Meet Professor John D. Matthews, Dean of Faculty Affairs, Professor of Public Health, Zayed University
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Professor John D. Matthews, Dean of Faculty Affairs, Professor of Public Health, Zayed University. John.Matthews@zu.ac.ae
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Professor John D. Matthews is the Dean of Faculty Affairs and Coordinator of Undergraduate Research at Zayed University’s Dubai Campus, where he has served in a variety of senior academic and administrative leadership roles over the past decade. With over 25 years of experience in higher education in Southern Africa, Europe, North America, and the MENA region, he is a strong advocate for student-led inquiry and academic mentorship. He holds doctoral and post-graduate degrees in public policy, leadership, and public health, and is actively involved in international undergraduate research networks, including British Conference of Undergraduate Research (BCUR) and International Conference of Undergraduate Research (ICUR), organised by IATL, University of Warwick with international partner institutions including Zayed University. John comments on the importance of student researchers writing for publication 'For students at Zayed University, writing for publication is both a transformative and empowering experience. It shifts their self-perception from being passive learners to becoming active contributors to global knowledge. The process of refining their work for a wider audience builds confidence, critical thinking, and a sense of academic legitimacy - especially meaningful in a context where research engagement at the undergraduate level is still emerging. For many, it is the first time they truly see themselves as scholars.' |
