Prof. Dr. Bassam Alameddine

President at American University of Ras Al Khaimah (AURAK)

Speaker

Professor Bassam Alameddine is the President of the American University of Ras Al Khaimah (AURAK). A globally recognized higher education leader, he is known for his transformational leadership and ability to align academia with industry in an era shaped by AI and emerging technologies. Previously, he served as President of Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST) in Kuwait, where he oversaw major institutional growth, introduced market-driven programs, and implemented the SPEAR system, which improved student retention by 56%. His leadership strengthened GUST’s global rankings, accreditations, and research output. A renowned scholar and Principal Investigator of the Functional Materials Group, Professor Alameddine’s research spans carbon capture, hydrogen storage, and environmental remediation. He has attracted over $2.5 million in competitive funding and authored more than 100 publications. He has held positions at Columbia University, EPFL, and the University of Fribourg, and holds a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry, a Master’s in Materials Science Engineering, and a leadership credential from Oxford University’s Saïd Business School. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, he continues to champion sustainability, diversity, and innovation in higher education.