KHDA appoints Executive Director

Dr. Al Karam said: "Linking education directly to the workplace is one of the main goals of the National Institute for Vocational Education, and the first step to achieving this goal is the appointment of Dr. Naji Mahdi as the Executive Director of the Institute. Dr. Naji excels in the Vocational Education field, and his own personal story is a testament to successful vocational education.

Today Dr. Naji Almahdi joined the Knowledge and Human Development Authority as NIVE's Executive Director to assist in achieving KHDA's objectives in making NIVE the Institute of choice for both students and employers. This will be achieved by maintaining high standards of quality in vocational education benchmarked to international standards.

Dr. Almahdi is a dedicated vocational education professional with over 27 years experience in the field. He has held senior management roles within the education, training and employment sectors.

He holds a PhD in dimension Geometry from Salford University, UK, and a First Class BSc in Mechanical Engineering with Honours from the University of Manchester's Institute of Science & Technology, UK.

Dr Almahdi has participated in numerous training events at home and abroad. He has first hand experience in many educational and training systems in most countries in the Arab world as well as the United Kingdom, Germany, USA, Australia, South Africa, Japan and Taiwan.

In 2000, the Minister of Labor & Social Affairs in Bahrain cited Dr. Naji at a special ceremony to mark his outstanding achievements in the redevelopment of vocational training in Bahrain.

His professional career includes senior management responsibilities at the Dubai Jewelry Institute at the Higher Colleges of Technology and he has 5 publications related to Performance Management and Quality in UK and Spain. He has spoken at many national and international conferences and chaired many national, regional and international committees as well as participating in numerous seminars and conferences. Among the many topics he has addressed are Energy, Numerical Analysis, Fluid Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Education & Training, Jewelry, Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development and Labor.

Responsibilities in KHDA

Dr. Naji will focus on directing and executing educational programs in the institute towards the achievement of the overall objectives of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA).

Moreover, his role will include working closely with local communities, including businesses, industry and schools, in order to promote the institute, assist in graduate placement and obtain sponsorships.