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About & Researcher Profile

Two decades at the intersection of research, policy & practice

Biography

From the classroom to national policy

Dr. Abukar Mukhtar Omar began his career as a Biology and Chemistry teacher at SOS HG School in Mogadishu before pursuing graduate study in educational policy and management. That grounding in classroom realities continues to shape his scholarship and advisory work today.
He earned his PhD in Educational Management from Makerere University, Uganda (2025), where his research focused on validating a Higher Education Quality Assessment Model in post-conflict Somalia. He also holds a Master of Arts in Educational Policy and Planning from Makerere University (2017) and a Bachelor of Science in Education (Biology & Chemistry) from the Islamic University in Uganda (2011).
Today, as Dean of the Graduate School at SIMAD University and President of the Somali Universities Quality Assurance Network (SUQAN), he teaches, supervises master's dissertations, and leads institutional quality assurance efforts across Somalia and the East African region.
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Education

Academic background

2006

Ph.D. in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies

University of Edinburgh

Dissertation on decentralized governance in higher education.

2001

M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction

Makerere University

Distinction; thesis on competency-based curriculum design.

1998

B.Ed. in Education Sciences

Horn University

First Class Honours.

Experience

Professional journey

2014 — Present

Professor of Educational Leadership

Horn University · Faculty of Education

Leads the graduate program in education policy and supervises doctoral research.

2016 — 2022

Dean, Faculty of Education

Horn University

Directed accreditation reform and a 40% growth in postgraduate enrollment.

2011 — 2016

Senior Education Advisor

Ministry of Education (consultancy)

Advised on national teacher development frameworks and assessment standards.

2007 — 2014

Associate Professor

Pan-African Institute of Education

Founded the Centre for Curriculum Innovation.

Researcher Profile

Research interests

Higher Education Quality Assurance Educational Leadership and Management Teaching and Learning Quality Post-Conflict Education Systems EMIS and Digital Transformation in Education Educational Planning and Policy

Teaching areas

01Educational Management
02Comparative Education
03Educational Planning
04Quality Assurance in Education
05Educational Policy Formulation
06Strategic Planning in Education
07Research Methodology

Vision

A generation of learning institutions led with integrity, evidence, and care — where every learner has a fair chance to thrive.

Mission

To strengthen educational leadership and policy through rigorous research, practical training, and trusted advisory that turns evidence into lasting institutional change.