SAS Global Academic Program in Asia Pacific recognizes academic partner collaboration

SAS Academic Partner Awards celebrates outstanding academic partners

In collaboration with universities and colleges in the Asia Pacific region, data and AI leader SAS is helping educators skill the future workforce. In recognition of significant academic partnerships, SAS Academic Partner Awards showcases educators who excel at building the future AI and technology enabled workforce. Academic Partner Award winners have led ground-breaking programs, working with industry to develop skills based and applied lead teaching programs. Winners are nominated and chosen based on their engagement with SAS and commitment to developing the academic / industry ecosystem.

“These faculty members are innovators when it comes to working with industry to develop the future AI and technology workforce,” said Bhuvan Nijhawan, Senior Director Education at SAS. “They are curious, passionate about industry collaboration and lead the development of programs that reflect the skills-based employee needs of the future. We’re thrilled to be able to acknowledge their contribution.”

Academic Partner Award winners have led ground-breaking programs, working with industry to develop skills based and applied lead teaching programs.

SAS is proud to congratulate the three SAS Academic Partner Award winners for 2024:

Australia

• Associate Professor Hayden McDonald is an accomplished and experienced academic leader. As Director of Torrens University's Analytics programs, he has successfully implemented innovative approaches to curriculum design. Dr McDonald actively collaborates with business leaders to address industry skill gaps through innovative teaching and learning experiences. He has led external research funded projects and published his research in high-quality academic journals. In addition to his scholarly contributions, Dr McDonald has extensive experience as a financial systems analyst. He is a Fellow of CPA Australia and has provided strategic advice to hundreds of organisations across the globe.
  
  
• Sumith Abkari is the TAFE NSW Industry Innovation Specialist for IT and Digital. Sumith is an accomplished senior project manager with several years of experience working in education and healthcare domains in both corporate and government organisations. He is known for his ability to lead a team to drive business objectives and his calm and solution-oriented approach to complex business priorities. Sumith has exceptional people skills, which he uses to motivate and drive his team and effectively interact with all stakeholders. His passion for education, striving for excellence, and intrinsic motivation to deliver outcomes for TAFE NSW makes him an emerging leader. Sumith has graduated with a Masters in Business Administration and a Bachelor's in Electronics Engineering. He enjoys spending quality time with his wife and two young daughters.

Japan

• Mitsunori Hidaka - Professor and Director of the Library at Miyazaki Sangyo Keiei University. Graduated from the School of Commerce, Waseda University, and completed the Master's Program of the Graduate School of Commerce, Waseda University. After working for an electronics manufacturer, he became a full-time lecturer at Miyazaki Sangyo Keiei University in 1997 and an associate professor there in 2003 before assuming his current position in 2005. He specializes in advertising theory. His major publications include "Marketing Communication," Dobunkan (co-authored) and "Modern Marketing Innovations and Challenges," Tokai University Press (co-authored). Prof. Hidaka worked with SAS to establish a SAS Academic Specialisations in Marketing Science, recognising the next generation of AI and SAS enabled graduates.

Learn more about SAS’ academic programs and efforts in AI education.