Further development of the education and training strategy for Riyadh City in the areas of vocational training and higher education, coordinating with public and private stakeholders in respect to carry the strategy to implementation in the two sectors.

Developing, from embryonic status the Maximus Gulf Global Training Company, as a competent partner of government and employers in various sectors providing basic skills which support employment and sustainment in employment for a multitude of job seekers.

Build-up of a Training & Development framework capable to supply the entire plethora of needed skills for this Giga project. Strategic planning and operational preparation of the planend “Qiddiya Academy”. Target employment base: 17-20.000 employees at start of operations at Qiddiya.

Strategic modeling of training infrastructure that allows for company-based skills acquisition at post-secondary levels, i.e. "apprenticeships" (vocational level), „cooperative education“ (higher education).Taking into account International benchmark experience in leading countries (e.g. Germany, Scotland, Australia, Switzerland and others...) proposal of a Saudi Arabia-specific solution, including but not limited to1) Blue-print for organizational reform of existing vocational colleges and university undergraduate departments, where academic institutions carry out mainly support and service, quality assurance, monitoring, complementary and enabling functions (e.g. training of company trainers); 2) Identification, description and quantification of skill sets required within 2-3 years for the success of emerging mega projects (e.g. Qiddiya, Red Sea project, King Salman Park, NEOM, etc.), and analysis of skills gap in bottleneck areas.3) Preparation for the launch of a pilot.

Strategy development with responsibility as "torch bearer" for two major education-related programs, including key project aiming at a NTP-congruent plan 2020 for the education sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; and major strategy project to redesign post-secondary education financing in the Kingdom. Advisory roles in the establishment of the Kingdom's first strategic economic Think Tank (Strategic Development Research Institute); and overhaul of Saudi Arabia's social protection strategy development; and others.

Leadership of the new R&D (Innovation) Department at CoE in support of the further refinement and development of CoE vision, concept and practiced PPP model, directly reporting to the CEO.Recent projects include (selection):¬ Design of a framework for the introduction of a (vocational) bachelors’ degree at CoE colleges: project design, selection / contracting of a suitable international training provider (ITP); coordination with participating CoE ITPs in an initial pilot phase; monitoring and project control;¬ Coordination of the entrance of “students with disabilities” into CoE vocational schools, as mandated by Ministry of Labor: design and setting up of a pilot of 3-5 colleges, which will offer first training possibilities for SWDs in Sept, 2015. Coordination with CoE ITP Senior Management, and MoL.¬ Responsible for CoE “Learning Innovation Initiative”, i.e. translation of strategic “TVET 2.0” initiative (chaired by HE Minster of Labor, HE Governor TVTC, CoE C-level) into learning innovation. This includes, inter alia: design of parameters for a learning innovation test college in close coordination with the selected training provider (operation is based on novel insights), contract adjustment for the participating provider, chairing of monitoring steering committee;¬ Operational Excellence project: Design and subsequently supervision of a KPMG-implemented project that describes and measures CoE colleges’ operational capabilities and correlates to training providers’ contract compliance. In this context evaluation of the effectiveness of CoE HQ reporting and system steering instruments. ¬ Some additional projects include preparing agreements with international vocational institutes and research providers; design of intercultural training courses for ITP staff, et al.

Re-structuring and leadership of the CoE Education Department. The Education team of 10 experienced international educational experts performs advice and internal educational audits to 33 Colleges of Excellence following a structured process of educational performance measurement and quality assurance. Central instrument for steering and governance of the system of international vocational schools in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Colleges of Excellence (CoE) is a funding agency under the Ministry of Labor tendering, funding and steering under a PPP model a total of currently 37 internationally operated vocational schools in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. CoE also plays a central role in the ongoing transformation of the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC) and its currently 53 state-run vocational schools. In addition, CoE establishes vocational schools in partnership with leading industrial companies. Striving for excellent and internationally compatible educational standards, Colleges of Excellence is the hub of one of the greatest transformation and build-up of an entire vocational sector worldwide.

