Dr Umran Ali
School of Arts, Media and Creative Technologies
Current positions
Senior Lecturer
Biography
Dr. Umran Ali is a pioneering academic, and award-winning educator at the intersection of Generative AI, creative technology, and social justice. He is a distinguished practitioner-researcher whose extensive, decades-long exploration of virtual environments has been exhibited at institutions like the Manchester Science Festival and BBC Fusion, and codified in his seminal 'Virtual Landscapes' book series. This deep foundation in practice—spanning from design credits on commercial video games like 'Heretic Kingdoms: The Inquisition' to serving as Lead Story Consultant on the 'Hud Hud' mobile app and creating impactful virtual installations such as the 'Virtual Amazon Rainforest'—directly informs his research. This expertise culminates in his pioneering work developing practical tools like Fluxzayn for Stable Diffusion and simulating complex social dynamics in his Uni-Town study, as well as his book on crypto currency and Gen AI (Money & Trust in Digital Society; Bitcoin, Nostr, Stablecoins, Digital Objects and Machine Learning in B2B Telepresent Mixed Reality) and his contribution to the best-selling games design & architecture book An Architectural Approach to Level Design.
Dr. Ali’s career is defined by transformative, evidence-based leadership. As a Programme Leader, he engineered a remarkable turnaround, catapulting student satisfaction, a success crowned with a prestigious BAFTA 'Ones To Watch' Award for his students' work. In his subsequent role as Director of Creative Media, he provided academic leadership to a portfolio , forging high-profile partnerships with national broadcasters like the BBC. His influence on academic standards is sought globally; he has served as an External Advisor for the Hong Kong Design Institute (HKDI) and institutions in Ireland, alongside a vast portfolio of external examiner roles for universities including, Stafford, Teesside, Birmingham City, and the Open University. His commentary as a subject matter expert is regularly featured by national media, including BBC News, ITV News, and BBC Radio 5 Live.
Dr. Ali’s work is driven by a deep and sustained commitment to equality and social justice, demonstrated through nearly two decades of institutional leadership. His impact is not theoretical but practical, operating at every level from strategic governance to frontline advocacy. His leadership has been sought for the university's most critical EDI initiatives, from serving on the Race Equality Charter (REC) panel to being a keynote speaker for high-profile events addressing racial and other inequalities. As the architect of the Remembering Srebrenica Symposium, he led an initiative that used immersive technology to combat genocide denialism, earning the National Award for Best Educational Event.
His standing as a national authority is further solidified by the UK’s leading professional bodies. He was entrusted by the Landscape Institute, the UK's chartered body for the profession, to first judge its prestigious Landscape Innovation Award. This recognition was elevated when the Institute appointed him to the even more significant role of Chair for its Excellence in Visualization and Digital Practice Award, placing him in the definitive position of setting the national benchmark for innovation in the field.
Areas of Research
Games Design
Narrative & Storytelling
Virtual & Immersive Reality
Artificial Intelligence
Generative A.I
Game prototyping & development
Areas of Supervision
Games Design
Narrative & Storytelling
Virtual & Immersive Reality
Artificial Intelligence
Generative A.I
Game prototyping & development
Games Design
Narrative & Storytelling
Virtual & Immersive Reality
Artificial Intelligence
Generative A.I
Game prototyping & development
Qualifications
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PhD
2009 - 2016 -
Higher Education Research & Practice
2007 - 2008 -
Creative Technology
2004 - 2005 -
Computer & Video Games
2001 - 2004