About Dr. Issa Al Ansari
Dr. Issa H. Al Ansari, a thought leader in higher education in Saudi Arabia, became
President of Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University in 2006.
Vision and Philosophy
Throughout his career, Dr. Al Ansari emphasized on the principle of youth empowerment
and leadership. His vision to education is to build global citizens equipped with
adequate competencies to face tomorrow’s world, grow up to its challenges and lead
its development. He led the design of a new university with focus on learning rather
than teaching, and on developing competencies rather than providing mere circumstantial
knowledge. This vision shaped the establishment of one of the most highly regarded
and leading institutions of higher education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: The
Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University.
Dr. Al Ansari also led the efforts of establishing a premier youth employment and
development program: The Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd Program for Youth Development.
The Program touched the lives of thousand of young Saudis; it steered efforts to
train young men and women, provide employment for thousands of them, promote values
of citizenship, equal opportunity, inclusivity, entrepreneurship and leadership.
The Program served underprivileged youth as well as special needs individuals; it
rehabilitated hundreds of young men and women until they became fully integrated
as active and productive members of the society; it funded and incubated youth projects
and implemented women empowerment programs and campaigns.
Founding President
Early in the years 2000, many prominent businessmen in the Eastern Province of Saudi
Arabia gathered around the idea of HRH Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz,
then Governor of the Province, to establish a university that locally provides top
tier higher education with international standards. The project soon gained unprecedented
momentum involving international experts in the design of the academic and administrative
systems. Dr. Al Ansari was soon appointed as Founding President to the young university.
Under his leadership, PMU took off as a promising, ambitious and forward looking
university, and gained outstanding local recognition, and fast growing international
reputation. Employers quickly realized that PMU graduates became unarguably some
of the finest in the region, known for discipline competency, but most importantly
for profiles that demonstrate strong leadership, communication, teamwork and critical
thinking skills.
Since its establishment, Dr. Issa led successful efforts of PMU in quality and accreditation,
learning and research, global engagement and most recently, academic expansion with
the introduction of multiple new graduate and undergraduate programs, the establishment
of new institutional initiatives such and the Center for AI, the Center for Futuristic
Studies, the Cybersecurity Institute, the Prince Turki Center for Creativity and
Entrepreneurship, the long awaited mega project of the PMU Medical School and Teaching
Hospital, the unique and outstanding Prince Sultan College for the Visually Impaired,
the PMU Schools and the new Housing Compound. According to his vision, each of the
projects and programs is always carefully designed and planned to respond to international
quality standards, but most importantly, each projects started by pre-defining its
added value to the community and to the currently existing ventures and initiatives.
A Public Career
Early in his academic career, Dr. Al Ansari headed the Public Technical College
in Dammam, setting remarkably high standards in technical and vocational education
in the Kingdom. The reforms he undertook in the institution focused on international
collaboration, industry relations, technologically infused teaching facilities,
and very high graduate employability. This chapter introduced Dr. Al Ansari to many
public service opportunities. He served as advisor to HRH Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd
Bin Abdul Aziz, Governor of the Eastern Province. He advised many academic and developmental
projects in the Eastern Province such as youth empowerment, training, development,
employment and entrepreneurship, youth rehabilitation and integration, youth awareness
volunteerism and involvement, affordable housing and underprivileged community initiatives,
special needs education and support, and of course academic excellence.
Educational Background
- PhD. In Education (Training Teachers with Emphasis on English Language Teachers)
- Southampton University, United Kingdom, 1995.
- Masters Degree in Teaching and Learning, with emphasis on TEFL. University of Pittsburg,
USA, 1989.
- B.A. in English Language, College of Education, Riyadh University (The current King
Saud University).