Mushtak Al-Atabi
Professor Mushtak Al-Atabi is a professor of mechanical engineering and currently the Provost and CEO of Heriot-Watt University, Malaysia. His research focuses on thermofluids, renewable energy, biomechanical engineering, and engineering education. He is an Honorary Chair at the School of Mechanical Engineering of the University of Birmingham (UK) and the Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Engineering Science & Technology. Professor Al-Atabi has published three books, “Think Like an Engineer”, "Shoot the Boss", and “Driving Performance” and he has numerous research publications, awards and honours. He is a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers  (FIMechE) and a member of the executive committee of the Global Engineering Deans Council. He helped to develop the CDIO Initiative (Conceive, Design, Implement, Operate) and delivered the first MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) in Malaysia. Education. Mushtak attended Baghdad College from 1982 to 1988 and did his undergraduate studies in mechanical engineering at the University of Baghdad, Iraq from 1988 to 1992. He then went on to pursue a Masters of Science in Mechanical Engineering which he completed in 1997. His Masters thesis was titled "Experimental Investigation of Wing Tip Sails using Vortex Scanning and Forces Measurement." In 2002 , Mushtak joined the University of Sheffield, UK to pursue his Ph.D in Mechanical Engineering. His Ph.D thesis was titled "Cystic Duct to Static Mixer: A Serendipitous Journey”. Career. Mushtak Al-Atabi began his academic career at the University of Baghdad when he was pursuing his master's degree. He then moved to Malaysia in 1997 where he worked as a manufacturing manager at Lifelong Stainless Exhaust (M) Sdn Bhd, one of the main suppliers for OEM automotive exhaust systems in Malaysia. In 1999, he joined Taylor's College School of Engineering as a senior lecturer for the University  of Sheffield transfer programme, during which he taught engineering and IT subjects. It was also during this time when he initiated the Taylor's Research and Development Centre. In 2004, Taylor's University College negotiated an agreement with the University of Birmingham to run their twinning programme. Mushtak worked as the head of department of the programme. In 2007, Mushtak was appointed as programme director for the programme. During this period he started the school's Engineering Fairs. In 2009, Mushtak was appointed the dean of Taylor's School of Engineering when they launched their homegrown programme. During this period  of time he was granted associate professorship at the school. In 2011 he was granted professorship by Taylor's University. During his time as dean, the school grew and flourished with project-based learning and CDIO; engineering undergraduate conference, EURECA; Grand Challenge Scholars Programme; and massive open online courses. In 2014, Mushtak published 2 books. Driving Performance: Empowering People and Unleashing Potential and Think like an Engineer: Use systemic thinking to solve everyday challenges and unlock inherent values in them. In, February 2016 he was appointed the Pro Vice Chancellor for Strategy of Taylor's University. Mushtak is currently the  Provost and CEO of Heriot-Watt University, Malaysia, where he works with transnational teaching and student recruitment. Books. Al-Atabi has written a number of books: Massive open online course. In 2013, Mushtak ran an open online course by a Malaysian institution, Entrepreneurship on Open Learning. Since then he has run multiple online courses, and such online courses have since then became a part of Malaysia's national higher education agenda, with Open Learning as its content distributor. The higher education ministry of Malaysia is currently working on the framework to accredit MOOCs. Written articles. Mushtak has written for Malaysian  newspapers. Published papers. Mushtak has published some papers in the area of engineering education, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics and biomedical engineering.