From the Desk of Chancellor Seghir

A Monthly Statement Issued by the Chancellor of Ajman University

Human impact has always been central to Ajman University’s strategy. Over the years, this commitment has strengthened our academic programs, teaching innovation, faculty quality, and research output. It has also supported stronger international rankings, distinctive community engagement, and—most importantly—future‑ready graduates.

Commencing later this spring, AU’s impact will take a quantum leap forward with the launch of AU Executive Education. In many ways, our platform will be first-of-a-kind in the UAE and, likely, the GCC. The differentiating factor is that our program is designed to address the specific learning needs of UAE executives. What does it take to lead right here and now? Imported Executive Education programs
aren’t equipped to answer this question. With AU, the UAE is about to enter a new chapter in high-stakes learning.

A Monthly Statement Issued by the Chancellor of Ajman University

Karim Seghir, Ph.D.
Chancellor
Ajman University

© Ajman University. All rights reserved.

University St., Al jerf 1, Ajman
United Arab Emirates

University St., Al jerf 1, Ajman
United Arab Emirates

March 2026

By late spring 2026, the UAE executive community will have an education program tailored to its own current -- and especially future -- needs. AU Exec Ed’s uniqueness is manifested in six ways:

We pledge to you to:

Our Five-Point Pledge

I look forward to seeing as many of our senior executives as possible participate in AU’s inaugural module, to be announced soon. You can expect to explore how accelerated digital transformation is reshaping leadership in the UAE, with a particular focus on AI at the governance and decision‑making levels. Specific details will be included in the official invitation.

All of us are stakeholders in a new era of executive education—one that serves a future coming at us like a freight train. Together, we can pool our strengths to build an executive learning experience that matches the ambition and vision of our beloved country.

Full steam ahead!

Sincerely, 

In planning AU’s soon-to-be-launched ExecEd programming, we canvased the needs of the UAE’s business and industry leaders in AU’s successful symposium held last February. Featuring leading national executives and iconic international experts, we heard what is needed to move forward in an ever-shifting landscape. So now we’re moving forward with our distinct offering.

AU Executive Education is specifically curated around global best practices and contextual relevance to deliver the present and future learning excellence to the country’s executive community. A program has been purposely structured around the UAE Vision 2031, which calls for a forward economy. We believe that those who will help build that future require forward expertise.

Six Points of Distinction

1. Offering a powerful blend of international best practices adapted to suit our own environment and managerial ecosystem.

2. Having the identity of a program of, by, and for UAE executives who were tapped at the design phase and every subsequent step to proactively articulate their own needs. They are also heavily represented on the Center's Advisory Board.

3. Delivery that increasingly relies on local learning materials—especially UAE‑relevant case studies.

4. The program will operate through three different tracks namely open enrollment, company-specific and sector-specific programs.

5. Each program in the latter two categories will have a follow-up post implementation component six months after its completion. The purpose will be to identify which new skills made it into implementation and which did not. Obstacles that blocked the way will be diagnosed and addressed.

6. Programs entirely conceived within the UAE Vision 2031, and the Emirate of Ajman’s adult education landscape.

My AU colleagues and I see Executive Education as a platform for lasting partnerships with public and private organizations. We will forge mutually beneficial partnerships that move the UAE corporate executive talent management practices to the next level. A relationship that accelerates the
development of strategic executive leadership, improves strategic execution, upgrades corporate human capital practices, and opens new opportunities for applied research and experiential learning. The goal is executive education that meets world‑class standards, with a clear UAE and GCC mandate.

1. Work tirelessly to make our executive education programs a resource you can trust—and one in which your voice matters.

2. Offer executive education programs that prioritize local needs while meeting global standards.

3. Listen carefully, act on feedback throughout the program lifecycle, and respond with clarity and speed.

4. Deliver an integrated portfolio where open enrollment, company‑specific, and sector‑specific modules serve different purposes, but share one goal: developing forward-thinking executives for a forward economy.

5. Offer practical, actionable solutions to complex organizational challenges and support implementation through strong, modern problem‑solving approaches.

February 9 will stand out as an enabling date in the evolution of UAE homegrown executive education programs. An elite group of UAE executives came together under the banner of AU and Al Tamimi & Company. H.E. Abdulla bin Touq, Minister of Economy and Tourism, set the direction in his opening remarks, focusing on the executive capabilities needed to deliver the UAE Vision 2031 and a forward economy. A fireside chat between Mr. Essam Al Tamimi and Mr. Majid Jaafar, CEO of Crescent Petroleum brought these needs into sharp focus for today and tomorrow. Professor Dipak Jain —one of the world’s leading voices in executive education—shared global perspectives and led an engaging masterclass on bridging international best practices with local realities. The outcome was a clear roadmap grounded in authentic needs and real executive experience.