Dr. Abdulrahman Altahhan
Lecturer/Senior Lecturer at Coventry University
abed.tahhan@gmail.com , abdulrahman.altahhan@coventry.ac.uk, M: +447774955519
Summary
I have over twelve years of teaching experience, five of which as Assistant Professor with proficiency in
teaching several computer science topics in a multicultural setting in the UK, Dubai and Syria. Actively
researching in the areas of machine learning and reinforcement learning and their application on the robot
homing problem. Extensively proposed and participated in the curriculum development for a Master Program in
Business Intelligence and Governance with Big Data as the central theme. Obtained administrative skills
through participation in various academic events and by undertaking different responsibilities, ex. have been
appointed as an acting dean of a computer college in Dubai. Fully proficient in Learning Platforms similar to
Blackboard or Moodle. I enjoy developing software and recently developed software for measuring course’s
outcomes that was adopted throughout a university in Dubai, this software and the visual robot homing research
model have high potential for being commercialized.
Experience:
- Teaching: Several Computer Science Courses!
- Research: AI, Intelligent Systems and Machine Learning: Neural Network– Reinforcement Learning and
Big Data Analytics
Other:
- Curriculum Development: Business Intelligence and Information Systems
- Quality Assurance for Academia: Course Learning Outcome Analysis Software
Experience
Lecturer/Senior Lecturer - Coventry University, UK
September 2014 ̶ Present
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Masters Level Taught Course:
Big Data and Business Intelligence and Analytics
Cloud Computing and Distributed Systems
Bachelor Level Taught Courses:
Object Oriented Programming- Python
Data Structure and Algorithms C++
Theoretical Aspect of Computer Science
(1 semester)
(1 sem.)
(2 sem.)
(2 sem.)
(2 sem.)
Actively researching in the following areas:
₋ Machine Learning, Reinforcement Learning, Adaptive Learning
 Developing Snapped Learning Visual Homing Model
 In the process of publishing in peer reviewed journals
Master Level Projects:
- Gesture Recognition for Lift Aid
- Big Data Clusters using Hadoop and SAS
- Amazon Web Service for EMP
- Homing Aided Robotics for the Elderly
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Final Year Projects:
- Digit Recognition for Lift Aid
- Big Data Clusters using Hadoop
- Amazon Web Service for Hadoop and Hive
Administrative Duties:
₋ Module Leader for Two Master Level Module as well as one UG Module
₋ Personal Tutor for a group of students
₋ Placement Supervision for a London Company
₋ International Collaboration Duties
Assistant Professor - Summer Acting Dean at American University in the Emirates
September 2011 ̶ August 2014 (3 years)
Teaching and Pedagogical Duties:
₋ Developed the curriculum for Master in Business Intelligence
₋ Taught 14 different undergraduate and postgraduate Information Technology courses
₋ Delivering lectures and practical lab session, designing and marking assignments exams
₋ Supervised various undergraduate and graduate projects
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Masters Level Taught Course:
Information Technology for Management-MBA
Bachelor Level Taught Courses:
Artificial Intelligence
Decision Support and Business Intelligence
IT Project and Change Management
Data Structure and Algorithms C++
Visual Basic and .Net Programming
Software Engineering
Enterprise and IT Architecture
Website Design
Networking Essential
Server Operating Systems
Cryptography and Internet Security
Computer Vision
Management Information Systems
(3 semesters)
(5 semesters)
(2 sem.)
(2 sem.)
(5 sem.)
(2 sem.)
(4 sem.)
(3 sem.)
(1 sem.)
(1 sem.)
(1 sem.)
(1 sem.)
(1 sem.)
(5 sem.)
Actively researching in the following areas:
₋ Machine Learning, Reinforcement Learning, Adaptive Learning
 Developed Fast Learning Visual Homing Model
 Published in peer reviewed conferences and journals
Administrative Duties:
₋ Appointed as Acting Dean during the 2012-2013 Summer semester
₋ Coordinator for the Information Technology Management program at my college,
₋ Preparing Quality Assurance reports for the Institutional Effectiveness Dep.
