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Publications
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International Collaborations

Areas of Excellence

A Multi-Faceted Academic & Teaching Authority

Integrating rigorous research, innovative pedagogy, strategic policy, and transformative mentorship across four distinct pillars.

HCI & XAI Researcher

Advancing Human-Computer Interaction and Explainable AI with a focus on UX for vulnerable populations — including refugee women, elderly users, and cross-cultural communities. Lead researcher on the MindCare mental health platform.

Human-Computer Interaction Explainable AI Vulnerable Populations UX

Lecturer & Curriculum Innovator

Architecting future-ready course frameworks — including "AI in Design Thinking" and User-Centred Design (UCD) curricula — achieving a 98% course success rate and 4.8–4.9/5.0 student satisfaction. Developer of the EduFlex Framework.

AI in Design Thinking UCD Frameworks 98% Success Rate

Innovation Lead & Policy Advisor

Shaping educational quality and research standards through national and international collaborations. Design & Innovation Lead at New Zealand Quality Research and Innovation (NZQRI), advising on AI ethics and educational policy.

NZQRI Educational Standards AI Ethics

Mentor & Academic Leader

Fostering the next generation of researchers and practitioners through hands-on supervision, industry engagement programmes, and leadership across 500+ students at undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral levels.

Research Supervision Industry Engagement 500+ Students

Impact Spotlights

Research That Moves the Needle

Three case studies showing the real-world outcomes of HCI, XAI, and educational innovation research.

MindCare

HCI  ·  UX for Vulnerable Populations

Problem Refugee women in NZ faced severe barriers to accessing mental health support — language, cultural stigma, and low digital literacy.
Solution Designed a culturally-adapted, Arabic-first HCI application using participatory UX methods and trauma-informed design principles.
Outcome 46% reduction in PHQ-9 depression scores among pilot users over 12 weeks.

EduFlex Framework

Curriculum Design  ·  AI-Integrated Learning

Problem Fragmented digital learning ecosystems lacked systematic approaches for embedding AI tools into tertiary curriculum design.
Solution Developed the EduFlex adaptive framework integrating AI-assisted assessment, design thinking, and real-world project cycles.
Outcome 98% course completion rate; adopted across 3 NZ tertiary institutions.

Ethical AI Navigator

XAI  ·  Decision-Support Tools

Problem Educators and policymakers lacked practical, accessible tools to evaluate the ethical implications of AI systems in their domains.
Solution Designed an XAI-based interactive decision-support interface providing transparent, stepwise evaluation of AI ethicality and user impact.
Outcome Adopted by 3 international institutions; featured in NZ educational policy frameworks.

Curriculum Design & Advisory

Shaping Education & Policy

From designing forward-looking courses to advising on national research quality standards — building bridges between academia, industry, and policy.

Curriculum Design

Key Course Frameworks

  • → AI in Design Thinking — Postgraduate paper blending generative AI tools with human-centred design methodology
  • → User-Centred Design (UCD805) — Paper Leader, AUT; classes of 220+ students
  • → Research Methods (INFS811) — Advanced quantitative and qualitative methods for IS researchers
  • → Cross-Cultural UX Design — Arabic UI guidelines and inclusive design for diverse populations
4.9/5.0
Student Rating
98%
Success Rate
220+
Max Class Size

Policy & Advisory

International Engagements

  • NZ Quality Research & Innovation (NZQRI)
    Design & Innovation Lead — advising on EdTech strategy and AI policy integration
  • ITP Research Symposium
    Chair — shaping national research culture across NZ institutes of technology
  • PBRF 2026 — Te Pūkenga
    Strategic lead for Performance-Based Research Fund preparation across 200+ academic staff
  • 15+ International Collaborations
    Cross-institutional research partnerships across NZ, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, and Europe
Dr. Ahmed Al-Sadi

About

Dr. Ahmed Al-Sadi

I am a Senior Research Advisor and HCI Researcher based in New Zealand, with over 17 years of experience spanning four countries. My work sits at the intersection of technology, culture, and human experience — designing systems and curricula that are not only functional but equitable and meaningful.

My research specialises in Human-Computer Interaction for vulnerable populations, Explainable AI ethics, cross-cultural UX, and AI-integrated educational frameworks. I hold an H-Index of 11 with 280+ citations across 30+ peer-reviewed publications.

Assistant Professor & Senior Research Advisor — Te Pūkenga (Whitireia & WelTec), NZ
Design & Innovation Lead — New Zealand Quality Research & Innovation (NZQRI)
Assistant Professor — ICL Graduate Business School, Auckland, NZ

Background

Experience & Education

Academic & Professional Experience

Senior IT Research Advisor
Whitireia & WelTec (Te Pūkenga) | 2021–Present

Mentoring academic staff in research design, managing applied research projects, and contributing to academic quality assurance aligned with NZQA standards.

Applied IT Educator & Innovation Lead
NZQRI | 2018–2025

Delivering professional development in user-centred design, digital innovation, and technology project development.

Information Systems / IT Lecturer
ICL Graduate Business School | 2018–2021, 2024–2025

Coordinated IT courses, designed valid assessments, and supervised Master’s theses and applied technology projects.

Lecturer (Information Systems)
Auckland University of Technology (AUT) | 2014–17, 2019–20

Paper Leader delivering User-Centred Design and Systems Analysis. Coordinated teaching teams and supervised industry-linked projects.

Education & Credentials

PhD in Information Technology
Auckland University of Technology (AUT) | 2018

Specialisation in Human-Computer Interaction, user-centred computing, and ethical technology practice.

Master of Information Technology
University Utara Malaysia | 2008

Focus on Information Systems, software development, and project management.

Core Competencies

Postgraduate Supervision Curriculum Renewal Academic Governance (NZQA) Research Methods User-Centred Design Blended & Online Teaching Digital Wellbeing

Scholarly Output

Selected Publications

Filter by research domain. Full list available on Google Scholar.

2024
MindCare: Culturally Adapted HCI Design for Refugee Mental Health Support
International Journal of Human-Computer Studies
38 cites
2024
The EduFlex Framework: Integrating AI Tools into Adaptive Tertiary Curriculum Design
Computers & Education: Artificial Intelligence
22 cites
2023
Explainable AI for Educational Decision Support: A Practitioner's Framework
Expert Systems with Applications
41 cites
2023
Cross-Cultural UX Design: Arabic Interface Guidelines for Inclusive Digital Products
ACM SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems
29 cites
2022
Technology Acceptance of AI Tools Among Mature-Age University Students: A TAM Extension
Computers in Human Behavior
55 cites
2022
Usability Evaluation of Disaster Management Applications: A Mixed-Methods HCI Study
International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction
34 cites
2021
Design Thinking as a Pedagogical Tool: A Longitudinal Study in NZ Tertiary Education
Teaching in Higher Education
27 cites
2020
User-Centred AI: Bridging the Gap Between Algorithm Transparency and End-User Trust
Behaviour & Information Technology
48 cites

Get in Touch

Let's Collaborate

Open to research collaborations, policy consultations, curriculum partnerships, and speaking engagements.

Email

goalsadi@gmail.com

LinkedIn

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Google Scholar

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