Professor Mohamed Zairi of e-TQM College's Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs awarded 'Grand Master' title by Harrington Institute

The Grandmaster is the ultimate recognition given to personalities with exceptional contribution in the field of total quality management and Six Sigma globally.

There are four categories of awards given by the Harrington Institute: Green Belt, Black Belt, Master Black Belt and Grand Master Belt. The recipients are selected by a board made up of experts from various educational institutions. The jury follows stringent criteria in selecting the winners, especially for the distinguished Grand Master title.

Prof. Zairi, who has played a major role in promoting TQM as Head of European Centre for Total Quality Management (ECTQM), is the third personality to receive the coveted title.

"Professor Zairi has been a noted figure in the field of TQM and Six Sigma and has had significant influence globally on the development of best practices in these fields," said Professor James Harrington, Chief Executive Officer of The Harrington Institute and Chairman of e-TQM College`s Advisory Board. "It is with great pride we confer on him the Grandmaster title, in recognition of his tireless services in the spread of TQM culture in the region and globally."

"Professor Zairi's expertise in the field of TQM is reflected in the growing influence of e-TQM College as a prestigious institution that has pioneered quality management-focused e-learning in the Middle East. We hope this recognition will provide further impetus to Professor Zairi to continue to offer his outstanding services to the community and industry," said Professor Harrington.

"I consider it a great honour to receive the Grand Master title, especially since the award has previously been conferred on only two personalities globally," said Professor Zairi. "The award will serve to strengthen my efforts to promote the principles of Total Quality Management."

e-TQM College is the first learning institution in the Arab world to be granted membership of the European Foundation for Total Quality Management (EFQM) in Brussels, e-TQM College is also the first institution outside Europe to become a member of the British Quality Foundation (BQF). Dr. Mansoor Al Awar, Vice President e-TQM College recently became the first UAE National to be named lead assessor by the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM), the prestigious international TQM organisation.

In addition, e-TQM College Advisory Board Members Prof. Yoshio Kondo and Prof. Jens J. Dahlgaard - were honoured by global TQM organizations for their distinguished service to the cause of spreading awareness of the quality movement. Prof. Zairi was awarded the 2005 Harrington/Ishikawa Medal for "exceptional adherence to quality principles and leadership in the quality movement throughout the Asia-Pacific region," while Prof. Kondo was named the 23rd Honorary Member of the prestigious American Society for Quality (ASQ) for his "exceptional contribution to the global quality community as a thought-leader in the fields of human motivation and Total Quality Management." Prof. Dahlgaard was awarded the Lancaster Medal in recognition of his "dedication and outstanding contribution to the international fraternity of quality professionsals."