On April 27 and 28, Fakhrul Yusoff, a Distinguished Visitor Program speaker from Region 8 and a senior lecturer in the Department of Computer and Mathematical Science Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), visited two universities in Pakistan—COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (CIIT), Abbotabad and Capital University of Science and Technology, Islamabad.

An audience of more than 120 students and professionals listened to Dr. Yusoff’s lectures on “From Game to Gamification,” and “Adaptation of Enjoyment in Learning through Gamification.” The lecture examined the “employment of badges, points, and virtual reports to bring about the feel of online games in the non-game environment” and touched upon three elements of gamification: mechanics, dynamics and aesthetics.

The importance of the trip, however, was not just felt in the time between the beginning and end of the lectures, but rather through the formal and informal interactions among students and professionals from different areas of the globe. Bringing them together creates a bridge that is a significant part of IEEE Computer Society’s mission.

The Distinguished Visitor Program seeks to connect great speakers with audiences around the world, and can be requested through the online request form.

If you know anyone who would be a great Distinguished Visitor Program speaker, let us know by submitting a nomination.