UAE-based Al Ghurair University, one of the premier universities in the Gulf region, has appointed Prof Basem Alzahabi as its new president ahead of the opening of the 2017-2018 academic year.

Al Ghurair University (AGU), one of the premier universities in the Gulf region, has appointed Prof Basem Alzahabi as its new president ahead of the opening of the 2017-2018 academic year.

AGU, a unit of UAE-based diversified conglomerate Al Ghurair, said in his new role, Prof Alzahabi will oversee the development of the university in terms of elevating the standard of education and adopting global best practices for advanced learning.

He joins AGU from Kettering University in Michigan, US, where he had been director of the office of international programs and chair of engineering design since 2011.

In his previous position, he provided leadership and support for relationships with international universities, companies, governments and other institutions, and working in developing international programs.

He also officially represented Kettering to US and foreign government agencies concerning international and cultural issues while developing new funding opportunities for the university.

Alzahabi initially joined Kettering as Professor of Mechanical Engineering in 1998.

On his new role, Prof Alzahabi said: "I am thrilled to be entering a new stage in my career as president of one of the most prestigious educational institutions in the Gulf region. AGU has made a name for its progressive approach to education while staying connected to the heritage that makes it utterly unique."

Educated to doctorate level, Prof Alzahabi holds a Ph D in Civil Engineering and two MS degrees in both Civil Engineering and Applied Mechanics and Engineering Science from The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

Ibrahim Al Ghurair, a board member at Al Ghurair, said: "We are absolutely confident that Prof Alzahabi’s esteemed career in education will be a tremendous addition to the university. AGU will surely be leveraging his experience in further raising our institution, together with our students and faculty, to new levels of academic excellence."

"With his arrival, we will see a fresh new approach to training and educational collaboration that will elevate AGU’s global competitiveness," he added.-TradeArabia News Service