Dr Michael Thomas PhD PFHEA is Professor of Higher Education and Online Learning at the University of Central Lancashire in the UK. He has published over twenty books and special editions of peer reviewed journals and is the founding editor of the book series Digital Education and Learning (Palgrave New York) and Advances in Digital Language Learning and Teaching (Bloomsbury).

Dr Michael Thomas BA (Hons) Cert. TESOL M.Ed. MBA Ph.D. Ph.D. FHEA FRSA is a Reader and Associate Professor in Digital Education and Learning in the School of Language and Global Studies at the University of Central Lancashire. He is the course leader of the MA in TESOL with Applied Linguistics by E-Learning and course leader of a BA (Hons) degree in intercultural business communication by blended learning. He has held academic positions at universities around the world including the University of Heidelberg (Germany), Nagoya University of Commerce & Business (Japan), Stuttgart University (Germany), Mannheim University (Germany) and the University of Liverpool (UK).  His research interests are in computer-assisted learning, task-based learning, online and distance education and education policy. He is the lead and founding editor of three book series, Advances in Digital Language Learning and Teaching (Bloomsbury/Continuum), Digital Education and Learning (Palgrave Macmillan), and Advances in Virtual and Personal Learning Environments (ISR). He is associate editor of the International Journal of Computer Assisted Language Learning and Teaching, general editor of the Journal of Second Language Teaching & Research, and has guest edited over 10 peer reviewed special editions on language learning and technology. He is the author or editor of 18 books, over 50 refereed articles and book chapters, 50 conference presentations and keynote addresses and over 100 professional publications in the field of digital education. He has organized over 35 international conferences on computer-assisted learning in the UK, Germany and Japan.