Institute for Higher Education Leadership and Excellence
A regional knowledge, policy, and leadership institute advancing higher education excellence across the Middle East.
An independent reference point for higher education in the region
The Institute for Higher Education Leadership and Excellence – MENA (IHELE) is a UAE-based regional institute dedicated to advancing higher education leadership, policy, quality, governance, innovation, and institutional excellence across the Middle East.
IHELE serves as a knowledge and reference platform for higher education leaders, policymakers, academic executives, quality assurance professionals, and institutional stakeholders seeking evidence-based insight, regional collaboration, and international best practice.
About IHELE →To strengthen leadership and elevate the quality of higher education across the Middle East.
IHELE promotes evidence-based decision-making, regional collaboration, international best practice, and continuous institutional improvement — supporting the leaders responsible for the region's universities and the students they serve.
Four areas of sustained focus
The institute's research, dialogue, and resources are organised around four pillars that address the most consequential questions facing higher education in the region.
Research & Publications
White papers, policy briefs, sector reports, research notes, and thought leadership addressing critical higher education issues in the Middle East.
Leadership & Governance
Executive forums, leadership dialogue, and president, provost, and dean roundtables for senior higher education leaders.
Quality & Institutional Excellence
Frameworks, benchmarking insight, quality maturity models, and institutional effectiveness resources and best practice.
Innovation & the Future of Higher Education
AI, digital transformation, curriculum innovation, student success, academic analytics, and future-facing academic strategy.
The institute's flagship outlook
Middle East Higher Education Leadership & Excellence Outlook
The institute's signature annual outlook examining the state of leadership, quality, and governance across higher education in the region — drawing together data, policy analysis, and the perspectives of senior leaders into a single reference document.
AI Governance in Higher Education
A regional framing of the policy, ethical, and institutional questions raised by artificial intelligence in teaching, research, and academic administration.
Led by experience, guided by an international advisory board
IHELE is an advisory-board-led institute, bringing together distinguished higher education leaders to guide its strategic priorities, publications, and regional initiatives.
Leadership & advisory structure →
Prof. Adam Marks
An accomplished academic leader with expertise in higher education administration, strategic planning, institutional effectiveness, and digital transformation, and a proven record of managing large operations across the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
Based in the UAE. Focused on the Middle East.
From its base in the United Arab Emirates, IHELE works across the region's higher education systems — with initial emphasis on the GCC, regional quality assurance and governance, institutional leadership, and international alignment.
Our regional remit →Higher education across the Gulf states
Regional assurance frameworks
Institutional excellence
Cross-border alignment
For research, partnership, and policy dialogue.
IHELE welcomes correspondence from universities, policymakers, and higher education stakeholders across the region and internationally.
Contact IHELE →An independent institute for higher education in the Middle East
Who we are
The Institute for Higher Education Leadership and Excellence – MENA is an independent institute focused on strengthening higher education leadership, policy, governance, quality assurance, institutional effectiveness, innovation, and student success across the Middle East.
IHELE serves as a knowledge and policy reference point for university leaders, academic executives, quality assurance professionals, policymakers, and higher education stakeholders.
The institute promotes evidence-based decision-making, regional collaboration, international best practices, and continuous institutional improvement.
Mission
To strengthen higher education leadership and elevate institutional quality, governance, and excellence across the Middle East through research, policy dialogue, and the exchange of international best practice.
Vision
A Middle East higher education sector recognised regionally and internationally for the strength of its leadership, the rigour of its governance, and its sustained commitment to quality and student success.
What We Do
- Produce research, white papers, policy briefs, and sector reports
- Convene executive forums and leadership dialogue for senior leaders
- Develop frameworks, benchmarking insight, and quality resources
- Advance evidence-based decision-making and regional collaboration
- Support leadership development and institutional excellence
- Champion innovation and the future of higher education
What We Do Not Do
- We are not an accrediting agency
- We do not award institutional or program accreditation
- We do not provide commercial consulting services
- We do not certify, license, or rank institutions
IHELE is not an accrediting agency and does not award institutional or program accreditation. Its role is to support research, dialogue, leadership development, quality awareness, and institutional excellence.
Four pillars guiding the institute's research and engagement
Research & Publications
White papers, policy briefs, sector reports, research notes, and thought leadership publications addressing critical higher education issues in the Middle East.
Leadership & Governance
Executive forums, leadership dialogue, president, provost, and dean roundtables, and governance-focused conversations for senior higher education leaders.
Quality & Institutional Excellence
Frameworks, benchmarking insights, quality maturity models, institutional effectiveness discussions, and best-practice resources.
Innovation & the Future of Higher Education
AI, digital transformation, curriculum innovation, student success, academic analytics, and future-facing higher education strategies.
Policy briefs, white papers, reports, and regional outlooks
The institute's published thinking on higher education leadership, quality, governance, and innovation in the Middle East. New publications are released on a rolling basis.
