UB appoints new executive vice president

UB appoints new executive vice president
Sarim Al-Zubaidy.

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The University of The Bahamas (UB) recently announced the appointment of Professor Sarim Al-Zubaidy as executive vice president (EVP).

The appointment took effect Monday, January 4, 2021, the university said.

“An officer of the university mandated in the University of The Bahamas Act, 2016, the EVP serves as the chief operating officer of the UB system,” UB noted.

“Professor Al-Zubaidy is a registered chartered engineer and chartered environmentalist with over 30 years’ experience in executive, administrative and academic positions in a variety of higher education institutions around the world.

“His expertise ranges from public to private universities, traditional to newly formed universities and those in transition from colleges and polytechnics.

“Reporting to the president as EVP, Professor Al-Zubaidy has primary responsibility for helping the president maximize operating performance and the achievement of goals.

“Further core duties include overseeing the implementation of the university’s board-approved strategic plan across all areas; initiating and managing strategic alliances; participating in the development of operating and capital budgets; and assuring effective guidelines and standard operating procedures for the management of various units.

“Professor Al-Zubaidy will work collaboratively with the president’s Cabinet and staff and provide the president and board of trustees with regular updates on academic milestones, admissions and retention and strategic planning initiatives. He will also periodically assist with fundraising, development and alumni activities.”

The new EVP has previously served as president and acting provost of the University of Trinidad and Tobago; founding vice-dean for Academic Affairs (chief academic officer); professor of engineering; and acting head of the Quality Assurance Department at the Military Technological College (MTC) in Muscat, Oman, according to UB.

“His diverse international background includes a number of other senior administrative, academic, research and visiting scholar appointments,” the university said.

It also acknowledged Al-Zubaidy’s “numerous awards to his credit”, including the Principal Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (now Advance HE) in 2015

“He is also an experienced fundraiser, having secured substantial research grants which contributed to capacity building of universities in Kazakhstan, Australia, Jamaica and Dubai,” UB said.

The university said Al-Zubaidy earned his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Hertfordshire (previously Hatfield Polytechnic); his M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from Liverpool John Moores University (previously Liverpool Polytechnic); and his B.Sc. (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering from Baghdad University.