₋ Preparing College and ITM Program Budget
University Level Committees:
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₋ Schedule and Student Retention Committee
₋ Review of the PPM
₋ International Accreditation Committee
₋ Admission Requirement Changes Committee
College Level Committees:
₋ Curriculum Development
Community and University Services and Other Activities:
₋ I give dedicated academic advising for 12 students
₋ Delivered 3 days training for the Quality Assurance Tools developed by me and adopted by AUE
₋ Delivered 4 invited talks about Security in E-Commerce for MBA students
₋ Delivered 2 talks about "Implications and Benefits of Information Systems in Business" and
"Recognizing Electronic Models and Strategies and their Social and Ethical Impact" in a workshop
titled "Successful Management for Business Achievement" for International Audiences
₋ Delivered one invited session for instructors about Student Engagement
₋ Field Visit for undergraduate students to view the infrastructure of DTC-RTA Dubai which has 14000
employees and huge data center
Assistant Professor at Yarmouk Private University, Damascus
January 2010 – May 2011 (1 year 5 Months ) I taught the following Courses:
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Automata, Languages and Computational Theory
I have designed this course's plan, contents and objectives
Introduction to Computing
Artificial Intelligence Application using Prolog
Introduction to Algorithms and Programming using C++
(4semesters)
(4semesters)
(1 semester)
(1semester)
Visiting Lecturer at University of Sunderland
January 2005 – January 2008 (3 years 1 month)
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Aided in teaching Vision course and Lab sessions for Webots robotics simulation environment.
Assignments marking for off and on campus students for the following courses:
₋ Java programming,
₋ Web Design,
₋ Parallel Programming,
₋ Logic Circuits
Development and Research Consultant at ISS Group-University of Sunderland England
November 2004 – January 2006 (1 year 3 months)
Developed/co developed as part of a team various kinds of systems; hand-held device, PCB
industrial software, and educational using key technologies (ex. OOP, RFID).
The projects that the ISS group accomplishes were collaborative between the team members in nature.
Systems Development Teacher at Khawarezmi Training Center
September 2001 – September 2002 (1 year 1 month) I taught the following courses:
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A comprehensive C++- Borland C++Builder course that took one year to complete
This course was given to senior engineering students to help them to finish their degree and be qualified
for good posts in the industry
A number of introductory and advanced short term Visual Basic courses
An intermediate course in Prolog for junior engineering students
Developer at Self work Syria
November 2000 – April 2001 (6 months)
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Started my own software development services and improved the clinic management software and marketed
it in Syria
Debugged, developed and improved a clinic MS. Access software
Lab Facilitator at Damascus University
January 2000 – January 2001 (1 year 1 month)
Pascal Language sessions facilitator for more than 40 students in the Department of Mathematics labs.
Education
University of Sunderland
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Machine Learning– Reinforcement Learning on Robotics , UK, 2004 – 2008
Thesis: “Conjugate Gradient Temporal Difference Learning for Visual Robot Homing”
A comprehensive learning model that depended on a novel reinforcement learning algorithm has been build
using Matlab and C
Damascus University
Research Master, Intelligent Systems– Fuzzy Expert Systems, 2000 – 2003
Grade A
Thesis: “Building an Expert System for Medical Diagnosis Using Fuzzy Logic”
A comprehensive Fuzzy Expert System was created from scratch using C++. The system depended on a
novel inference model.
Damascus University
Graduate Diploma, Informatics, 1998 – 1999
Grade A
A distributed system for clinics management was created using VB
Damascus University
Bachelor's Degree, Mathematics-Informatics, 1993 – 1998
Grade B
Got a Full Mark 100% in Statistics Programming course- this is a rarely given mark in Damascus University
at that time.
Projects
Designed and Developed a Master Program in Business Intelligence and IT Governance
November 2012 to January 2014
Members: Abdulrahman Altahhan, Javanshir Alizadeh
Designed and wrote the complete curriculum and supporting material (more than 500 pages) of a
Master program in Business Information Technology with two specializations (Enterprise IT Governance and
Enterprise Business Intelligence), which reflect the emerging market needs of UAE. The program
conforms to ACM MIS curriculum recommendation as well as to the new National Qualification
Framework- QF Emirates. QF Emirates is similar to EQF and the Bologna Frameworks.
Specialization Courses include but not limited to hot topics such as
Business Intelligence:
Big Data Whorehouse and BI
Big Data Visualization and Analytics
Data Mining and Executive Decision Making
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Web and Social Media Mining
IT Governance:
Enterprise Information Technology
Governance Enterprise Information Security
Governance Enterprise Data Governance and
MDM Enterprise Information Auditing
Design Bachelor Program in Business Information Technology
April 2013 to July 2013
Members: Abdulrahman Altahhan
Developed the Overall study plan as well as list of courses for Bachelor in Business Information Technology
specialization for American University in Dohuk.
Development of Quality Assurance Measurement Software for Higher Education Institutions
June 2012 to May 2013
Members: Abdulrahman Altahhan
These are comprehensive tools for easy calculation of the Course Learning Outcome achievement of
arbitrarily any course. In addition I have complemented the CLO tool with a Program Learning Outcome
PLO tool that helps to fixate the mapping and add uniformity in dealing with quality monitoring reports.
