Dr. Richa Arora is a distinguished higher education leader whose career spanning more than two decades has been shaped by a singular belief: education is fundamentally about possibility. As Head of Institution and Chief Operating Officer at the University of Stirling and SQA, Ras Al Khaimah Campus, she has played a pivotal role in building a future-ready academic institution grounded in quality, relevance, and global perspective.

Since joining the campus in 2020, Dr. Arora has led a comprehensive strategic transformation, strengthening academic frameworks, enhancing student experience, and embedding a culture of excellence and accountability. Central to her leadership philosophy is a deeply student-centric approach. She believes education must go beyond knowledge delivery to equip learners with confidence, adaptability, and purpose. Under her stewardship, programs were redesigned to integrate employability, industry alignment, and global exposure, contributing to strong graduate outcomes, including an 81% employability rate.

Her commitment to institutional integrity and governance culminated in the campus earning the Diamond Rating from the Department of Knowledge (DOK), Ras Al Khaimah, recognizing excellence across teaching, research, infrastructure, and student experience.

Previously, Dr. Arora served as Group CEO and Director at Regenesys Business School, leading international expansion and launching Digital Regenesys, a pioneering online university expanding access to quality education globally. A respected academic and thought leader, she has delivered keynote addresses at over 30 international conferences, authored books, published peer-reviewed research, and holds multiple patents.

For Dr. Arora, leadership is defined by purpose. Her vision for higher education is clear: universities must become engines of innovation, ethical leadership, and global citizenship, preparing graduates not just for careers, but for meaningful impact in a complex world.