Middle East Higher Education Leadership & Excellence Outlook
The institute's signature annual reference examining leadership, quality, and governance across the region's higher education systems.
AI Governance in Higher Education
Policy, ethical, and institutional questions raised by artificial intelligence in teaching, research, and academic administration.
Quality Assurance & Institutional Effectiveness in the Middle East
A regional assessment of quality assurance practice, institutional effectiveness, and the maturity of governance frameworks.
Curriculum Modernization & Graduate Employability
How curriculum reform, skills alignment, and academic innovation shape graduate outcomes across the region.
The Future of Academic Leadership
Perspectives on the evolving role of presidents, provosts, and deans, and the capabilities required of the next generation of academic leaders.
More publications forthcoming
The institute's publication programme is expanding. Additional briefs, reports, and outlooks will be added as they are released.
Leadership and Advisory Structure
Prof. Adam Marks
Prof. Adam Marks is an accomplished academic leader with expertise in higher education administration, strategic planning, institutional effectiveness, and digital transformation — and a passionate researcher and practitioner in educational technology leadership, distance learning, and fact-based decision-making.
He has a proven record of managing large operations across the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. He serves as a member of the Academic Advisory Council with Microsoft, Ellucian, and Blackboard, and as an external reviewer with MSCHE and ABET. He is an advocate for education and for the role of the higher education system as the social and moral conscience of society.
Career Highlights
- Led the establishment and launch of new colleges and undergraduate and graduate academic programs, with multi-modal delivery methods, at several universities across the US, Europe, Asia, and the MENA region — directly contributing to more than 30% institutional enrollment growth.
- Led the formation and reformation of academic strategic planning, institutional effectiveness, and performance management for higher education institutions in the USA, UAE, KSA, Kuwait, Germany, Egypt, and Singapore.
- Led external evaluations on behalf of MSCHE, ABET, PMI, and other accrediting bodies.
- Launched a flagship Center for Teaching and Learning in partnership with Advance HE, resulting in a 50% rise in faculty certifications and a modernized pedagogical framework for the institution.
- Author of three frameworks registered with the US Copyright Office — in Quality Assurance, Program Review, and Digital Transformation.
- Strategically managed a $200M+ academic and technology portfolio, aligning fiscal resources with institutional mission and long-term sustainability.
- Championed shared governance models by restructuring academic councils and promotion committees, enhancing faculty engagement and administrative transparency.
- Four-time winner of the international Catalyst Award for best optimized digital learning experience (2011, 2013, 2014, and 2019).
- Developer of the 5th Best Online Undergraduate Program, US News & World Report (2014).
- Spearheaded accreditation efforts attaining MSCHE, SACSCOC, AACSB, ACBSP, NASAD, CAEP, ACEJMC, AABI, CAA, and ABET — including seven online academic programs.
- Planned and executed plans to advance QS Rating, QS Stars, and THE submissions.
- Judge on the QS Reimagine Education annual awards (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022).
Prof. Yacine Rezgui
Prof. Yacine Rezgui is a qualified architect with an MSc in Building Sciences (Université Jussieu – Paris 6) and a PhD in Computer Science applied to the construction industry (ENPC, École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées).
After four years of industrial experience in architectural engineering, he joined Derbi Informatique (the IT subsidiary of OTH) before moving to CSTB, where he contributed to national and EU research projects in document engineering, product modelling, and Computer Integrated Construction. In 1995 he joined Salford University as a Research Fellow, rising to Professor in 2001, and served as founding Director of the 5* RAE-rated Informatics Research Institute (IRIS), growing it to 70+ academic members.
Professional Memberships
Member of the EPSRC College · British Computer Society · Society of Collaborative Networks · Associate Editor, Journal of Information Technology in Construction · Editorial Board: Advanced Engineering Informatics, Nordic Journal of Surveying and Real Estate Research · External Examiner, Loughborough University & British University in Egypt
Prof. Munir Majdalawieh
Prof. Munir Majdalawieh is a visionary leader in strategic higher education, professional continuing education, and workforce development, with more than 35 years of cross-functional experience spanning the United States and the United Arab Emirates.
He currently serves as Acting Director of the Institute for Professional and Continuing Education (PaCE) at Zayed University, where he provides strategic oversight for professional training, executive education, business development, and revenue-generating activities. Under his leadership, PaCE now offers more than 40 professional education programs with partnerships including PMI, Pearson, and the British Council. Previously, he served for seven years as Chair of the Information Systems and Technology Management Department at Zayed University, founding the NextGen Center connecting academia, industry, and government. Industry experience includes In-Country Manager at Booz Allen Hamilton and senior leadership roles at Hewlett-Packard, Compaq, and Digital Equipment Corporation.
