IUB alumnus Osama Khan named next vice-chancellor of University of South Wales

He becomes the first academic of Bangladeshi heritage to lead a public university in Europe or North America

Prof Osama Khan has been appointed vice-chancellor and chief executive of the University of South Wales (USW) in the UK, with his term beginning in May 2026.

An alumnus of IUB’s School of Business and Entrepreneurship, Khan became the first academic of Bangladeshi heritage to lead a public university in Europe or North America.

He is currently deputy vice-chancellor (Academic) at Aston University. Before entering academia, he worked in investment banking and received higher education from the University of Cambridge, Lancaster University and the University of Surrey.

Khan started his academic career in the UK as an Associate Lecturer at Cambridge and went on to hold senior roles at the University of Surrey, Solent University and Aston.

He has also taught at Cambridge Judge Business School, HEC Paris, Copenhagen Business School, the University of Hong Kong and Surrey Business School.

With more than 25 years in higher education, Khan has overseen academic reforms, employability initiatives, inclusion programmes and research strategy.

He has also contributed to national policy work on equity and student outcomes.

In a media statement, IUB said his appointment reflects the increasing presence of Bangladeshis in university leadership roles across the UK.