Rafael Ferreira Mello has a PhD in computer science with research interests that span across natural language processing, learning analytics and educational technology. He is one of the main researchers of the Artificial Intelligence Lab at the Federal Rural University of Pernambuco (UFRPE) in Brazil. AIBox develops several initiatives regarding learning analytics (LA), including the development and adoption of tools in collaboration with international institutions. Dr Mello has worked on several multinational research projects, which involve institutional and organisational partners in Europe, Australia, the United States and Latin America. One of these projects, LALA, intends to develop the capability of Latin American higher education institutions in the adoption of LA platforms.