Recognition & Scholarship
80+ peer-reviewed publications · 1,570+ Google Scholar citations · Author of Digital Frontlines: Leading the Charge in Digital Transformation and Cybersecurity and the four-volume Artificial Intelligence: The Next Frontier · Top 50 Digital Transformation Leaders in the UAE (2024) · Top 100 Technology Leaders in the UAE (2023)
Prof. Yousef Haik
Prof. Yousef Haik is an internationally recognized scholar in nanotechnology, with notable contributions to novel nanomaterials applied in hydrogen production, diagnostics, drug target delivery, magnetic hyperthermia, antimicrobials, and magnetic refrigeration.
He holds an extensive portfolio of internationally registered patents, many of which have been licensed, and a publication record encompassing over 300 peer-reviewed articles, textbooks, and conference proceedings. His academic career spans appointments in Mechanical, Biomedical, and Nanoengineering as well as Medicinal Chemistry, Physics, and Nanoscience. Administrative roles have included President, Vice Chancellor, Director for Research Centers, Associate VP for Graduate Studies, Department Chair, and Graduate Programs Director. He serves as Editor-in-Chief and editorial board member for more than a dozen international journals, and is a member of over twelve international professional societies.
Honours & Recognition
HH Sheikh Khalifa Award for Distinguished Research Professor · Arab Thoughts Foundation Award · FUIW-FUMI Research Award · Fellow, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) · Fellow, National Academy of Inventors · 300+ peer-reviewed publications
Dr. Kees Rietsema
Dr. Kees Rietsema is an experienced academic leader and trained coach with over 40 years of experience spanning civilian and military, business, and academic environments — from F-16 Fighter Wing Commander to College Academic Dean.
He served as founding Dean of the Worldwide College of Business at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, having previously chaired the Department of Business Administration. He now serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Management, teaching courses in adaptive leadership, complex environments, and leadership foundations. A Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC), he has coached individuals and organisations including the Mayo Clinic and FedEx, and consults in Serving Leader and Greater Goal Coaching practices through Third River Partners.
Credentials
Ph.D. in Business, Capella University · M.A.S. in Aviation Aerospace Management, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University · MBA in Management, Golden Gate University · B.S. in Political Science & International Affairs, US Air Force Academy · Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC)
Prof. Mohamed Elhoseny
Prof. Mohamed Elhoseny is a Professor at Mansoura University, Egypt, and the University of Sharjah, UAE. An ACM Distinguished Speaker and IEEE Senior Member, his research spans Smart Cities, Network Security, Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, and Intelligent Systems.
He is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of the IJSSTA journal (IGI Global), and Associate Editor at several Q1 journals including IEEE Access, Scientific Reports, IEEE Future Directions, Remote Sensing, International Journal of E-Services and Mobile Applications, and Human-centric Computing and Information Sciences. He also serves as Editor-in-Chief of two CRC Press–Taylor & Francis book series: Sensors Communication for Urban Intelligence and Distributed Sensing and Intelligent Systems. He has served as co-chair, publication chair, program chair, and track chair for numerous international conferences published by IEEE and Springer.
Editorial & Professional Roles
Founder & Editor-in-Chief, IJSSTA (IGI Global) · Editor-in-Chief, two CRC Press–Taylor & Francis book series · Associate Editor: IEEE Access, Scientific Reports, IEEE Future Directions, Remote Sensing · ACM Distinguished Speaker · IEEE Senior Member
An advisory-board-led institute
IHELE is designed as an advisory-board-led institute. The International Advisory Board will bring together distinguished higher education leaders, former university executives, accreditation experts, policy leaders, and institutional effectiveness professionals to guide the institute's strategic priorities, publications, and regional initiatives.
Based in the UAE, focused on the Middle East
A regional remit
IHELE is based in the United Arab Emirates and focused on the Middle East, working across the region's higher education systems as an independent knowledge and policy reference point.
The institute's initial emphasis spans the areas where regional collaboration and shared insight can have the greatest effect on leadership, quality, and institutional excellence.
GCC Higher Education Systems
Engagement with the higher education systems of the Gulf Cooperation Council states and their shared priorities.
Regional Quality Assurance & Governance
Quality assurance practice, governance structures, and institutional effectiveness across the region.
University Leadership & Institutional Excellence
The development of academic leadership and the pursuit of excellence at the institutional level.
Cross-Border Higher Education Trends
Regional and international mobility, partnership models, and the trends shaping cross-border higher education.
International Alignment & Collaboration
Connecting regional practice with international best practice, standards, and collaborative networks.
An independent regional voice
IHELE convenes leaders and produces insight that crosses institutional and national boundaries.
Correspondence with the Institute
IHELE welcomes inquiries from universities, policymakers, researchers, and higher education stakeholders across the region and internationally.
General Inquiries
For general questions about the institute, its work, and its programmes.
info@ihele.orgPartnership Inquiries
For universities and organisations interested in research collaboration and regional initiatives.
info@ihele.orgMedia & Publications
For media, press, and inquiries regarding the institute's publications and reports.
info@ihele.orgUnited Arab Emirates
An independent, non-profit higher education institute serving the Middle East.