Comprehensive Internal Market Research Study
October 2012 to April 2013
Members: Abdulrahman Altahhan, Javanshir Alizadeh
Conducted a market research study for the feasibility and potential for offering a Master program in
business information technology with various specializations and how the potential students view those
specialization as a link with future occupational promotion. Questionnaires' data have been analyzed, using
MS Excel, from 3 different angles: namely students current occupation field in relation to their preferred
specialization, their bachelor field in relation to their preferred master specialization, funding sources and
their preferred mode of study (weekend, weekdays, afternoon etc.)
Fast Reinforcement Learning Algorithms for Robot Homing
September 2013 to Present
Members: Abdulrahman Altahhan
This project is intended to capitalize on the already advancement done in a previous project to reduce the
number of episodes needed for a robot to learn how to reach its home. We used on policy online
reinforcement learning algorithm to teach a robot to reach its home in a shortest path fashion. The home is
hidden and the starting position does not change. We already have explored avenues such as PCA to
reduce features dimensionality to make the learning process faster. However, it seemed that in such
scenarios reducing the features in online learning before knowing anything about the environment is not
very fruitful (although possible). Now it is felt that it is the time to reduce the number of episodes by
tweaking exploration rate (Gibbs style) as well as the learning rate (in accordance with number of
episodes) in order to make the robot grasp its learning in less than 20 episodes (after it was taking up to
500 episodes).
Reduced Features Dimensionality for Reinforcement Learning Online On-policy Robot Homing
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March 2012 to August 2013
Members: Abdulrahman Altahhan
We use on-policy on-line reinforcement learning algorithm to teach a robot to reach its home in a shortest
path fashion. Home is hidden and the starting position does not change. Robot explores, using PCA in a
couple of introductory episodes, then the model takes the maximum dimension and averaging the Eigen
vectors of the so far visits to reduce features dimensionality in each step. This was expected to make the
learning process faster in order to make the robot grasp its learning in less than 20 episodes (after it was
taking up to 500 episodes). However, it turned out that this could make the feature space very flattened for
such complicated task. It turned out that certain dimensions, which on average seemed trivial plays
important roles in the time lines of robot navigation.
Business Intelligence Lab
June 2013 to September 2013
Members: Abdulrahman Altahhan
In this project, we are trying to establish a Lab for Business Intelligence and Machine Learning. We have
already got 3000 Oracle Academic Licenses for Oracle e-Business Suite and Advance Computer Science
programs as well as Primavera. The idea behind the project is not only to establish a lab with software, but
also to establish a research lab that include researchers as well as students that are capable of contributing to
BI and Machine learning field. The licenses are a starting point and an important one towards augmenting
the
'Business Information Technology' Master Program with practical software that the student can use
immediately when they graduate.
MCE:
February 2006 to June 2006
Members: Abdulrahman Altahhan, Garen Aravian and others
-Developed and tested a communication interface between a handheld device and the MCE software to read
RFID tags using embedded VC++.
-In addition I have helped in the integration of the database and the GUIs of this project and in the design
of some of the GUIs. I helped in resolving conflicts raised from interrogating and storing various data from
various handheld devices in different sights of an establishment that uses the software.
XACT
March 2007 to December 2007
Members: Abdulrahman Altahhan, Garen Aravian and others
This software helps in monitoring and predicting errors in the manufacturing process of printed circuit boards
(PCB).
-I was responsible for developing and testing, using Java (JBuilderX) and its associated libraries and
Database tools, a Designer component for the production of a PCB. The job of this software component
is designing the stacked-up layers of PCBs. This critical component of the project has been done in close
collaboration with the technicians of a company that produces such boards.
-In addition I have developed the underlying JDS database for the project.
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Durham Learning Systems (DLS)
September 2006 to December 2006
Members: Abdulrahman Altahhan, Garen Aravian
This software helps Mathematics teachers to automatically produce:
-First and second order formulae
-Shows the steps needed to solve the equations, inequalities.
-Shows the solutions for them.
These include major topics covered normally in the schools. I was responsible for designing and
implementing the first phase of the project using Java (JBuilderX). A special care has been taken for
OOP principles and design to facilitate future improvements of the software.
