We positioned DIAC as a destination for International Higher Education Institutes, while DKV was to be repositioned as a hub for training institutes, HR companies, professional development centers, as well as assessment centers.

Successful Transition from Academia to Administration: An Interview with Dr. Ayoub Kazim

Published in The journal of applied management and entrepreneurship

Citations: 0

2012

Abstract

Executive SummaryIn this wide ranging interview, Dr. Ayoub Kazim, the managing director of the education cluster of TECOM Investments including Dubai Knowledge Village (DKV) and Dubai International Academic City (DIAC), shares his insights on the development of the world's only free zone dedicated to international higher education, hosting over 30 institutions from 1 1 different countries including the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, India, France, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, Lebanon and the UAE. The conversation ranges over his 20 years of technical, administrative and academic experience gained from working in TECOM, Dubai Municipality and UAE University in Al Ain.Dr. Kazim discusses how his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Alabama, a master's degree from the Polytechnic Institute of New York University and doctorate in mechanical engineering from the University of Miami have helped him to not only strategically steer all DIAC and DKV academic entities but also further consolidate their statuses as leading centers of learning excellence in the UAE region. Heading a proficient team of top-tier professionals across both campuses, Dr. Kazim has successfully ensured consistent growth in the number of business partners of both DKV and DIAC.Under his guidance, Dubai Knowledge Village has focused on human resource management, consultation, training and personal development programs and positioned itself as a prominent events and conference center for the region. Dr. Kazim' s vision has also carried over into the launch of Dubai International Academic City in 2007. His varied interests and rich experience have led to his success in the education sector, in line with the vision of Dubai becoming a knowledge-based economy. The true transition from faculty to administration is echoed in his work with both DKV and DIAC, where along with his highly appreciated leadership style, he is actively involved in research studies. He has published numerous articles and technical papers on renewable energy, hydrogen energy, fuel cells, energy policy and economics.Author: Dubai International Academic City (DIAC) is so very unusual, very unique, and very entrepreneurial. Can you just brief me what this Dubai International Academic City is all about, and how and why did you conceive this idea?Kazim: Before the inception of DIAC, we felt it was necessary to create a cluster of academic Institutes, after witnessing the success we had in creating the Dubai Internet City (DlC) in the year 2000, and Dubai Media City (DMC) in 2001, and Dubai Knowledge Village (DKV) in 2003. Dubai Knowledge Village was created as an alternative destination for education, with an intention to provide opportunities for those who could not go abroad to pursue their studies. What we witnessed at DKV was that we were able to attract HR companies, training institutes, professional development centers, as well as higher education providers, and we saw huge growth when it came to number of higher education providers.So in 2006 we thought of allocating a zone, which would be dedicated primarily to host international education, so as to segregate the higher education component, from HR training and learning and development. That led us to create DIAC, which was launched in 2007 April at GITEX, to host International Higher Education providers. We positioned DIAC as a destination for International Higher Education Institutes, while DKV was to be repositioned as a hub for training institutes, HR companies, professional development centers, as well as assessment centers.Author: But I think some of the universities are still there at DKV, is that right?Kazim: Yes some of the universities are still there at DKV, and some are in a transition phase, and we just can't force these institutions to move from one zone to another overnight. We thought it is right to give them ample time to consider their situation, and not force them. …

Authors

Abhilasha Singh