Abdikarim Mohaidin Ahmed serves as Rector of SIMAD University in Somalia. For over two decades, he has led institutional transformation by strengthening governance systems, expanding access to education, advancing research performance and embedding rigorous quality assurance standards. Under his leadership, SIMAD has developed into a regionally engaged and internationally connected university with partnerships across Africa, Europe and Asia, while consolidating its position as a productive and entrepreneurial university. He is Deputy Chair of the Somali Research and Education Network and a member of the Arab Universities Governance Council, having previously served as CEO of the Association of Somali Universities. Dr Ahmed has managed major development initiatives focusing on institutional capacity building, governance strengthening and results-based implementation. He holds a PhD in business administration, an MBA in logistics, a master’s in development studies and a bachelor’s in IT.