Abdullah Alarifi, Chief Executive Officer

Abdullah Alarifi

Chief Executive Officer

AlRowad International Schools (AIS)

Location
Saudi Arabia - Riyadh
Education
Doctorate, I PhD, English language, Applied Linguistics
Experience
31 years, 8 Months

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Work Experience

Total years of experience :31 years, 8 Months

Chief Executive Officer at AlRowad International Schools (AIS)
  • Saudi Arabia - Riyadh
  • October 2019 to February 2021

CEO of AIS
-Manage P&L and perform regular reviews to get lean and eliminate legacy redundancies.
-Update processes related to miscellaneous costs to eliminate uncertainties, which resulted reducing the costs by ~50%.
-Update processes for contractor & supplier work award to ensure integrity of the process is intact.
-Reform management structure to ensure responsibilities are aligned with authorities.
-Manage large teams of academics to have customer engagement and proactive approach in resolving conflicts.

Director of TELAL Center for Professional Educational Development- KSA at Gems Education
  • Saudi Arabia - Riyadh
  • February 2018 to September 2019

Pre-service professional training programs
-In service professional training programs for teachers
Leadership professional training programs
International and private schools affairs
International and private schools regulations review
International and private schools supervision

General Leader of Manarat International Schools at Maarif Education Company
  • Saudi Arabia - Riyadh
  • May 2016 to January 2018

Reviewing the international schools regulations and making sure they are applied correctly
Leading the International school complex schools
International school leadership

-An Expert in Training Professional development and leadership at Ministry Of Education -
  • Saudi Arabia - Riyadh
  • August 2000 to April 2017

Committees Served:
• Postgraduate Scholarship Central Committee
• Summer Institutes Committee
• English Language Final Exams Committee
• Teaching Training Committee

Responsibilities:
• Contributed in training the supervisors of English language as well as supervising the teaching of English through scheduled visits to all provinces all over the country.
• Oversaw the design, supervision and evaluation of different training programs for educators and educational leaders that carried out in foreign universities outside the country.
• Designed and supervised international co-operative educational courses and conferences such as those with British Council in 2001, 2003 and 2004 and Japanese Jayka in 2002 and 2004 as well as educational video-conferences such as those with the United Nations in 2002 about the use of Ed.Tech for teaching English language.
• Imparted professional training for Ministry educationalists inside and outside the country, mainly designed for teachers of English in collaboration with the British Council and some British universities.
• Represented the Ministry in dealing with the foreign universities and foreign education authorities for co-operative educational and training programs.
• Visited the educational training centers and units in the local directorates of education all over the Kingdom as well as visiting other education centers in foreign universities to understand global best practice and developments in language education.
• Met with experts in the field of educational supervision and training and gained first hand insights into developing world class educational training programs.

General Supervisor in Training and Scholarship and Director of Educational Scholarship at Ministry of Education
  • Saudi Arabia - Riyadh
  • August 2000 to April 2016

Supervising and evaluating all programs that relate to professional educational development.
The entity is the chief government body governing all issues of education and learning policy across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Achievement:
• Selected to represent the ministry in several educational missions abroad as in Japan 2004, USA 2003 and United Kingdom 2002 and 2005.

Responsibilities:
• Designed scholarship plans for higher studies of meritorious Saudi students intending to pursue their Masters and PhD's outside the country.
• Carefully analyzed the needs of the education field in the country, located areas of local talent shortage and conducted interviews with postgraduate studies applicants in order to produce a shortlist of them according to their qualifications and competence.
• Served as the focal point in all communications with Ministry-sponsored students abroad with regard to their postgraduate studies.
• Liaised extensively with the authorities of foreign universities abroad, with regard to providing Master's and PhD offers in education study areas for Saudi teachers and other educationalists at the Ministry.
• Played a vital role in the establishment of several MoUs that the Ministry signed with foreign education authorities in the UK, Australia and New Zealand.
• Contributed in the design of the ministry's scholarship plans to meet its needs and worked on strategic projects dealing with English language teacher training with foreign universities.
• Developed skills of teamwork, strategic decision making and initiative leading through extensive interaction with foreign bodies, keeping national interest in mind.

Vice-President at Director General for Saudi Schools in the UK
  • United Kingdom - London
  • January 2007 to January 2008

The entity is a state owned enterprise that is entrusted with the promotion of educational institutions and seats of learning of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its citizens in the UK.

