Teaching, Technology, and Transformation: Professor Hassan Selim Draws on 40+ Years in Academia

Heroes of Higher Ed is our monthly series, where we spotlight the remarkable achievements and contributions of individuals who are making a difference in higher education.

We recently spoke with Hassan Selim, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs / Provost at the University of Kalba.

Can you share a bit about your journey in higher education?

My journey in higher education goes over 40 years of teaching. I began in the era where the primary teaching tool was a physical network and white chalk. I graduated as a mechanical engineer in Cairo, Egypt, fulfilling my childhood dream. After that, I pursued a master's degree in Industrial Engineering also in Cairo.

A few years later, I relocated to Arizona for my PhD in Management Information Systems. That was pivotal and laid the foundation for my academic career, which started around 27 years ago at United Arab Emirates University.

Throughout my professional journey, I maintained a very deep passion for computing and information technologies, which enabled me to master many emerging teaching and learning technologies. That qualified me to lead and participate in major tech projects in higher education, and my ongoing commitment to innovation continues to shape my contributions in the field.

What led you to pursue a career in education?

In my first year in the College of Engineering, I excelled in engineering drawing and machine design, and I was fascinated with how to draw 3D images. At that time, AutoCAD wasn't there, and I achieved a place among the top ten in a cohort of more than 1,000 students.

That success exploded my passion for teaching, and I started by tutoring my peers. It was a daily exercise for me to explain things to my peers, and I consistently maintained my position among the top 10, which qualified me to join the college as an instructor. I was awarded a scholarship to pursue a master's degree and continue teaching. The opportunity allowed me to mix my passion for learning with my commitment to educating others, which set the stage for my academic career.

Were there any pivotal moments in your career?

I have two turning points in my long career. The first one was pursuing my PhD in the United States because it was a significant turning point in my whole life. It was a complete transformation in my academic, personal, and professional career, and the experience was significant in bringing me to where I am today.

The other pivotal academic milestone happened this year when I moved from UAE University to the newly established University of Kalba. I'm proud to have been given a golden opportunity to establish a nontraditional Business School. My passion is to establish an IT infrastructure with emerging technologies.

Have you had a moment where you made a significant impact on students?

In 40-plus years in academia, I couldn't imagine how many of my former students are colleagues now. Some attended the same school I graduated from, which has been in the top five MIS departments for decades. They are making a difference in students' lives and careers.

What would you change about your work?

I'm very passionate about educational technologies and different delivery modes. I moved from traditional face-to-face teaching to the high-flex model. It allows students to choose between attending face-to-face classes or them remotely. I'm an advocate of high flex and talk about allowing your students more flexibility by giving them the choice.

What do you love about the University of Kalba?

As a newly established university, it's scalable, agile, and different in everything—services and technology, adapting to emerging technologies. That is what I want to do before I retire.

What advice would you give to someone wanting to make an impact in higher education?

Keep up to date with trends, innovations, and best practices in teaching, learning, and academic administration. Keep experimenting. Failure is great because it's quite a learning experience.

How do you stay motivated during challenging times?

I engage in professional development opportunities. I love to learn and practice different teaching pedagogies. I attend conferences and showcase my teaching and learning practices. I have participated in several discussion forums and panels to ensure that my experiences are conveyed to colleagues.

What traditions from your career do you cherish?

I started a tradition when I became a department chair almost twenty years ago—an initiative to have coffee with a department chair. I changed it to having coffee with the dean of students or colleagues, and I'm not going to give that up until I retire.

It's helpful to sit with students, have coffee together, and talk about challenges and new ideas. The same thing with a colleague. I look at this as something that shapes my administrative philosophy.

How important is it for faculty to connect with students?

It's extremely important. I advocate for the high flex faculty to provide students with some agency and flexibility. We are trying to become facilitators in our teaching. Being a facilitator brings us closer to our students because they take our role, they present, and they teach others. We are facilitating and making sure that things are in line with what we would like to achieve from our courses. The era of standing there and pouring information to students is over because we're dealing with different generations of students.