Dr. Hamdan Al Fazari is Vice Chancellor of Sohar University. He is an Associate Professor who holds a PhD from the National Institute for Applied Sciences (INSA) – Toulouse University, France, and an MBA Degree in Aerospace Management from the Toulouse Business School in France. He joined Sohar University in 2013 and was initially appointed as Pro-Vice Chancellor (Resources), before being promoted to Deputy Vice Chancellor (Resources) in 2018. Dr. Hamdan was formerly a career officer in the Engineering branch of the Royal Air Force of Oman where he was acknowledged for his distinguished record of experience in engineering and academic leadership. He has held many senior management posts and he has significant experience of successfully organizing strategic management within higher education and other sectors. In addition, he has a solid record of teaching, research, program and projects reviewing and assessment, PhD and Master degree supervision. He is also a member of a number of professional bodies and the Chair or member of committees at University, national and international level. These include membership of major key bodies such as External Reviewer at the OAAA&QA; member of the Academy for Global Business Advancement (AGBA) USA, and fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS), U.K. He also networks with many international Universities, research laboratories and Higher Education Institutions. He has the level of experience required to enable successful implementation of the University’s strategic plan and to guide its administrative direction to be in line with Oman Vision 2040 and the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation strategic plans as well.
Few people can boast the wealth of academic and administrative experience accrued at Sohar University by Professor Hamza Edrees. Professor Hamza Edrees joined Sohar University in 2000, following a research and teaching tenure at Strathclyde University. Since then, he has served as Acting Vice Chancellor and Acting Dean of the Faculty of Computing and Information Technology. However, it is his Deanship of the Faculty of Engineering which, perhaps, has been his most significant achievement. Today, the Faculty offers Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree Programmes in Civil, Electrical and Computer, Chemical and Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, and a Master’s Degree in Environmental Engineering. Professor Hamza is now Sohar University’s Pro Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and, currently, brings his administrative expertise to the Quality Assurance system at the University.
Professor Ghassan Al Kindi is Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation. Before joining us at Sohar University, Professor Ghassan served as visiting professor and honorary research associate at Monash University and the University of Queensland (both Australia). He is a winner of the prestigious Joseph Whitworth Prize, awarded by the Institute of Mechanical Engineers (UK), and has accrued over thirty years’ experience in the design and application of industrial processes, specializing in automation and manufacturing. He is currently an editorial board member of 3 international journals, has been widely published and has delivered papers at a host of international conferences. Professor Ghassan’s considerable contribution to the University can be counted in the wealth of research and consultancy projects he has won and in his supervision of the progress of our post-graduate Masters’ and PhD students.
Dr. Mohammed Al-Maqbali is Pro Vice Chancellor for Admissions, Registration & Student Affairs. Dr. Mohammed completed a Master’s degree in International Educational Management at the University of Leeds (UK) and was awarded a Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA) at the United Arab Emirates University. He joined Sohar University in 2007, serving, first, as Executive Manager of the Office of the Vice Chancellor, then as Pro Vice Chancellor for Admin & Finance, then for four years, as Pro Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, and then from 2017 to 2021, as Pro Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Engagement.
Dr. Mohammed has served on the Sohar Municipal Committee, is President of the Hayat Group, Sohar, an organisation devoted to supporting disadvantaged people in the local area and is a patron of the Al Noor Association for the Blind (Al Batinah North), so his tenure as PVC for Student Affairs signaled his keynote contribution to the University and our wider community, and has made him, of course, eminently suited to and qualified for the post of PVC for Student Affairs and Engagement.
