Dubai forms new leadership network for higher education

Dubai has launched the Higher Education Leadership Network (HELN), a new forum that brings together senior leaders from universities, government and industry to align higher education with workforce needs, research and innovation and to support Dubai’s Economic Agenda D33 and Education 33 (E33) Strategy. The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), Dubai International Academic City and Dubai Knowledge Park announced the network’s founding committee and co-chairs, naming Dr Saeed Mubarak Kharbash, CEO of Policies, Research and Programmes at KHDA, and Marwan Abdulaziz Janahi, Senior Vice President of Dubai International Academic City and Dubai Knowledge Park, as founding co-chairs.

“By bringing leaders together in a structured way, we can help ensure that higher education outcomes remain aligned with the skills, research and innovation priorities shaping Dubai’s future,” Dr Saeed Mubarak Kharbash said.

HELN was jointly developed in 2025 by KHDA, Dubai International Academic City and Dubai Knowledge Park to deepen ties between universities, businesses and government. The network will focus on four core areas: education and upskilling, entrepreneurship and innovation, future economies, and research and development. During its first year, HELN plans to prioritise structured discussions among universities, businesses and government bodies as well as collaborative research and innovation projects aimed at producing practical applications for emerging industries and changing workforce requirements.

Founding committee and partners

• Marwan Abdulaziz Janahi, Senior Vice President, Dubai International Academic City and Dubai Knowledge Park (TECOM Group)
• Dr Saeed Mubarak Kharbash, CEO of Policies, Research and Programmes, KHDA
• Eng. Marwan Bin Haidar, Executive Vice President of Innovation & the Future, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority
• Dr Hanan Al Suwaidi, Provost at Mohamed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU) and Deputy CEO and Chief Academic Officer, Dubai Health
• Marwan Al Jassmi, Executive Vice President – People & Sustainability, DP World
• Alya Hussain Al Zarouni, Chief Operating Officer, Dubai International Financial Centre
• Oliver Grohmann, Executive Vice President Human Resources, Emirates Group
• Victor Van der Chijs, President – National University of Dubai
• Ahmad Alkhallafi, Managing Director UAE & Africa, Hewlett Packard Enterprise
• Professor Yusra Mouzughi, Provost, University of Birmingham Dubai
• Professor Mohamed-Vall M. Salem ZEIN, President, University of Wollongong in Dubai
• Khalifa Al Qama, Chief of Research, Development and Innovation, Dubai Future Foundation
• Jeff Strachan, Associate Vice President, Dubai Economy and Tourism

Marwan Abdulaziz Janahi stressed the role of cooperative platforms in the emirate’s higher education ambitions, saying the network “will provide a platform for dialogue and partnerships while supporting research, innovation and skills development.” The inclusion of senior executives from sectors such as technology, logistics, healthcare, aviation and finance is intended to give HELN a broad cross-section of Dubai’s economy and ensure that academic programmes and research agendas are informed by real market demands.

HELN’s remit includes assessing how higher education can respond to emerging industries and evolving workforce requirements, and fostering partnerships that translate academic research into applied innovation. The network’s mandate aligns with strategic national policies that encourage stronger cooperation between higher education institutions and industry stakeholders to support economic diversification under the Economic Agenda D33.

Outlook

In its first year, HELN will concentrate on convening targeted discussions, launching joint research and innovation projects, and creating pathways for upskilling and entrepreneurship linked to employer needs. The founding committee’s cross-sector composition is designed to accelerate practical collaboration between universities, businesses and government agencies. If sustained, these efforts could shape academic curricula, graduate employability and research priorities to better match Dubai’s projected future-economy sectors.