Professor Osama Khan

He brings to the role over 27 years of experience in higher education, with a deep commitment to students, staff, communities and the public purpose of universities. His work has focused on widening opportunity, improving student outcomes, strengthening inclusive learning environments, and helping institutions respond to change with care, evidence and ambition.

Before joining the University of South Wales, Osama was Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic at Aston University. In that role, he worked with academic colleges and student-facing professional services to support the delivery of the university’s 2030 Strategy. His portfolio included academic strategy, academic communities, education and student experience, employability, digital learning, academic governance, online education, inclusion, and work to strengthen institutional sustainability.

Across his leadership roles, Osama has been closely involved in organisational transformation, using data, digital tools and service redesign to improve the experience of students and colleagues. He has championed the democratisation of data, making insight more accessible to academic and professional teams so that decisions are better informed, more transparent and focused on impact. His work has also included digital transformation, enterprise service management, curriculum development, and the redesign of student-facing services to create more connected, responsive and effective support.

Osama’s earlier career included senior roles at the University of Surrey and Solent University. He began his UK academic career as an Associate Lecturer at the University of Cambridge in 2002, following earlier experience in investment banking. He has taught across areas including corporate finance, derivatives, mathematical economics, real estate finance and economics, and investment management. He has also contributed to teaching at institutions including Cambridge Judge Business School, HEC Paris, the University of Hong Kong and Copenhagen Business School.

His leadership is rooted in servant leadership, collaboration, accountability and evidence-led decision making. He remains passionate about teaching and believes deeply in the power of education to transform lives. Alongside his university leadership, Osama contributes to national advisory, governance, education, inclusion and wellbeing roles, reflecting his wider commitment to social mobility, community cohesion and the role of universities as forces for good.