29 September - 1 October 2026
|
The Arena, Riyadh | Saudi Arabia.
Francisco Bastida
Professor - Prince Sultan University (Riyadh)
Francisco Bastida, PhD, CMA is a Professor of Financial Economics and Accounting with over 22 years of academic experience and prior professional practice as a finance manager. He is currently a Professor at Prince Sultan University (Saudi Arabia) and Director of the Environment, Social, Governance and Accountability Laboratory. He has held full professorships in Spain and visiting positions at leading business schools in Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East.
His teaching and research focus on financial accounting, managerial and cost accounting, and public sector accounting. He has published extensively in top-tier journals such as Public Administration, Public Administration Review, Fiscal Studies, and Australian Accounting Review. His research addresses public sector finance, governance, cost management, and organizational performance.
Professor Bastida has significant consulting experience with governments, municipalities, the United Nations, and public–private partnerships, particularly in cost accounting systems, public finance reform, and strategic planning. He has led and contributed to major projects for Saudi government institutions aligned with Vision 2030.
He is now involved in a research about the performance of secondary education in Saudi Arabia, with an empirical focus on the PISA database. A comparative analysis of the benchmark database is being carried out.
Speaker Sessions
Leaders in Education
1499
-
Strategic Positioning for Excellence: Building Long-Term Recognition and Resilience in Higher Education
Session Summary:
In an increasingly competitive higher education landscape, institutions must develop comprehensive strategies that ensure both immediate relevance and long-term sustainability. This strategic session explores how universities can position themselves for enduring recognition while building organisational resilience to navigate demographic shifts, technological disruption, and changing student expectations. Participants will examine successful transformation case studies and develop frameworks for strategic decision-making that balance tradition with innovation. The session addresses academic program optimisation, research excellence, industry partnerships, and stakeholder engagement strategies that create lasting competitive advantages. Join this session to:
• Develop strategic positioning frameworks that differentiate your university in competitive markets while building sustainable competitive advantages
• Build organisational resilience that enables institutions to thrive through demographic changes, economic uncertainty, and technological disruption
• Optimise academic portfolio and research initiatives with market demands while maintaining academic excellence and mission alignment
• Strengthen stakeholder engagement that support institutional growth and reputation
