Dr. Ziad Said brings more than four decades of experience in education, applied research, workforce development, and sustainability to his role as Director of Educational and Sustainability Affairs. Throughout his career, he has focused on a central challenge that closely aligns with our mission: bridging the gap between education and the real-world knowledge, skills, and professional competencies required for success in the workforce.
As an educational institution dedicated to helping internationally trained dentists successfully transition into dental practice in Canada, we recognize that professional preparation extends well beyond exam readiness. In his role, Dr. Said contributes his extensive experience in curriculum development, educational quality, workforce alignment, and sustainable education to help strengthen the learning environment and ensure that our educational initiatives remain relevant, forward-looking, and responsive to the evolving needs of both learners and the profession.
Dr. Said is an internationally experienced educator and researcher who previously served as a UNESCO Chair on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and Sustainable Development. His academic career has included senior roles as an Adjunct Research Professor at Qatar University, Professor of Applied Research at the University of Doha for Science and Technology, and Head of Applied Sciences at Qatar University. His work has included the development of national teacher-training frameworks, contributions to the Qatar Human Development Report, and international capacity-building initiatives for countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. He has also led and participated in major research projects focused on 21st-century skills, education, workforce development, and sustainability, securing approximately $5 million in research funding over the course of his career.
A lifelong educator and advocate for meaningful learning, Dr. Said has authored more than 60 peer-reviewed journal articles and two books, with additional work focused on TVET and 21st-century skills. His expertise spans education reform, STEM education, Education for Sustainable Development, curriculum design, Project-Based Learning, teacher development, and applied scientific research. He holds a PhD in Chemical Technology specializing in Polymer Science and an MSc in Petrochemicals and Hydrocarbon Chemistry from UMIST in the United Kingdom, as well as a BSc in Industrial Chemistry from the University of Baghdad. His contributions to education and research have also been recognized through two distinguished UNESCO scholarships and the President’s Award for Research.
What distinguishes Dr. Said’s approach is his belief that education should ultimately create opportunity. For internationally trained professionals, that means recognizing the knowledge and experience they already bring while helping them understand, adapt to, and succeed within a new professional environment. His perspective adds an important dimension to our educational mission as we continue to develop programs that are academically rigorous, professionally relevant, learner-focused, and built with long-term impact in mind.
