Dubai | 1 st October 2025
On the evening of October 1, 2025, the winners of the 4th Cycle of the Zairi International Awards for Excellence in Higher Education were announced during a sumptuous Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony held at the Dusit Thani Dubai. The evening also featured a high-level panel discussion titled “Universities as Architects of Global Good: Rethinking Higher Education’s Purpose and Impact.”
The panel was moderated by Dr. Susanna Karakhanyan, Global Tertiary Education Expert and former President of INQAAHE, and included distinguished leaders from across the world:
- Dr. Ahmed Al-Yamani, President, Prince Sultan University (KSA)
- Dr. Randall Rhodes, President, American University of Kurdistan (Iraq)
- Prof. Wael Nabil Abdel Salam, President, Beirut Arab University (Lebanon)
- Dr. Karim Seghir, Chancellor, Ajman University (UAE)
- Dr. Mwalimu Musheshe, Vice Chancellor, African Rural University (Uganda)
The Zairi International Awards, named in honor of the late Professor Mohamed Zairi, recognize higher education institutions that are creating meaningful impact in their contexts through excellence, innovation, and sustainability. The Awards undergo a rigorous two-tier evaluation process, with submissions reviewed by an Assessment Committee and then judged by an independent international Jury to ensure credibility and transparency.
This year’s cycle attracted more than 130 applications from 39 countries worldwide, reflecting the Awards’ growing global recognition and reach.
The 2025 winners are:
- Winner of the “Digital Transformation Award”: Dubai Police Academy – UAE
- Winner of Excellence for “Outstanding Non-for-profit Contribution to the Community” Award: African Rural University – Uganda
- Winner of the “Research Impact Award”: Jouf University – KSA
- Winner of the “Internationalization Award”: Ajman University – UAE
- Winner of the “Equity and Inclusion Award”: The American University of Kurdistan – Kurdistan
No winners were announced in the Disruptive Education category this year, as submissions did not fully meet the award criteria.
Reflecting on this cycle of the awards, Dr. Narimane Hadj-Hamou, Founder and CEO of CLICKS, stated: “The Zairi International Awards for Excellence in Higher Education carry a unique significance as they celebrate institutions that are not only pursuing excellence but also shaping meaningful societal and global impact. In our view, all shortlisted institutions are winners, as their work reflects a shared commitment to innovation, sustainability, and transformative education. We look forward to continuing to expand the reach of the Awards and to welcoming even more institutions from diverse regions in the cycles to come.”
We warmly congratulate all the winners and shortlisted institutions for their outstanding contributions and lasting impact on higher education and thank you sponsors for the awards Cengage and Studisoity.
The 5th Cycle of the Zairi International Awards for Excellence in Higher Education is now open for applications and will close on December 27, 2025. For more information visit: Zairi International Awards For Excellence in HE – Clicks
