Ünal Çakıroğlu was born in Trabzon. He completed his primary education in Trabzon and his secondary education at Trabzon Science High School. In 1997, he graduated from the Department of Computer Engineering at Ege University with a bachelor's degree. He earned his master’s degree in the Department of Computer Engineering at the Institute of Natural Sciences of Karadeniz Technical University, specializing in natural language processing. He completed his PhD in the Department of Mathematics Education at the same institute, focusing on the use of learning objects in education.

Prof. Dr. Çakıroğlu began his academic career in 1999 as a Research Assistant in the Department of Computer Engineering at Karadeniz Technical University. He currently serves as a professor in the Department of Computer Education and Instructional Technology at Trabzon University. His academic work focuses on technology integration in education, computer science education, distance education, and artificial intelligence applications. Prof. Dr. Çakıroğlu has authored numerous international publications in these fields and has supervised many master’s and doctoral theses. In 2024 and 2025, he was recognized among the World’s Most Influential Scientists in his field according to the Annual Impact Category data prepared by Stanford University.

Throughout his career, he has held various administrative positions, including Head of Department, Chair of Division, and Director of the Institute. He has also served on the Faculty Board, Faculty Executive Board, and University Senate. Since 2025, he has been serving as an Advisor to the Rector at Ibn Haldun University. In recent years, Prof. Dr. Çakıroğlu has concentrated his research on the integration of artificial intelligence in higher education and educational AI ontologies. He is married, has two children, and is proficient in English.

ORCID: 0000-0001-8030-3869