Publications
A Fast Learning Home Aware Robot Navigation Learning Using Simple Features and Variable
Lambda
TD
International Joint Conference of Neural Network (IJCNN), China, IEEE, ISBN: TBA March 3, 2014
Authors: Abdulrahman Altahhan
Accepted
TD-conj(0), a Reinforcement Learning Method Equivalent to a TD(#t)
Computational Intelligence and Neuroscience February 1, 2014
Authors: Abdulrahman Altahhan
Submitted
A Robot Visual Homing Model that Traverses Conjugate Gradient TD to a Variable # TD and Uses
Radial Basis Features.
InTech Education and Publishing, Vienna, Editor A. Mellouk. pp 225-254, ISBN 978-953-307-369-9
January
14, 2011
Authors: Abdulrahman Altahhan
Book chapter
Robot Visual Homing using Conjugate Gradient Temporal Difference Learning, Radial Basis
Features and A Whole Image Measure
International Joint Conference on Neural Networks (IJCNN), Barcelona, Spain, IEEE, ISBN:
978-1-4244-6916-1 July 20, 2010
Authors: Abdulrahman Altahhan
I attended this conference
Visual Robot Homing using Sarsa(#), Whole Image Measure, and Radial Basis Function
International Joint Conference on Neural Networks (IJCNN), Hong Kong, IEEE June 2008
Authors: Abdulrahman Altahhan, Kevin Burn
CLO Accreditation Tool: Supporting the Measurement of Classroom Learning
ICTBM– 2013 March 7, 2013
Authors: Abdulrahman Altahhan, Javanshir Alizadeh, Bryn Holmes
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attended this conference
Course Learning Outcome Accreditation Tool: Facilitating CLO-Centered Classroom Learning
Global Education Forum, Dubai February 5, 2014
Authors: Abdulrahman Altahhan
CLO ACCREDITATION TOOL: FOR COURSE OUTCOMES– DRIVEN LEARNING
Submitted: International Journal of Excellence in eLearning 2014
Authors: Abdulrahman Altahhan
Conjugate Gradient Temporal Difference Learning for Visual Robot Homing
PhD Thesis 2008
Authors: Abdulrahman Altahhan
PHD RESEARCH ABSTRACT:
My PhD work describes an extension of the Temporal Difference learning method, TD(#), with linear
function approximation. It derives a novel canonical way of varying # by establishing, for the first time, a link
between conjugate vectors and eligibility traces.
A model for knowledge representation and manipulation (inference), in knowledge base systems
Proceedings of international conference of Information and Communication Technologies: From Theory
to Applications, Damascus, Syria, IEEE April 2004
Authors: Abdulrahman Altahhan, Bassam Kurdy
A Model for Representing Knowledge and Inference in Intelligent Systems
Damascus University Journal for the Basic Sciences, 20(2): 109-140. 2004
Authors: Abdulrahman Altahhan, Jamal Allaban, Bassam Kurdy
Refereed Journal
Fuzzy Correspondence and Difference
Damascus University Journal for the Basic Sciences 20(1): 156-184 2004
Authors: Abdulrahman Altahhan, Bassam Kurdy, Jamal Allaban
Refereed Journal
Technical Program Committee Member
GS International Multi-Conference on Science and Technology 2014 (GS-MICST 14) January 30, 2014
Authors: Abdulrahman Altahhan
GS International Multi-Conference on Science and Technology 2014
Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Certifications and Others
Neuroscience and Robotics Summer School, IURS-2005, One Week the 5th International UJI Robotics
School
EURON - European Robotics Research Network
Visiting Lecturer Course, July 2006, One Week, University of Sunderland
University of Sunderland
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Cambridge CMI Enterprisers January 2005, One Week at Van Mildert College, University of Durham
Cambridge CMI
Languages
English (IELTS 7.5)
Arabic
(Full professional proficiency)
(Native or bilingual proficiency)
Honors, Awards and Other
Merit and Awards - Recognition
American University in the
Emirates September 2013
In Recognition of the high performance and contribution made to the AUE during academic year 2012– 2013
Financial Prize Nomination
November 2003
Recommended for a financial prize by the Research Master Exam Committee
Also Parts of my research Master's thesis have been recommended to be published in Damascus University
Journal, as a sign of the significance of my research contribution.
