Credentials

Positions, education, areas of specialization, accreditation experience, and professional service.

Academic positions

2023–2026
Dean, Faculty of Media and Public Relations / College of Media, Liwa University The most recent academic post before moving to full-time consulting. Led the college's five-year strategic plan, its CAA re-accreditation and AQAS international accreditation, and the launch of its master's program.
1998–2023
Professor of Mass Communication, Zayed University, Dubai Full Professor with an emphasis in Integrated Strategic Communication, College of Communication and Media Sciences. Appointments held across twenty-five years: Assistant Provost; Executive Assistant to the Vice President; Associate Dean; Assistant Dean; Acting Director, Public and Cultural Relations Department; Training Director, Center for Media Training and Research; CCMS Accreditation Coordinator.
1992–1995
Chair, Department of Mass Communication, UAE University Assistant and Associate Professor at UAE University, Al Ain, 1989 to 1998.
1984–1989
Assistant Professor, Yarmouk University, Jordan First academic appointment.

Education

  • Ph.D., Communication, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 1984
  • M.A., Journalism, Indiana University Bloomington, 1981
  • B.A. with Honors, English Language and Literature, Kuwait University, 1979
  • Certificate in Travel and Tourism, University of Oxford, 1998
  • Post-doctoral course in media technology, MIT, 1984

Areas of specialization

  • Strategic communication
  • Mass communication
  • Public relations
  • Higher-education program review and accreditation, in the Gulf and internationally
  • Tourism communication
  • Health and environmental communication
  • Communication and cultural policy
  • Embedding AI in media curricula

Accreditation experience

Program review and accreditation work for Gulf-region universities and beyond, across institutional and program accreditation, with frameworks including:

  • CAA Commission for Academic Accreditation, United Arab Emirates. Certified reviewer of licensure and accreditation.
  • MSCHE Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Prepared programs for accreditation across two cycles.
  • ACEJMC Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications
  • AQAS Agency for Quality Assurance through Accreditation of Study Programs, Germany
  • IAA International Advertising Association

Independent external reviewer of academic degree programs at Sharjah University, the University of Bahrain, and Qatar University, and, with CAA review teams, at universities across the UAE.

Professor Badran A. Badran beside a screen showing his presentation, A Guide to Assessment of Learning Outcomes for ACEJMC Accreditation
Presenting on assessment of learning outcomes for ACEJMC accreditation.

Professional service

Editorial
Guest co-editor, Connectist, the Istanbul University Journal of Communication Sciences Editorial advisory board member, Global Media Journal, Arabian Edition, 2013 to 2015. Manuscript and abstract reviewer for international journals and conferences.
Judging
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Awards for the Arabic Language, 2019 to 2025; Arab Media Awards; Al Owais Award; Al Khaleej Award; Middle East Events Awards
Training
Media and government communication professionals across Jordan, the UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Oman Including seventy senior UAE government communication managers under a Ministry of Cabinet Affairs program.

Recognition

A few of the recognitions collected across the years, from the institutions and juries I have served.

Zayed University plaque: For Outstanding Service, presented to Badran Badran, Assistant Dean, College of Communication and Media Sciences, 2005 to 2007
For Outstanding Service: Assistant Dean, College of Communication and Media Sciences, Zayed University, 2005 to 2007.
Glass plaque from ZU CCMS: in sincere appreciation of all your valued contributions as Associate Dean of the College of Communication and Media Sciences
In appreciation of contributions as Associate Dean, College of Communication and Media Sciences, Zayed University.
Middle East Event Awards 2010 trophy engraved Award Judge, Badran A. Badran
Award Judge, Middle East Event Awards, 2010.
Trophy in appreciation of participation in the IPR Research Symposium in Dubai, organised by the College of Communication and Media Sciences and the Institute for Public Relations, Zayed University, 2018
IPR Research Symposium, organized by the College of Communication and Media Sciences and the Institute for Public Relations, Zayed University, 2018.
Star-shaped tribute trophy in Arabic presented to Professor Badran Badran, Dean of the College of Media, Liwa University, by the department chairs, in appreciation of a distinguished academic career
From the department chairs of the College of Media, Liwa University, in appreciation of a distinguished academic career.