Academic Advisory Board
At the Colombo International Institute of Higher Education (CIIHE), we take immense pride in our distinguished Academic Advisory Board, a collective of acclaimed scholars and seasoned professionals drawn from around the globe. Our advisors are not just educators but mentors, each bringing their unique perspectives, groundbreaking research, and real-world experience to enrich our academic community.
Dr. Stuart Kewley
Dr. Stuart Kewley, DPhil and MPhil (Cantab), MSc (QUB), BA Hons (McMaster). Stuart Kewley is an academic practitioner. A graduate of the University of Cambridge (MPhil and DPhil), Dr. Kewley’s first academic role was as a Director of Studies at the University of Oxford, where he ran a European Studies programme, as well as an executive-education programme for globally focused C-suite learners. After leaving Oxford, Dr. Kewley took up the post of lecturer in international business and strategy at the University of Kent and then became a senior lecturer in international business and strategy at the University of the West of England. Dr. Kewley has taught strategy and international business across the World and also has acted as module convener for the University of Ulster’s (London) Strategy MBA.
In 2009, Dr. Kewley founded and became the CEO of the strategy consulting company The Eurasia Consortium. The Consortium’s companies’ core competencies lie in strategic innovation, market access strategies and international business development. By 2012 – 2013, the Consortium had secured two projects worth several million US dollars from the Russian and Malaysian governments to develop market access strategies for Russian and Malaysian University spinouts. In 2015, the group was short listed for the Queen’s Award in International Business and by 2023, the consulting division, now based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, manages other companies’ market access strategies, brand visibility and sales objectives in numerous markets, supporting clients from Switzerland, Russia, Malaysia, Brazil, Vietnam and the USA. In November 2020, Dr. Kewley joined the US investment group, The Hamilton White Group Switzerland (HWGS) as the Senior Vice President of Partnerships and the Director of the DBA at one of the group’s Universities: The University of Business and Innovation and Sustainability (UBIS) in Geneva. In February 2021, Dr. Kewley was instrumental in redesigning the UBIS DBA, turning it into one of UBIS’ highest grossing awards. He also successfully led two of the University’s accreditation initiatives.
Professor Roger King
Professor Roger King’s key areas of expertise are higher education management and governance, risk management and regulation, higher education policy and globalisation. He has a distinguished career in higher education, including advising at all levels and in many emerging contexts. Professor King has worked with and consulted for universities, colleges, governments and regulatory agencies globally.
He was the founding Vice-Chancellor at the University of Lincoln, including Chair of its Academic Board, from 1989 to 2001. He is founding Chair of the Institute for Learning and Teaching in Higher Education UK (now the Higher Education Academy) and Member of the Learning and Teaching Committee at the Higher Education Funding Council for England.
Professor King has been an expert reviewer for the European Network for Quality Assurance, was a member of the MCEETYA review of Australian National Higher Education Protocols, and chaired the International Review Panel for Ontario Quality Assurance system and its Quality Council in Canada.
Professor King is currently a Visiting Professor at the University of Bath (Risk and Governance) and supervises five Doctoral students. He has also held appointment as Adjunct Professor at a number of Australian Universities including Queensland, QUT, Griffith and Sunshine Coast. He is a Research Associate at the Centre for the Analysis of Risk and Regulation, London School of Economics and Political Science.
Since 2013, Professor King has been a Member of the UK parliamentary Higher Education Commission and joint author of its report on Higher Education Regulation. He also authored a number of books and other publications on higher education governance globally, including with Simon Marginson and Hamish Coates. He is Chairman, Deputy Chair and Member of three respective Board of Governors, including member of Governor’s Academic Risk and Scrutiny Committee at St Mary’s University. He is currently the Director of Wells Advisory Higher Education management consulting firm in the UK.
Professor Kamal Bechkoum
With a distinguished career as a senior leader and academic in Higher Education, Professor Kamal brings a wealth of international experience and a profound understanding of the UK Higher Education landscape to the fore. Having served at senior echelons in various UK universities, including roles up to Pro-Vice Chancellor level, this expert is now with Abertay University, UK as a Visiting Professor of Computer Science.
Professor Kamal’s research area includes the application of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to Engineering Design, Cyber Security and Big Data Analytics and have supervised PhD students’ projects in areas of Advanced Persistent Threats and Security in Blockchain’s Smart Contracts.