Professor Ahmed Shaikh

Prof Ahmed Shaikh is a strategic and multidisciplinary management professional in the private higher education sector in Southern Africa since 2002. Prof Ahmed started his working career as a mechanical engineer in an edible oils engineering plant. After spending some time in engineering, Prof Ahmed left to join an NGO involved community development and education projects across Southern Africa. He spent ten years working in the NGO sector and served as an executive board member for a number of nonprofit organisations. During this time, Prof Ahmed travelled extensively across Africa, the Middle East and South East Asia. For the past 18 years, Ahmed has been involved in the private higher education sector in Southern Africa. 

He currently serves as the Managing Director of REGENT Business School. He also plays a role in higher education across the African continent via the pan-African network of private universities (Honoris United Universities). He served as the Deputy President of the South African Business School’s Association (SABSA) and also recently served as the research advisor to the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry in South Africa. He holds an MBA degree and a Doctorate in Philosophy (PhD) in Business Administration at the NWU Business School. He continues to write and publish articles on a range of topics, including higher education, technology in business, employability and leadership. 

Prof Ahmed is currently a visiting Professor with a large public university in Russia. Ahmed lives in Durban (South Africa) with his wife and three children. In his spare time, he explores his passion for classic, vintage and muscle cars. Prof Ahmed owns, amongst others, a 1964 VW Split Window Kombi, an original one of 500 built 1973 Capri Perana (number BG 384) and a 1955 Chevy pickup. Although he admits that it is a tough call to select a favourite, he says “I guess it is my Fairmont GT because it was my 1st classic car that I bought 25 years ago – so it’s a little more special to me.”