Achievement:
• Received a certificate of appreciation from Mr. Abdullah AlNassir, the Saudi Cultural Attaché in London in 2007 and 2008 for contributions to current post and the 2007 Saudi National Day that took place in several British cities.
• 2008 - 2011: Member, International English Translation Society

Responsibilities:
• Overseeing teaching, staff recruitment, administration of mid and final year exams as well as facilitating dialogue between the Saudi schools in Britain and the Saudi Ministry of Education.
• Serving as the interface with regards to all the schools needs such as text books and other teaching and learning materials with the Saudi Ministry of Education.
• Working in close collaboration with the head-teachers of all 28 Saudi schools encompassing primary, intermediate and secondary, located in 28 different cities all over the UK.
• Issuing educational certificates, including the General Secondary School Certificates and getting them stamped and approved by the Saudi Cultural Attaché in London.
• Extending all possible support to students and teachers toward reaching their learning objectives, motivating them and providing critical analysis on areas of their competence and concern.
• Actively participating in activities to promote student welfare and promoting cultural and educational endeavors focused on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the UK.

Head of English Language - Teaching Supervision Unit at Ministry of Education
  • Saudi Arabia - Riyadh
  • February 1999 to July 2000

Responsibilities:
• Provided information and guidance to teachers and schools, implemented and maintained services within established guidelines and standards.
• Coordinated English language program components, support needs and materials for the purpose of meeting student needs while complying with ministry guidelines.
• Maintained a variety of detailed records in a variety of written and electronic formats for the purpose of meeting program reporting requirements.
• Presented information gained post visits to the ministry with an aim of increasing the quality of the program, gaining feedback and complying with established internal controls.
• Promoted involvement and understanding of the English language program its vision and purpose among the teaching faculty.
• Supervised assigned program personnel to ensure that individual and program performance objectives are met.

Supervisor of English Language Teaching at Ministry of Education (MoE)
  • Saudi Arabia - Riyadh
  • February 1999 to January 2000

Responsibilities:
• Served in the Al-Quwayah local Directorate of Education.
• Conducted scheduled supervision visits to the teachers of English in schools and ensured that all learning activities are being carried out as per prescribed standards by the ministry.
• Inspected class proceedings by sitting through various lectures and analyzed how teachers were able to impart concepts to the students.
• Graded teacher performances and arranged for refresher or remedial training courses as applicable to ensure the maintenance of envisaged standards.
• Provided feedback on areas for improvement and commended the teachers on areas they were already doing well in, at times taking the teacher's performance on a certain topic as a model for other schools.

Previous Professional Experience:
• Feb '89 - Sep '96: Head Teacher, Mizeal Secondary School, Ministry of Education, KSA
• Feb '81 - Sep '84: Teacher, Jezala Primary School, Ministry of Education

teacher of English language (TESOL) at MOE
  • Saudi Arabia - Riyadh
  • July 1989 to May 1999

Teaching English language as a foreign language in Saudi government schools (Middle schools and Secondary schools )

Education

Doctorate, I PhD, English language, Applied Linguistics
  • at Newcastle University
  • November 2011

Thesis: • Socio-Cultural factors and their effects on learning English as a foreign language among male secondary school students in Riyadh.

Master's degree, Master in Education TESOL
  • at University of Manchester
  • November 1999

Dissertation: • Towards the Integration of teaching English language skills among Saudi secondary schools.

Diploma, Advanced Study in TESOL
  • at University of Manchester
  • November 1997

Dissertation: • Teaching English language as a foreign language in Saudi Secondary Schools, an Evaluation Study

Bachelor's degree, TESOL
  • at University of Manchester
  • November 1997
Diploma, Professional Diploma in English TEFL
  • at University of Manchester
  • November 1988

Project: • Teaching English Language Writing as a receptive Skill to Arab learners in an Arabic Context.

Specialties & Skills

Leading Projects
Educational Leadership
Higher Education Management
Teaching English
Human Resources
Curriculum Review and Formulation, Teacher Training and Development, Learning Innovation
English Language Learning, TESOL Theory and Practice, Cross-Cultural Communication
Talent Recognition, Reward and Management, Human Capital Development, Special Projects Management
Foreign University Liaison, Sharing of Best Practice, Academic Administration and Supervision
Communication and Interpersonal Networking, Group Dynamics and Synergy
Applied Linguistics ,Qualitative, Quantitative Methods,Teaching English as a Foreign Language
materials
procurement
problem solving
marketing
negotiation
operations management
logistics
people management
supply chain management
operation
planning

Languages

Arabic
Native Speaker
English
Expert