AHMED ALI
Philosopher · Author · Educator · Researcher
Profile
Philosopher and educator with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Alexandria University and a Postgraduate Diploma in Education from Al-Azhar University. Research experience at Emory University, working under Dr. Rahimjon Abdugafurov on philosophical and theological manuscripts in Islamic civilization, and undergraduate formation under Prof. Dr. Ashraf Hassan Mansour, Chair of the Department of Philosophy at Alexandria University. Author of Depth of Knowledge: A Practical Guide to Designing Rigorous Questions Without AI (2026), a scholarly handbook engaging both Norman Webb's contemporary framework and the Islamic intellectual tradition from Al-Hasan al-Basri to Ibn Khaldun.
ADEK-approved teacher and UAE Ministry of Education Licensed Teacher with eight years of experience across education, operations, and academic research in the UAE, UK, and Egypt. Member of the British Philosophical Association (BPA) since 2025. Bilingual in Arabic (native) and English (Academic IELTS Band 7). Creator and host of Echoes of Wisdom, a bilingual philosophy podcast with sixteen episodes across two seasons. Seeking to contribute to philosophy instruction and research at the university level.
Research & Publications
Depth of Knowledge: A Practical Guide to Designing Rigorous Questions Without AI
Independently published, First Edition, 2026 · ISBN: 979-8-1913137-5-7 · 149 pages
A scholarly handbook that restores to educators the craft of writing cognitively demanding questions from lesson content alone, without relying on AI tools. Grounded in Norman Webb's Depth of Knowledge framework, the work returns to Webb's original 1997 and 2002 monographs as primary sources and corrects the widespread misinterpretation perpetuated by the unauthorized “DOK Wheel.” The method is verified by reverse-coding. A substantial chapter traces the principle that recall is not reasoning through the Islamic intellectual tradition, from Al-Hasan al-Basri in the eighth century to Ibn Khaldun's four-level progression in the Muqaddimah (1377).
Research Assistant and Translator
Emory University · with Ustadh Dr. Rahimjon Abdugafurov · 2017
- ·Transcribed and analysed philosophical and theological manuscripts in Islamic civilization under Dr. Abdugafurov's supervision, focusing on their philosophical and theological contexts.
- ·Produced English–Arabic translations of academic works for bilingual educational settings, maintaining scholarly precision across both languages.
- ·Engaged primary-source manuscripts with attention to philological detail, doctrinal context, and the conceptual genealogies linking classical Islamic philosophy to contemporary philosophical questions.
Creator and Host — Echoes of Wisdom Podcast
Independent Educational Initiative · 2026 – Present
- ·Produces and hosts a bilingual (Arabic/English) philosophy podcast with sixteen episodes across two seasons, spanning ethics, logic, epistemology, philosophy of mind, and political philosophy.
- ·Bridges academic philosophy and public discourse, rendering complex ideas accessible while preserving their scholarly integrity.
Education
Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy
Sep 2016 – May 2021 · GoodFaculty of Arts, Alexandria University, Egypt
Comprehensive programme covering formal, inductive, and mathematical logic; philosophy of science; metaphysics; philosophy of language; ethics and value theory; Greek, Islamic, modern, and contemporary philosophy; ancient Eastern thought; Islamic theology (Kalam) and Sufism; and logic and artificial intelligence. Included the study of philosophical texts in a European language throughout most academic semesters. Accredited and attested by authorities in Egypt and the UAE, with formal equivalency issued by the UAE Ministry of Education.
Department Chair: Prof. Dr. Ashraf Hassan Mansour (recommendation letter available upon request).
Postgraduate Diploma in Education
Sep 2024 – Sep 2025 · Very GoodFaculty of Education, Al-Azhar University, Egypt
Educational psychology and human development; philosophy and history of education; curriculum studies; instructional methodologies; educational administration and planning; micro-teaching and practical teaching experience. Accredited and attested, with UAE Ministry of Education equivalency.
Academic & Teaching Experience
English Social Studies Teacher
Aug 2026 – PresentAl Nahda National School for Boys, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Appointed to teach English Social Studies for the 2026/2027 academic year.
MSC Studies & Islamic Education B Teacher; Lead, Non-Arabic Speaking Section
Sep 2025 – Jul 2026Ain Al Khaleej Private School, American Division, UAE
- ·Designed and delivered curriculum with substantial philosophical content, including units on ethics, epistemology, philosophy of religion, and political philosophy.
- ·Promoted from Subject Teacher to Lead of the Non-Arabic Speaking Section in Term 2.
- ·Appointed Faculty Head for Model United Nations (MUN); coached delegation to win Best School at MANORMUN V 2026.
Certifications & Credentials
- Certified Professional Teaching License (Social Studies, Cycle 3), UAE Ministry of Education — Valid until February 2029
- ADEK-Approved Teacher (MSC and Islamic Education B for Non-Arabic Speakers), Abu Dhabi, UAE
- IELTS Academic Band 7, British Council — Valid until August 2027
- Verification of Manuscripts in Philosophy and Theology, Bibliotheca Alexandrina — November 2021
- Critical Thinking and Decision Making, LinkedIn Learning — July 2021
- AI for Educators (Level 1), Teachy — October 2025
- Network Fundamentals and Security, Mahara Tech (MCIT, Egypt) — June 2025
- Advanced Person-in-Charge (PIC), Dubai Municipality — May 2025
- Fire Warden (Level 2), Dubai Civil Defence — Valid until August 2026
Affiliations & Languages
Affiliations
- ·Member, British Philosophical Association (BPA), 2025 – Present
- ·Co-organiser, 3rd Annual International Conference, Department of Philosophy, Alexandria University (Nov 2017)
Languages
- ArabicNative
- EnglishFluent (C1, IELTS Band 7)
- UrduBeginner
- SpanishBeginner