Digital Transformation | ICT | EdTech | AI | ChatGPT | Emerging Technologies

BIOGRAPHY

Dr. Ra'ed Awdeh is a boundary-pushing, visionary, and strategic technology leader with over three decades of progressive experience across a broad spectrum of domains including technology, academia, business, industry, research and development, and management realms. His well-rounded expertise and unique ability to catalyze change and transform organizations have been exemplified across diverse sectors, with a notable impact within the higher education vertical.

Ra'ed embarked on a remarkable career post his PhD, becoming synonymous with driving organizational change through innovative technologies. These technological strides not only optimize operations but also foster innovation, safeguard critical data, and align with strategic objectives. 

His significant contributions are especially pronounced during his tenure at Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University (HBMSU) in Dubai, UAE from 2010 to 2022. At HBMSU, Ra'ed initiated and spearheaded a comprehensive migration to the public cloud (AWS), meticulously covering all business, regulatory, and technical facets. This monumental initiative wasn't just about technological transition, but also about skilling the IT workforce, ensuring they were adept and well-prepared for the new cloud-based operational framework. His visionary leadership in developing a robust multi-cloud backup and disaster recovery solution further fortified operational resilience and enabled business continuity, ensuring the university was well-poised to manage any unforeseen contingencies. The cloud migration under Ra'ed's helm not only achieved over 50% savings through cloud technologies but also laid a solid foundation for future technological innovations at HBMSU.

With a deep understanding of enterprise resource planning (ERP), Ra'ed has led and influenced significant ERP deployments that not only streamline operations but also drive organizational efficiency. During his tenure at Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University (HBMSU) in Dubai, UAE, Ra'ed spearheaded the deployment of a new student ERP system using Ellucian Banner. This initiative entailed re-engineering academic and business processes, leveraging APIs to build user-centric capabilities, thus enhancing the functional breadth of the solution. His expertise in ERP systems was also demonstrated during his advisory role at Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Here, Ra'ed significantly influenced the direction of a mega ERP project, bringing a blend of innovative thinking and practical solutions to the table. His approach helped to re-engineer the project's roadmap, aligning it more closely with the evolving needs of the institution.

Recognized as a thought leader in AI and Generative AI realms like ChatGPT, Ra'ed's recent work and publications in this area underscore his forward-thinking approach. His expertise in artificial intelligence (AI) has enabled the delivery of AI-powered business solutions, significantly bolstering user support, early identification of students at risk, personalized advising, and business process optimization.

Demonstrating versatility, Ra'ed led the deployment of a new Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system using Salesforce Cloud, and a new call center using Genesys, integrating them seamlessly with various systems to streamline operations and enhance communication channels across different organizational sectors.

A pioneer in blockchain technology, Ra'ed championed the creation of a digital credentials management system using BlocCert, marking a significant stride towards secure and verifiable credentialing not only in higher education but with potential applicability across various industries.

In the domain of cybersecurity, Ra'ed has been proactive in establishing robust security frameworks. Under his leadership, institutions secured Information Security Management System (ISMS) and business continuity certifications. He orchestrated the deployment of multiple security layers including firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and endpoint protection. Regular security audits were conducted to ensure compliance and identify potential vulnerabilities. Additionally, Ra'ed initiated cybersecurity awareness programs to foster a culture of vigilance among the workforce. His hands-on approach ensured a fortified defense infrastructure, effectively mitigating risks and ensuring data integrity and privacy.

His leadership extends to building and fueling high-performing technology teams that collaborate effectively with the rest of the organization to enable business objectives and accelerate organizational success across diverse domains.

With a remarkable track record of patents and industry accolades, Dr. Ra'ed Awdeh's career exemplifies a profound understanding and significant contributions to technological evolution, highlighting his ability to seamlessly bridge business processes with innovative technology. Dr. Ra'ed is open to consultancy opportunities where his extensive experience and innovative approach can drive digital transformation and bring significant value to organizations across various sectors. 

POSSIBLE CONSULTANCY AREAS

Dr. Awdeh can provide consultancy and advisory services in the following areas across many verticals:

1. Digital transformation maturity assessment
2. Digital transformation SWOT/gap analysis
3. Digital transformation strategy development
4. Strategic IT road mapping
5. IT governance development
6. AI strategy development
7. AI ethics and governance consulting
8. Cybersecurity framework development
9. ChatGPT/GenAI consulting and training
10. ROI (Return on Investment) analysis for digital initiatives
11. Business continuity and disaster recovery planning
12. Guiding businesses through the process of migrating to the cloud
13. Advising on the strategic implementation and management of IoT technologies.

Specific to education / higher education, and in addition to the above:

1. Business processes optimization
2. Digital product development for enhanced educational experience
3. Adoption of AI in the educational landscape
4. Personalized learning solutions using AI.
5. Student engagement and retention strategies using AI.
6. Leveraging emerging technologies for education
7. Navigating technology and education vendor relationships
8. Tailored E-learning and EdTech solutions
9. LMS (Learning Management Systems) selection, implementation, and optimization
10. Conceptualization to realization of an integrated digital campus ecosystem
11. Enhancing, migrating, and selecting Student Information Systems (SIS)
12. EdTech policy development and guidance
13. Digital literacy programs for students and educators
14. Helping schools and universities navigate technology and education vendor relationships
15. Helping institutions develop and launch online programs to expand access to education.
16. Offering professional development and training programs for educators to effectively leverage technology in teaching
17. Providing guidance on ethical considerations in the deployment of educational technology and AI