The President’s Blog
28/08/2025 2025-09-18 9:37The President’s Blog
The President's Blog
Navigating by What We Measure
The start of a new year is a natural moment for institutional reflection. At EUB, we use this pause to look honestly at progress against our Strategic Plan. KPIs are not about reassurance or appearances. Used well, they act as navigational markers — showing where we are, where we have drifted, and where thoughtful correction is needed. …
Leading With Purpose: How Strategy Shapes Transformation in Higher Education
Transformation requires design, discipline, and purposeful leadership. …
Success Belongs to the Community, Not the Individual
Real success rarely comes from a single leader, a single decision or a single moment. It comes from a connected, empowered and well-motivated community — one where people support each other, challenge each other, and feel part of something bigger than their own role. And it’s never instant. There isn’t one announcement, one hire or one initiative that suddenly fixes everything. Sustainable progress is built through small improvements made day by day, week by week, month by month. A conversation that brings clarity. A process made slightly smoother. A department that collaborates a little more closely than it did the month before. On their own, these moments seem modest. But over time they add up. You can sense it when the momentum begins to build. There’s an energy that moves through an organisation when people feel connected and empowered. Ideas surface more easily. Problems are tackled earlier. Teams become quicker, …
Avoiding Ambiguity: The Courage to Speak Up
I’ve noticed in meetings that silence can be mistaken for agreement. In truth, silence is ambiguous. All too often people nod along and actions are assigned. Only when the work stalls does it become clear that other things took priority, or that barriers previously undiscussed hindered progress — all because someone felt unable to speak up at the time. Silence, even when well-intentioned, can slow progress and weaken trust. That’s why one of the principles in our Culture Code — No Silent Disagreement — matters so much. It’s a reminder that openness isn’t confrontation. It’s a sign of respect. The moment we stop speaking honestly with each other, we lose the chance to make better decisions. Openness means being able to say, I’m not sure this will fit alongside my other priorities, I’m not sure I have the required resources, or I see it differently — without fear that it …
What Do We Value in a University?
This week I’ve been attending education fairs and meeting prospective students and their families. It reminded me that to maximise an outcome you first need to know what you value. Some things are easy to see: certificates, facilities, rankings — and yes, the price. These matter, of course. But the deeper values are less visible, and yet far more decisive. Confidence. A student who leaves university believing in their ability to contribute, lead and adapt will go further than one who only collected credits. Connection. A certificate may open one door, but networks, internships and industry links open many more. Education must connect students to the world beyond the classroom. Capability. Employers don’t only ask “what did you study?” but “what can you do?” A certificate signals completion; but a portfolio demonstrates ability. Care. Support, encouragement and belonging. These are not extras — they are what sustain students through challenges …
Professor Andrew Nix is the President and CEO of Euro University of Bahrain. He has published more than 600 international papers and successfully supervised 65+ PhD students. He is well-known for his ground-breaking research contributions that shaped the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth standards. More recently, Professor Andrew’s 5G wireless research is globally recognized for tackling societal challenges related to smart cities, urban transportation and digital healthcare.
