Reda Mohamed Said Abdelaal

About the keynote

This keynote presentation explores the transformation of strategic planning in higher education in response to the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence. Introducing the concept of Strategic Planning 2.0, it examines how universities can move beyond traditional, static planning models toward more adaptive, intelligent, and data-driven approaches to institutional development.

The presentation highlights the potential of artificial intelligence, predictive analytics, and digital technologies to enhance strategic decision-making, institutional performance, resource allocation, and long-term competitiveness. It considers the importance of integrating technological innovation with academic leadership, organizational agility, quality assurance, and continuous improvement.

Particular emphasis is placed on the need for universities to anticipate emerging challenges, respond effectively to technological disruption, and align their institutional strategies with the evolving demands of education, research, and society.

Ultimately, Strategic Planning 2.0 offers a forward-looking perspective on developing resilient, innovative, and future-ready universities capable of navigating the opportunities and complexities of the AI era.

About the speaker

Prof. Dr. Reda Mohamed Said Abdelaal is a distinguished academic, researcher, and expert in industrial engineering, operations research, strategic management, and higher education quality assurance. With nearly five decades of academic and professional experience, he has made significant contributions to engineering education, institutional strategic planning, academic accreditation, and organizational performance improvement across the Middle East and internationally.

Prof. Abdelaal received his Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1979 and his Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) degree in Operations Research in 1982, both from Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt. He subsequently earned his Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Industrial Engineering from the School of Industrial Technology at the University of Bradford, United Kingdom, in 1986.

Following the completion of his doctoral studies, he began his academic career at Helwan University, where he progressed through the ranks of Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and Full Professor in the Department of Production Engineering, Faculty of Engineering. In recognition of his academic and professional achievements, his biography was featured in the 14th edition of Marquis Who's Who in the World (1997).

In 2000, Prof. Abdelaal joined King Abdulaziz University (KAU), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, as a Full Professor in the Department of Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering. During his distinguished tenure, he assumed several significant academic leadership and administrative responsibilities. He served as Director of the College Academic Accreditation Unit from 2004 to 2007 and was an active member of the College Accreditation Support Unit from May 2007 to 2021. Between 2017 and 2021, he also directed the Strategic Planning Unit within the University's Vice-Presidency for Business and Knowledge Creativity, contributing to institutional transformation, strategic development, and performance enhancement.

His subsequent academic appointments included serving as a Distinguished Adjunct Professor at King Abdulaziz University from August 2021 to December 2023 and at AlMaarefa University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July 2023 to June 2024. Through these appointments, he continued to advance institutional effectiveness, strategic management, and quality assurance in higher education.

Prof. Abdelaal has extensive experience in academic accreditation and institutional assessment. He has been recognized as an IDEAL Scholar through the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET, USA) and has completed 21 hours of ABET professional development. As a registered member of the Egyptian Syndicate for Professional Engineers, he has also contributed to the formulation, implementation, and evaluation of strategic plans for numerous public- and private-sector organizations.

His research interests encompass operations research, systems analysis and design, strategic planning, industrial scheduling and optimization, engineering education, multi-criteria decision-making, institutional assessment, academic accreditation, and organizational performance management. His scholarly work integrates analytical methodologies with practical approaches to addressing complex challenges in engineering, management, and higher education.

Throughout his career, Prof. Abdelaal has participated in more than 30 professional training programs conducted in Egypt and internationally. He has served as a principal investigator or co-investigator in more than 35 funded research projects and has received over 20 certificates of appreciation and recognition from academic, professional, and institutional organizations.

His contributions to higher education transformation include the chapter “The Strategic Transformation Journey of AlMaarefa University: Navigating New Horizons,” published in 2025 in the IGI Global volume Navigating Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Global Higher Education. This work reflects his longstanding commitment to advancing institutional excellence through strategic leadership, innovation, and evidence-based management.

Currently based in Egypt as an independent researcher, Prof. Abdelaal continues to contribute his expertise to advancing strategic planning, engineering education, institutional quality assurance, and sustainable organizational development. His professional career reflects a sustained dedication to academic excellence, interdisciplinary collaboration, capacity building, and the development of innovative, resilient, and future-ready higher education institutions.