Randa Bessiso

Founding Director and Chief Executive Officer, Middle East

Randa Bessiso is Founding Director and Chief Executive Officer for the Middle East of The University of Manchester in Dubai, established in 2006 and now one of the university's largest international branches. She leads a regional team responsible for a portfolio of flexible part-time master's programmes and executive education short courses aimed at working professionals, covering student recruitment and support, corporate engagement, careers services and alumni relations. She has introduced a range of new educational products, services and initiatives, and is responsible for regional engagement with governments, corporate talent partnerships, social responsibility programmes and collaborations with industry groups and professional bodies. Before joining the university she was regional lead for the UK government's UK eUniversities Worldwide programme, and earlier served as vice president at PROJACS International, a management and consulting firm in Kuwait.