Exhibited the Respiratory Diseases Diagnosis Expert System
May 2003
As a recognition of my department my project has been chosen to be exhibited in Sham 2003 International
Tech Exhibition (Damascus)
Exhibited the Distributed Clinic Management System
May 1999
As a recognition of my department my project has been chosen to be exhibited in Sham 1999 International
Tech Exhibition (Damascus)
Skills & Expertise
Machine Learning
Neural Networks
Reinforcement Learning
Probabilistic Robotics
Bio-inspired Robotics
Khepera Robot
Software Engineering,
OOP, Case Tools
Visual C++, C++ Builder
Visual Basic, Excel VBA
Java Development
Pascal, RFID
Database Design
MySQL, PHP
Website Development
Dreamweaver
Flash Professional
Apache, Linux
Business IT
Data Mining, Analytics
Hadoop Analytics, SAS
Planners Lab
Mathematical Modeling
Matlab, MathCAD
Syllabus Development, Curriculum Development and Educational Program Development
Using Learning Management Systems, Course Management Systems and Educational Technology
Conducting Market Research Study
Active Membership of Professional Body
IEEE, Computational Intelligence Society, Syrian Computer Society Network.
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Dr Abdulrahman Altahhan
Assistant Professor at American University in the Emirates
abdulrahman.altahhan@aue.ae
6 people have recommended me
"Dr Abdulrahman is one of the best faculties that worked with me as a Dean, and certainly is an elite in the
College of Computer Information Technology-CCIT at the American University in the Emirates-AUE. Dr.
Abdulrahman is working under CCIT as an Assistant Professor and pioneered in several areas. For example,
he was chiefly responsible for designing a Master program in Business Information Technology with
concentrations such as IT Governance, Enterprise Security and Business Intelligence. I regard this program
to be an excellent achievement in CCIT which is expected to attract considerable number of students
according to a formal market research study conducted in AUE. Dr. Abdulrahman has also developed a
course learning outcomes tool that was used throughout the university, it helps faculties to quantify and
measure the course learning outcomes achievements in their courses effortlessly and intuitively. These
initiatives of Dr. Abdulrahman show the type of personality he is; come-forward, open-minded and
knowledgeable as well as a solid researcher and entrepreneur. He constantly takes initiatives, active in
discussions and embraces any responsibility assigned to him in a positive way. He is well known by his
students for having high academic standards and yet understands and addresses his students’ needs. He
served for the college as an Acting Dean during the summer and he filled the position with all respects very
well. He is a dedicated person whom
would be an added asset for any position. I firmly recommend him. Sincerely, Dr. Javanshir Alizadeh Dean of
College of Information Technology American University in the Emirates"
— Javanshir Dr. J. Alizadeh, Associate Professor/ Dean of College of Computer Information
Technology, American University in the Emirates, manages me at American University in the
Emirates
"It is my pleasure to write a recommendation for my colleague Dr Abdulrahman Altahhan. WE have worked
together as faculty members in the College of Computer Information Technology at AUE. We are co
supervising a MLIS student who is expected to graduate soon. Dr. Abdulrahman is sharp and conversant
with the new technology, he is an active researcher and has high sense of responsibility towards his students.
He designed a Master program in Business Information Technology which is envisaged to attract a good
number of students. Dr. Abdulrahman has also pioneered a number of tools that help the university in its
quality assurance process, an example is the course learning outcomes tool that was used throughout the
university. He was appointed as an Acting Dean during the summer of 2012 where we have collaborated to
enhance the college admission requirements. I confidently recommend him for any position at any reputed
institution."
— Jassim Jirjees, Master Program of Library & Information Science Director, American University in the
Emirates, worked directly with me at American University in the Emirates
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"Prof Abdulrahman is a multi-talented IT professional with a variety of IT skills one can use from day to
day. He is a gentleman at best and professional by world standards. He is a peoples person who knows when
to push and when to back off. He is a joy to work with and I would not hesitate to recommend him for any
position."
— John Chibaya Mbuya PhD, MBA Program Director, American University in the Emirates, managed me
indirectly at American University in the Emirates
"It gives me pleasure to write this letter of recommendation for Dr. Abdul Rahman Al Tahhan ,Whom I
Know for the last one year. He is highly qualified dedicated teacher. He can lead his students to learn and
exert their maximum efforts to reach their educational goals. He is humble person, a man of values where
you can depend on."
— Dr.Abdulhadi M. Al Khasawneh, Assistant Professor/Faculty Member, American University in the
Emirates, worked with me at American University in the Emirates
"At the University of Sunderland me and Abdulrahman were both researchers in cognitive research robots in
the Hybrid Intelligent Systems research group. I found Abdulrahman to be an excellent researcher and
programmer who was always enthusiastic about what he was doing. He was always willing to help me and
others during our period of working together with complex research matters. On a personal note, when I was
attacked by a group of youth Abdulrahman came and sat with me in A and E until I got over the shock. I
very much appreciate him for doing this for me. I have a great deal of respect for Abdulrahman as a
research/lecturer and person."
— Mark Elshaw, Student, University of Sunderland, worked directly with me at University of
Sunderland
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