General Chairs

Professor Abdelouhab ZEROUAL 

Professor Abdelouhab ZEROUAL is a teacher-researcher at Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakesh Morocco, where he works as a professor, specializing in transversal skills for technical training. He received his post-graduate doctorate in 1988, specializing in Modelling of solar energy systems. Subsequently, he obtained the State Doctorate degree (PhD) in 1995 in Solar Energy Instrumentation at Cadi Ayyad University. He has a very eclectic background and an ever-living curiosity that has allowed him to acquire and master multiple skills and various techniques in the field of electrical engineering. Its area of qualification for training is mainly the engineering of electrical and computer systems, electronics and sensor instrumentation and modelling of physical processes using artificial intelligence techniques.

He was head of the TSICP research team at the Electronics and Instrumentation Laboratory (LEI) from 2005 to 2010 and currently director of the “I2SP instrumentation, signals and physical systems” research team since 2010. He has carried out numerous research stays at the abroad, mainly in the United Kingdom, Italy, France, Portugal, and Malta. Until 2022, he has produced 119 publications (author and co-author) in international journals, 185 communications and 7 chapters of scientific works published by international publishing houses. He has supervised several PhD and HDR theses projects (15 defended, 12 in progress). His research mainly focuses on the identification and modelling of non-linear systems, artificial intelligence and the design and production of antennas for mobile communication systems.

He has been an expert evaluator in more than 61 thesis and HDR juries (16: examiner, 13: president, 31: rapporteur) and referred to in several international journals. He was also a member of 2 European research projects (1 Tempus project, and an ERRASMUS project) with 13 universities involved. In parallel with his teaching and research activities, he was involved in the organization of 7 international scientific conferences and two thematic schools in the field of electrical engineering. Given his experience, he was also asked to participate in more than 30 recruitment committees for teacher-researchers in different universities. He has held various administrative and management responsibilities, in particular head of the physics department 2010-2012, faculty council member several times and university council member 2018-2021. He was a member of several working committees within the Semlalia Faculty of Sciences and at Cadi Ayyad University. 

For more information see the CV (Click here)

Professor Frederic VANDERHAEGEN

 Professor F. VANDERHAEGEN has adoctorate on Human and Industrial Automation. He was researcher at the National French Scientific Research Center (C.N.R.S.) from 1995 to 2005. He is Professor at the High School of Engineering on Applied sciences (INSA) of the Université Polytechnique Hauts-de-France (in Valenciennes, France) since 2005. He was the head of the Human-Machine Systems research team of the Laboratory of Industrial and Human Automation control, Mechanical engineering and Computer Science from 2004 to 2014. He co-chairs the Technical Committee on Human-Machine Systems of the International Federation on Automatic Control. He chairs the Research Group on Integrated Automation and Human-Machine systems (GRAISyHM). He co-chairs the research pole on Human Factor, Cognitive Engineering and Social Sciences (HORTENS) of the European Railway Research Network of Excellence (EURNEX) and his is co-editor-in-chief of Cognition Technology & Work journal. He is chairing several national and international projects (e.g., European projects from FP5, FP6, FP7, H2020; National projects with the National Research Agency) and conferences (e.g. IFAC/IFIP/IFORS/IEA symposia on Human-Machine Systems, ERGO-IA), His current research topics relate to human reliability, cooperation, learning, resilience engineering, human-systems inclusion and human-machine systems.

Dr Saïd HAYAT

 Dr. Said Hayat is a distinguished multidisciplinary scientist whose impactful work spans the fields of transportation, automation, and robotics. With over 33 years of experience dedicated to research, education, expertise, and scientific leadership, he has made significant contributions to improving the safety and efficiency of transportation systems.

Dr. Hayat's academic journey began with a strong foundation, earning his Doctorate in 1990 and later obtaining an Habilitation à Diriger les Recherches (HDR) in 1998. His doctoral thesis focused on the reliable control structure for micro-telemanipulators in surgical procedures, demonstrating a commitment to precision and safety. His academic achievements include degrees from esteemed institutions such as the University of Lille, the University of Rouen, and the University of Amiens.

Throughout his career, Dr. Hayat has combined his passion for teaching and research. He has taught a wide range of subjects, from mathematics and physics at the secondary level to advanced courses in automation and robotics at the university level. His teaching experience has spanned institutions in France and Morocco, contributing to the education of countless students.

In the realm of research, Dr. Hayat's work has been nothing short of prolific. He has directed and supervised ten doctoral theses, all focused on enhancing transportation systems. His research efforts have extended to numerous national and international projects, demonstrating a commitment to innovation and practical application. Dr. Hayat's dedication to scholarship is underscored by his extensive publication record, which includes over 20 articles in peer-reviewed journals and numerous conference presentations.

Beyond academia, Dr. Hayat has taken on roles of significant responsibility, including serving as Chargé de Missions Académique et Industrielle for the University of Lille from 2014 to 2019. He has also held the position of Director for GIS-GRAISyHM (Groupement de Recherche en Automatisation Intégrée et Systèmes Hommes-Machines) in the Hauts de France region since 2014, further demonstrating his commitment to advancing research and innovation.

Dr. Said Hayat's expertise and contributions have garnered recognition within the scientific community. He has received numerous invitations to speak at conferences and has been actively involved in editorial roles for esteemed publications. His dedication to advancing the fields of automation, robotics, and transportation is evident in his impactful work and unwavering commitment to knowledge dissemination. 

For more information see the CV (Click here)