable platform to give them the chance to dream, imagine and to innovate. This hackathon was very unique and special for both the participants and sponsors. The ideas that came out of this hackathon were really impressive and it only proves one important thing, which is that innovation is limitless. Thank you Middlesex University Dubai for organising such an impressive event."