IT for Social Impact
Investigating how digital technologies can improve access, capability and outcomes for communities and social-impact organisations.
Academic Portfolio
Dr Ashir Ahmed
Researcher, Educator & Mentor
Advancing data analytics, information systems and digital technologies to strengthen education, organisations, communities and meaningful social-impact initiatives.
15+
Years in higher education
7
Funded research projects
6
Completed PhD supervisions
29+
Scholarly publications
About
Scholarship with purpose
I am an academic, researcher and mentor whose work sits at the intersection of data analytics, information systems, media, communication and social impact.
My academic career includes teaching and leadership roles at Swinburne University of Technology and Monash University. I have designed and delivered undergraduate and postgraduate subjects, managed academic programs, supervised doctoral research and contributed to multidisciplinary projects addressing complex organisational and social challenges.
My research explores how analytics and digital technologies can create meaningful value, from emergency management and digital literacy to social-media analysis, public health, vulnerable communities and organisational transformation.
“To facilitate student learning in data analytics and contribute to research that really matters.”
Research
Technology that responds to human needs
My research examines the organisational and societal value of analytics and emerging technologies, with an emphasis on practical outcomes, responsible implementation and measurable impact.
Data & Business Analytics
Exploring how analytics influences organisational decision-making, information processing and business outcomes.
Artificial Intelligence
Contributing to applied AI and deep-learning research, including forecasting models used in public-health contexts.
Social Media & Wellbeing
Studying social-media data in relation to suicide prevention, depression detection, risky drinking and community behaviour.
Emergency Management
Examining RFID, GIS, handheld computing and social media in disaster preparedness, response and post-crisis communication.
Digital Inclusion
Investigating barriers to digital literacy and opportunities to improve education and technology access in underserved communities.
Academic career
Experience and leadership
Senior Lecturer
Teaching undergraduate and postgraduate students, developing new units, conducting research in information systems, media, communication, analytics and social impact, and contributing to academic administration and leadership.
Lecturer
Designed and delivered information-systems subjects, supported curriculum development and served as Program Director for the Master of Business Information Systems.
Assistant Lecturer
Coordinated teaching teams, tutorials, assessment processes, student consultations and communication between lecturers, tutors and students.
Program and Accreditation Leadership
Served on the Swinburne Business School AACSB accreditation committee, acted as an Assurance of Learning champion, directed the Master of Business Information Systems and supervised IIBA accreditation activities.
Teaching & mentoring
Developing capable, curious professionals
My teaching approach combines evidence-based practice, applied learning and close mentorship to help students connect analytical and technical knowledge with meaningful organisational and social outcomes.
Teaching areas
- Business analytics and visualisation
- Business information systems
- Media analytics and visualisation
- Project management
- Database analysis and design
- Systems analysis and design
- Business analysis
- Systems acquisition and implementation management
- Social-impact practice
Research supervision
- Six completed PhD candidates
- Two current doctoral candidates
- More than 12 postgraduate and undergraduate projects supervised
- Supervision across analytics, social media, ICT4D and disaster-risk management
- Mentoring focused on intellectual independence and practical contribution
Completed PhD supervision
Research students and projects
Leila Meratian Esfahani
Stakeholders’ Engagement and Social Media Management in Organisations
Reet Kaur
Evaluation of Social Impact Projects: An Actor-Network Theory Perspective
Maryam Shamekhi
The Role of Business Analytics in Organisations: An Information
Processing Theory Perspective
Kalahe Liyana Arachchige Sarath Wijesinghe
Institutionalising Grassroots Governance of Community-Based
Disaster Risk Management in Sri Lanka
Selen Esra Dereli
The Role of Business Analytics in Organisations: An Information
Processing Theory Perspective
Viet Hoang Nguyen
Social Media Affordances for Destination Image Formation
Social impact
Research translated into community value
Selected funded projects demonstrate a commitment to digital inclusion, public health, community resilience, prevention and evidence-based social change.
Photo gallery
Social impact in action
Selected moments from community engagement, research collaboration, mentoring, education and social-impact activities.
Selected publications
Ideas, evidence and practical frameworks
Selected journal articles, book chapters and conference papers across artificial intelligence, analytics, social impact, emergency management, education and digital communication.
Harnessing the Power of AI: Advanced Deep Learning Models
Optimisation for Accurate SARS-CoV-2 Forecasting
Tariq, M.U., Ismail, S.B., Babar, M. & Ahmad, A. · PLOS ONE · 2023
Theory of Change: Driving a Digital School in Rural Pakistan
Ahmed, A. & Sargent, J. · First Monday · 2021
Depression Detection from Social Network Data Using Machine
Learning Techniques
Islam, R., Kabir, M., Ahmed, A. et al. · Health Information
Science and Systems · 2018
What Is IT for Social Impact?
Sargent, J. & Ahmed, A. · IEEE Technology and Society Magazine · 2017
Business Value of Facebook: A Multiple Case Study in a
Developing Country
Ahmed, A. & Mubasher, I. · Pacific Asia Journal of the
Association for Information Systems · 2017
Role of GIS, RFID and Handheld Computers in Emergency Management
Ahmed, A. · Journal of Information Systems and Technology Management · 2015
Social Media Research: A Review of Academic Research and Future
Research Directions
Ahmed, A., Scheepers, H. & Stockdale, R. · 2014
The Role of Social Media During Queensland Floods
Ahmed, A. & Sinnapan, S. · 2013
Social Media Analytics, Learning Analytics and the Healthcare
Industry: Risky Drinking
Ahmed, A. et al. · 2022
DAVe: A Systematic Approach to Manage a Social Impact Project
Pacific Asia Conference on Information Systems · 2019
Education & credentials
Academic foundations
PhD in Information Systems
Monash University, 2010. Thesis examining the potential of RFID in emergency management from a task–technology fit perspective.
Teaching and Learning Practices
Professional qualification from Swinburne University of Technology focused on reflective, flexible and evidence-based higher-education teaching.
Master of Information Technology
UAAR, Pakistan, 2004. Postgraduate study spanning databases, systems analysis, programming, management and communication.
ITIL Certification
Professional certification in Information Technology Infrastructure Library practices.
Project Certifications
Certified training in PRINCE2, Agile Project Management and professional communication.
Mental Health First Aid
Standard Mental Health First Aider certification in Australia, supporting a compassionate approach to education and mentorship.
Contact
Let’s create meaningful impact
I welcome conversations about research collaboration, teaching, doctoral supervision, mentoring, analytics and technology-led social-impact initiatives.