GIZ operated and managed TTC on behalf of Colleges of Excellence: Leadership of the only degree granting teacher training institution for vocational teachers in Saudi Arabia (academic, budgetary and line authority for the college). Major achievements: • Succeeded in achieving within 3 years of existence of the college the international accreditation of TTC as an institute of higher education according to European standards. TTC grants a Bachelor of Engineering Technology (BET) and is the only academic institution in Saudi Arabia with a comparable European accreditation.• Developed coherent budgetary structure and consistent monitoring tools, to allocating funds appropriate to the operative needs of a running a fast growing college. • Effectively set up university administration by developing and implementing appropriate set of rules, regulations and standards.• Drove sizeable institutional growth, both in student and faculty/staff numbers (less than 50 staff members in 2010, to more than 170 faculty and staff members in 2013). I also internationalized the faculty: in 2013 faculty members came from 16 nations. 22 faculty members held Ph.D.s• Successfully diversified the portfolio of offered course programs, adding the additional discipline of automotive engineering. • Excelled in creating with TTC a reference model for vocational teacher training for the Arab world. Few emerging nations systematically educate vocational teachers. TTC’s innovative action-oriented approach, which integrates technology with pedagogy, enriching class-room instruction with hands-on work in well equipped laboratories is applicable to the conditions of many emerging economies. • I drove forward and directed a thorough curricular reform of the entire TTC curriculum. • Achieved complete turn-around of work climate. TTC was often being noted for the enthusiasm of its faculty and staff members, and for the commitment of its students.• Significantly enhanced public visibility of TTC.

Leadership of Austria's largest University of Applied Sciences FH (“Fachhochschule”) Joanneum as Rector and Managing Director. FH Joanneum offers 36 bachelor and master level academic programs at three locations in the Austrian state of Styria. Full line authority over close to 500 professors and staff, shared budgetary responsibility with a second Managing Director. Achievements include but are not limited to: • Directed and implemented major university restructuration program• Successfully designed and implemented departmental structure on the basis of a strategic development concept for the university• Re-oriented content of academic programs according to the needs a newly established university departments.

FH (“Fachhochschule”) Kufstein (www.fh-kufstein.ac.at) is a medium-sized university of applied sciences beautifully situated in the Alp mountains, in a triangle with easy reach within one hour to Munich, Innsbruck or Salzburg. “Regional” and “global” both describe the character of this university. 100 exchange agreements with universities worldwide are the basis for sizeable groups of international students to arrive at FH Kufstein each semester. As Director of the International Program of FH Kufstein at the rank of the university vice rector, I• succeeded in designing and managing a comprehensive undergraduate business program (English language) attending to the diverse needs of exchange students from different business disciplines:• diversified the faculty of FH Kufstein by recruiting additional English-speaking full-time faculty; • brought visiting professors from reputed universities worldwide to teach specific courses at FH Kufstein;• strategically designed new course content in tune with needs of the international program• supported the rector in representing and leading the university faculty, mainly in international affairs.

Coordinator of MA and Ph.D. programs in international business; Teaching and research, plus administrative and academic leadership of post-graduate programs in internationalbusiness; advisor to the Rector on internationalization strategy (leave-of-absence ITESM).

Taught MBA courses. Fields of research included inter alia "Corruption and transparency in international business", "Analysis of international competitiveness", "Regional Diagnostic East Asia" and others.EGADE is the leading graduate business school in Latin America (see, for instance America Economia, or QS Global 200 Business Schools report 2013/14). EGADE is also one of only 1% of global business schools that hold the so-called "Triple Crown Accredidations" EQUIS, AMBA and AACSB. The Executive MBA is ranked by The Economist # 56 worldwide. EGADE has Dual Degree programs with universities such as MIT, Kenan Flagler School of Business, etc. and cooperation agreements with Yale University and others. EGADE is recognized particularly for its entrepreneurial culture.

Designed, developed and coordinated entirely new post-graduate MBA program with international reach: Business Environment in Latin AmericaClustered a group of top professors around the programSuccessfully prepared, negotiated and concluded a range of cooperation agreements for the program with top ranked international business schools in Europe. BELA added to the EGADE portfolio a highly sought-after linkage program for MBA students from participating international business schools to complete studies at their home university with a Latin America-oriented complement in Mexico.In 2003 dispatched to the Southern Mexican city of Puebla to establish and start as "Founding Dean" the Business School of a newly established campus of the Tec de Monterrey: Recruitment of appraise management staff and teaching faculty, setting up of structures and curriculum.

Former Carl Duisberg Gesellschaft (today merged with GIZ) provided scholarships to experts and young leaders fro developing countries for study and internships in Germany. I was a lecturer there, giving classes on German economics, politics, culture.

Responsible for UNDP support of Thailand in the area of rural development. Also management of a large international agricultural development program (FARM) for SE Asia, with 8 participating countries.