About Us
Welcome to our research group
ABOUT
Diack Research Network
Professor Moustapha Diack is a distinguished scholar in the domains of e-learning, open education, and the application of artificial intelligence within STEM education and sustainable development. With a career spanning over two decades focused on the design, implementation, and quality assurance of e-learning initiatives, his work is characterized by a profound dedication to fostering pedagogical innovation and expanding access to quality education on a global scale.Affiliated with the Doctoral Program in Science/Mathematics Education (SMED), College of Science and Engineering (CSE), Professor Diack holds a significant leadership position, orchestrating research initiatives in Open Educational Practices (OEP), AI for STEM education (AI4STEM), and AI for development (AI4D). As the Founding President of Digital Education Consulting (DEC), a consultancy located in Somone, Senegal, he contributes to the development of capacities and professional training in the fields of e-learning design and delivery, as well as artificial intelligence.
Welcome to our research group
Professor Moustapha Diack, with over 25 years of experience in digital education and a solid foundation in e-learning, educational research, and faculty development, is a significant figure in the advancement of digital learning globally. Currently enriching the Doctoral Program in Science/Math Education (SMED) within the College of Sciences and Engineering (CSE) at Southern University, Baton Rouge, his research interests span across interactive multimedia learning, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), data science (DS), and cognitive science (CS). These interests aim to redefine digital education by fostering inclusive virtual learning environments that prioritize personalized instruction, academic success, and financial accessibility in higher education.
Diack's leadership has been instrumental in the promotion and development of Open Educational Resources (OER) and Open Educational Practices (OEP), earning him international recognition, including the International MERLOT eLearning Innovation Award in 2009. As a Co-Founding Director of the MERLOT Africa Network
(MAN) and an active member of the MERLOT Faculty Development Editorial Board, he advocates for the collaborative use of OER across African higher education institutions.
At Southern University, Diack led the Southern University Online Library for Education (SUOL4ed), supporting the creation of quality online programs and enhancing college affordability through OER and Open Textbooks. His roles extend to serving on the Louisiana Board of Regents Task Force on Electronic Learning and past leadership within the Louisiana Academy of Science.
Professor Diack's governance contributions include his involvement with the Quality Matters Board of Directorsand consultancy roles with UNESCO, ICDE, MERLOT, and Skillscommons. He spearheads workforce development initiatives in Africa and leads the MERLOT-Skillscommons H5P Project, aimed at creating interactive digital resources for STEM education and training.
A pivotal part of Diack’s work is his commitment to building and sustaining TERANGA AI, a national AI community for the Republic of Senegal. This initiative assembles a global network of AI experts focused on the development and application of AI technologies for societal benefit. Additionally, as a co-chair and initiator of the AIHorizon Festival, Diack fosters international dialogue among the African diaspora on integrating AI in educational systems, highlighting his role in bridging technology and education on a global scale.
Through founding and leading the Digital Education Consulting (DEC) Group, with a presence in Senegal, India, Ethiopia, Egypt, and the United States, Professor Diack champions diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI), and the accommodation of students with disabilities, advocating for an educational landscape that is accessible and equitable for all.
Adding to his extensive portfolio, Professor Diack was the co-founding host of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Summit on Affordable Learning Solutions. This landmark initiative brings together the 105 HBCU institutions in the United States to explore affordable learning solutions. As the Co-founding Chair of the HBCUs Affordable Learning Summits, he has facilitated a platform for these institutions to share resources, strategies, and innovations in educational affordability. The Summits, held annually since 2017, have become a crucial resource for professional development within the HBCU community, showcasing Professor Diack's commitment to improving access to quality education across diverse academic landscapes.
Southern
The Southern University System (SUS) is a system of five public universities in the U.S. state of Louisiana.
SUS is the only Historically Black College and university (HBCU) system in America with five campuses, Southern University and A&M College at Baton Rouge, Southern University at New Orleans, Southern University at Shreveport, Southern University Law Center in Baton Rouge, Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Baton Rouge. There are 105 HBCUs in America The System has a diverse enrollment of more than 14,000 students.
Diack is affiliated with the doctoral Program in Science/Math Education (SMED) housed in the College of Science and Engineering (CSE). Southern University under the leadership of the co-PIs is a leader among the HBCUs in the area of OER and its implementation. He oversees the SUS open library in partnership with MERLOT. He co-founded with Gerry Hanley, MERLOT Executive Director, the HBCUs Research Community on Affordable Learning Solutions to replicate the SUBR open library. Implementation included a Community portal and the hosting of a HBCUs Summit
every year as part of the OLC Innovate Conference. The research group as key strategic research and development partners distributed globally. SUS is currently discussing a partnership agreement with Libretexts to implement the Libretexts OER Ecosystem as part of the critical infrastructure for Hybrid/Online courses. The implementation model will be shared with HBCU institutions to raise awareness and promote adoptions.
Prof. Diack has an active research group with doctoral students research focusing on the implementation of OER for college affordability and leveraging Open Educational Resources to Advance Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Research Interests
- Online Education and Open Education Practices: Design and Implementation Research
- Cognitive Theory of Multimedia and H5P-based Interactive multimedia
- AI-STEM and Machine Learning
- JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion) framework for Academic Success
- Digital Library for STEM Education: Critical infrastructure and implementation strategies