Cultures of Innovation: Elevating quality education for a thriving Middle East

Professor Ghassan Aouad joined Abu Dhabi University as its Fourth Chancellor in January 2023. Before that he served as President of Applied Science University in Bahrain for over eight years. He spent five years in the Department of Civil and Building Engineering of Loughborough University in the UK, where he obtained his MSc in Construction (1987) and his PhD entitled Integrated Planning Systems for the Construction Industry (1991). In 1992, Professor Aouad joined the University of Salford as a Research Fellow and progressed through to the role of Pro Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation and Dean of the College of Science & Technology before he left in December 2011. During that time, he successfully supervised 24 PhD students, externally examined 52 PhD students, authored 3 major research books and co-authored one book, generated more than £10M in research funding as Principal Investigator and £8M as Co-Investigator, published 92 papers in top rated refereed journals, delivered more than 50 keynote speeches and invited lectures, and presented his work in more than 42 countries.

Prof Aouad moved on to broaden the geographical reach of his academic leadership by serving as the President of the University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD), and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Gulf University for Science & Technology (GUST) based in Kuwait. Furthermore, Prof Aouad served as President and Vice President of the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB).

In July 2016, Professor Aouad received an Honorary Doctorate of Technology from Loughborough University in the UK. Professor Aouad is also a member of the Advance HE Leadership and Management Strategic Advisory Group. In addition, he is a Fellow of Advance HE and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Building.

Dr Nigel Healey is Professor of International Higher Education and Vice President (Global and Community Engagement) at the University of Limerick. He is currently serving as Interim Provost and Deputy President. Prior to his appointment at the University of Limerick in April 2020, he held senior academic positions at Fiji National University, Nottingham Trent University, the University of Canterbury and Manchester Metropolitan University, as well as teaching positions at the University of Leicester and Leeds Beckett University.

Dr Healey has served as an economic policy advisor to the prime minister of Belarus and the deputy minister of economy of the Russian Federation and managed a number of multinational research and economic development projects in Europe and Asia. His current research interests are in the internationalization of higher education, transnational education and higher education policy and management.

Professor Ghassan Aouad joined Abu Dhabi University as its Fourth Chancellor in January 2023. Before that he served as President of Applied Science University in Bahrain for over eight years. He spent five years in the Department of Civil and Building Engineering of Loughborough University in the UK, where he obtained his MSc in Construction (1987) and his PhD entitled Integrated Planning Systems for the Construction Industry (1991). In 1992, Professor Aouad joined the University of Salford as a Research Fellow and progressed through to the role of Pro Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation and Dean of the College of Science & Technology before he left in December 2011. During that time, he successfully supervised 24 PhD students, externally examined 52 PhD students, authored 3 major research books and co-authored one book, generated more than £10M in research funding as Principal Investigator and £8M as Co-Investigator, published 92 papers in top rated refereed journals, delivered more than 50 keynote speeches and invited lectures, and presented his work in more than 42 countries.

Prof Aouad moved on to broaden the geographical reach of his academic leadership by serving as the President of the University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD), and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Gulf University for Science & Technology (GUST) based in Kuwait. Furthermore, Prof Aouad served as President and Vice President of the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB).

In July 2016, Professor Aouad received an Honorary Doctorate of Technology from Loughborough University in the UK. Professor Aouad is also a member of the Advance HE Leadership and Management Strategic Advisory Group. In addition, he is a Fellow of Advance HE and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Building.

Dr. Wafa El Garah is Full Professor of Management Information Systems (MIS) and Project Director of the Center for Business Ethics at Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane (AUI). She served as Vice President for Academic Affairs at AUI where she successfully led the university through the last stage of the NECHE Accreditation process. She also served as Dean of the School of Business Administration for 5 years. During her deanship tenure, she led the school through international EPAS reaccreditation process for the Bachelor of Business Administration program leading to 5 year accreditation. She is member of the European Foundation of Management Development board and the International Advisory board of University of Business and Technology, Jeddah. Dr. El Garah holds a Ph.D. in MIS from University of Central Florida and an MBA in Marketing and Management from University of North Texas. Prior to joining academia, she worked in several international companies.