May El Barachi

Professor May El Barachi is the Head of School of Computer Science at University of Wollongong in Dubai. An Egyptian Canadian Computer Scientist and Smart Technology Expert, she holds degrees in Telecom Engineering, Computer Engineering, and Computer Science. Professor El Barachi has established herself as a leader in smart technologies research with international standing.

Her academic journey includes a B.Sc. in Electronics and Communication Engineering from the Arab Academy for Science and Technology, followed by an M.A.Sc. in Computer Engineering and a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Concordia University, Canada. As Head of School, she has spearheaded the design of an innovative master's program in digital transformation and revamped computer science majors to enhance student learning experiences.

Professor El Barachi's research spans multiple domains including Smart Transportation, Smart Cities, BioTech, and Inclusion & Innovation. Her work focuses on developing practical solutions to real-world problems through the integration of legacy and emerging technologies. She has established collaborations with international universities in Canada, the UK, and Lebanon, as well as industry partners including Rogers Canada, Du, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, UAE Ministry of Health, and Talk5.

She has raised more than 4 Million Dirhams in research funding over the past five years and has received the exemplary faculty award twice (2013 and 2015) for excellence in teaching, research, and service. Professor El Barachi is also a certified trainer in emerging technologies including Blockchain, Big Data, Data Science, Internet of Things, and Artificial Intelligence, holding numerous industry certifications from IBM, EC Council, and CISCO.

• Exemplary faculty award (2013, 2015)
• EC Council Certified Ethical Hacker
• CISCO CCNA Certified Instructor
• Multiple IBM certifications across Big Data, Blockchain, AI, and Cloud Computing

As an educator, Professor El Barachi employs a student-centric, pragmatic teaching approach that emphasizes real-world relevance through examples, systems, and case studies. She has developed and taught courses in Distributed Systems, Information Security, Networking, Mobile Computing, and Emerging Technologies, fostering an interactive and engaging learning environment for her students.