MOHAMMED AATIF
Assistant Director - Student Recruitment & Admissions
Dubai
Summary
Senior higher education leader with 15+ years of experience across student recruitment, admissions, enrollment management, and student services within regulated academic environments. Proven expertise in CAA and KHDA, year-on-year enrollment growth, international market expansion, and building high-performing multicultural teams. Strong track record in driving student success from recruitment through graduation.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
Assistant Director – Student Recruitment & Admissions
Amity University Dubai
09.2022 - Current
- Provide strategic leadership for student recruitment and admissions in full alignment with Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA) standards, ensuring institutional compliance, transparency, and audit readiness.
- Led the successful transition of recruitment and admissions operations from KHDA to CAA, including policy redesign, documentation alignment, and implementation of CAA-compliant admission frameworks.
- Developed, documented, and implemented CAA-aligned admissions policies, procedures, and SOPs, covering eligibility, offer issuance, enrollment verification, and student record management.
- Achieved consistent year-on-year enrollment growth while maintaining academic quality and compliance.
- Led and mentored a multicultural recruitment and admissions team, implementing structured training programs on CAA regulations, ethical recruitment practices, and documentation accuracy.
- Designed and delivered CAA readiness and compliance training.
- Implemented quality assurance mechanisms, including admission audits, file checks, offer validation processes, and compliance reporting to senior management.
- Expanded and governed international recruitment agent networks ensuring agents were trained on CAA criteria, ethical standards, and compliance requirements.
- Strengthened agent governance through contracts, performance reviews, and corrective action plans, improving lead quality and conversion rates.
- Collaborated with academic leadership, registry, compliance, and marketing teams to align recruitment targets with approved capacities, accreditation requirements, and institutional strategy.
- Led data-driven enrollment planning and forecasting to support intake planning, resource allocation, and long-term growth.
- Acted as a key contributor during internal reviews and external audits, providing documentation, evidence matrices, and process explanations related to recruitment and admissions.
Head of Student Services
Amity University Dubai
12.2017 - 09.2022
- Provided executive leadership for student services, retention, compliance, and enrollment operations supporting undergraduate and postgraduate programs.
- Successfully led the institutional transition from KHDA to CAA, including policy realignment, staff training, documentation restructuring, and implementation of new regulatory processes.
- Developed and implemented student support frameworks, policies, SOPs, and handbooks aligned with CAA and, KHDA, requirements.
- Managed campus-wide retention and attrition strategies using quantitative analysis, improving student persistence and graduation outcomes.
- Recruited, trained, and mentored cross-functional teams across student services, admissions, and compliance functions.
- Acted as the primary liaison with KHDA and CAA, managing census submissions, audits, inspections, and regulatory reporting.
- Oversaw international student services including visas, Emirates ID, medicals, accommodation, transport, and student welfare.
- Resolved complex and escalated student grievances, including regulatory cases, ensuring compliance while maintaining student satisfaction.
Student Recruitment Manager
Amity University Dubai
05.2012 - 12.2017
- Played a key role in building student enrollment from campus establishment to a sustainable student population.
- Developed and executed recruitment and conversion strategies for undergraduate and postgraduate programs.
- Expanded domestic and international markets; represented the university across GCC.
- Built and strengthened education agent networks to consistently meet recruitment targets.
- Analyzed inquiry trends and advised senior management on new program development and market demand.
- Managed budgets for admissions marketing, recruitment campaigns, and international events.
- Led Open Days, school visits, and promotional events in collaboration with faculty and internal teams.
Enrollment Advisor
University of Phoenix, Dubai
10.2009 - 04.2012
- Built corporate student pipelines within organizations such as ARAMCO, SABIC, EXXON Mobil, UN, and other multinationals.
- Provided academic and career counseling; received multiple student testimonials for service quality.
- Supported regional expansion initiatives in collaboration with recruitment leadership.
Client Relations Executive
DAMAC Properties, Dubai
08.2008 - 08.2009
- Managed client relationships across multiple real estate projects.
- Resolved complaints and disputes through coordination with legal, sales, credit control, and facilities teams.
Manager – Student Recruitment
Career Abroad, Hyderabad, India
07.2003 - 04.2008
- Counseled students on international admissions and career pathways.
- Built partnerships with international universities and managed recruitment initiatives and education tours.
Market Research Executive
Continental Market Research, London, UK
11.2001 - 01.2003
- Conducted market research and telesales campaigns for brands including Sky Sports, Heineken, and Jaguar.
- Prepared market intelligence reports for marketing teams.
Education
B.Sc. - Computer Science
Osmania University
Hyderabad, IndiaSkills
- Strategic Enrollment Management
- Student Recruitment & Admissions Leadership
- CAA & KHDA Compliance and Transition Management
- International Student Recruitment & Market Expansion
- Agent Network Development
- Policy Development, SOPs & Governance
- Student Retention & Lifecycle Management
- Team Leadership, Training & Performance Management
- Data Analysis, Forecasting & Reporting
Timeline
Assistant Director – Student Recruitment & Admissions
Amity University Dubai
09.2022 - Current
Head of Student Services
Amity University Dubai
12.2017 - 09.2022
Student Recruitment Manager
Amity University Dubai
05.2012 - 12.2017
Enrollment Advisor
University of Phoenix, Dubai
10.2009 - 04.2012
Client Relations Executive
DAMAC Properties, Dubai
08.2008 - 08.2009
Manager – Student Recruitment
Career Abroad, Hyderabad, India
07.2003 - 04.2008
Market Research Executive
Continental Market Research, London, UK
11.2001 - 01.2003
B.Sc. - Computer Science
Osmania University
References
Available upon request.