Prof. Karim Chelli is the founding President of Canadian University Dubai.
An innovative entrepreneur in the field of higher education, Prof. Chelli held several executive and strategic roles at institutions in Canada before spearheading the creation of the first Canadian university outside of Canada in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Prof. Chelli obtained his Doctorate from Louis Pasteur University, France with distinction – “Mention Très Honorable”. In Canada, he served in several Directorial roles with Laurentian University, College des Grands-Lacs, and Centennial College. He also served as President and Board Member of the French Language Health Services Advisory Committee in Niagara Region, and as Vice-President and Board Member with the French Canadian Association of Ontario, Niagara Chapter.
Prof. Chelli has received a number of international honors and awards acknowledging his notable contribution to innovation, leadership and excellence in global education. He is the recipient of the ‘World Chancellors and Vice Chancellors Congress Award for Outstanding Contribution to Education’. Prof. Chelli has also been recognized among the top '251 Fabulous Global Education Leaders' at the 8th edition of the World Education Congress.
In his capacity as CEO and Vice Chancellor of Canadian University Dubai, Prof. Chelli has been honored among the region’s foremost education leaders, receiving the ‘Institution Renowned for Academic Excellence Award’ at the Gulf Education Awards. Most recently, Prof. Chelli was awarded the ‘Amity Global Academic Excellence Award’ at the International Conference on Sustainability and Technology in Higher Education in recognition of his distinguished service and visionary leadership in academia, research, innovation and global collaboration.
In recognition of his work for the international ‘Food and Treatment’ initiative, Prof. Chelli was appointed Ambassador of Hope for the program and received an Honorary Doctorate for Voluntary Work from the International Therapeutic Diet Initiative for Volunteer. He has also received an Honorary Doctorate degree in Business Administration from Mahan Business School. In acknowledgement of the exemplary leadership and commitment to ethical values at Canadian University Dubai, Prof. Chelli received the Ethos Universitas Certificate, awarded under the auspices of Panathlon International, an organization recognized by the International Olympic Committee.
Beyond education, Prof. Chelli has been recognized internationally for his humanist and altruistic contribution to wider society. In gratitude for his outstanding influence on the French city's development, Prof. Chelli has been honored with the highly prestigious 'Medal of the City of Lyon'.
Prof. Chelli continues to be a driving force behind education in Dubai. Through his ongoing support, international partnerships bridging continents are being forged between universities across North America, Europe, the MENA region, and Asia. In recognition of his vision to transcend national and cultural boundaries in the advancement of education, Prof. Chelli has been elected Chair of the Silk-Road Universities Network (SUN), a global network of over 80 institutions dedicated to promoting peaceful coexistence and collective prosperity through learning.
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