Prof. Dr. Ibrahim Awad | Business Economics | Best Researcher Award
Professor and Dean, Al-Quds University
Dr. Ibrahim M. Awad is a Full Professor of Business Economics and Econometrics and the Dean of the Faculty of Business and Economics at Al-Quds University . With academic roots in Leipzig, Gaza, and Jerusalem , he’s an affiliate at Harvard Business School’s Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness . His work spans teaching, research, strategy, and public policy . Dr. Awad has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications, supervised dozens of graduate theses, and engaged in national and international consulting and academic collaborations . He is renowned for integrating competitive strategy, innovation, and econometric modeling into development solutions . His career reflects a blend of academic rigor, policy expertise, and economic insight, contributing to Palestine’s higher education and economic policy sectors .
Profile
🎓 Education
Ph.D. in Economics and Econometrics from University of Leipzig, Germany (2007–2010) | M.Sc. in Economics from Al-Quds University, Jerusalem (1999–2002) | B.Sc. in Economics and Business from the Islamic University of Gaza (1994–1998) . His interdisciplinary education blends quantitative rigor with policy orientation, equipping him with a strong foundation in micro/macroeconomics, econometrics, and development strategy . His doctoral research focused on sustainable water economics and economic valuation, while his master’s and undergraduate studies centered on financial economics, policy analysis, and business administration . This educational pathway has informed his innovative research on competitiveness, clusters, and entrepreneurship . Throughout his academic journey, he developed advanced statistical and econometric modeling skills, enabling him to contribute to both academic literature and applied economic consulting .
💼 Experience
Dr. Awad has over 20 years of academic and policy experience including roles as Professor, Dean, Department Chair, and Director . He has served as Dean of the Faculty of Business and Economics at Al-Quds University since 2022 and previously held roles including Director of the Institute for Competitiveness and Strategy and Affiliate at Harvard Business School . He has led multiple Erasmus+ and DAAD academic visits, contributed to economic strategy reports, and taught at various international universities . His teaching portfolio includes microeconomics, entrepreneurship, competitiveness, and econometrics . Beyond academia, he worked as an economic analyst for the Palestinian Authority and collaborated with NGOs and policy think tanks . His experience spans economic modeling, competitive diagnostics, and public-private collaboration strategy development, making him a sought-after advisor and academic mentor .
🏅 Awards & Honors
Awarded multiple competitive fellowships including DAAD Visiting Scholar (Germany, 2022), French Embassy Scholarship (École des Ponts Business School, 2022), and U.S. State Department’s Leaders Lead Program (2023) . Recognized for academic leadership through appointments as Dean, Department Chair, and founding director of competitiveness institutes . Frequently invited to international conferences including Erasmus+ Staff Mobility, Creathon contests, and dialogue diplomacy workshops across Europe and the Middle East . His book on water management earned commendation in development circles for policy relevance . A trusted scholar, he has collaborated with international bodies on circular economy, innovation ecosystems, and digital transformation in higher education . His achievements reflect a blend of scholarly distinction, policy influence, and international academic engagement, significantly contributing to Palestinian and regional economic discourse .
🔬 Research Focus
Dr. Awad’s research bridges economic theory and real-world development through themes like competitiveness, innovation, entrepreneurship, and econometrics . He specializes in cluster analysis, strategic knowledge management, circular economy, and microeconomics of competitiveness His work often applies structural equation modeling and PLS-SEM to assess performance metrics and policy impact . Current research includes tourism value chain upgrades, entrepreneurship ecosystems in universities, and shared value strategies in agriculture and manufacturing . He has published in journals such as Sustainability, Journal of Knowledge Economy, and Financial Innovation, contributing to evidence-based economic policymaking . Future work explores digital transformation, water tariff frameworks, and willingness-to-pay models in environmental economics . His goal is to drive sustainable development and institutional competitiveness through rigorous data analysis and innovative policy design .
✅ Conclusion
Dr. Ibrahim M. Awad is a highly qualified candidate for the Best Researcher Award, particularly within fields such as applied economics, competitiveness, and development policy. His prolific research, leadership roles, and contribution to national and regional economic development demonstrate exceptional merit. With further international journal engagement and expanded English-language publications, his global standing can rise even further. As of now, he clearly stands out as a leading researcher in the MENA region, especially in policy-relevant and development-focused economics.
Publication
Title: Can the implementation of the water-energy-food nexus support economic growth in the Mediterranean region? The current status and the way forward
Authors: V. Markantonis, A. Reynaud, A. Karabulut, R. El Hajj, D. Altinbilek, I.M. Awad, …
Year: 2019
Citations: 91
Title: Testing the weak-form efficiency of the Palestinian securities market
Authors: I. Awad, Z. Daraghma
Year: 2009
Citations: 91
Title: The impact of bank lending on Palestine economic growth: an econometric analysis of time series data
Authors: I.M. Awad, M.S. Al Karaki
Year: 2019
Citations: 56
Title: Applying contingent valuation method to measure the total economic value of domestic water services: A case study in Ramallah Governorate, Palestine
Authors: I. Awad, R. Holländer
Year: 2010
Citations: 50
Title: Determinants of private domestic investment in Palestine: time series analysis
Authors: I.M. Awad, G.K. Al-Jerashi, Z.A. Alabaddi
Year: 2021
Citations: 46
Title: Working capital management, liquidity and profitability of the manufacturing sector in Palestine: Panel co-integration and causality
Authors: I. Awad, F. Jayyar
Year: 2013
Citations: 32
Title: The effect of clustering on competitiveness improvement in Hebron: A structural equation modeling analysis
Authors: I.M. Awad, A.A. Amro
Year: 2017
Citations: 30
Title: Examining the long term relationship between crude oil and food commodity prices: Co-integration and causality
Authors: Z. Ghaith, I.M. Awad
Year: 2011
Citations: 23
Title: Towards an entrepreneurial university model: evidence from the Palestine Polytechnic University
Authors: I.M. Awad, M.K. Salaimeh
Year: 2023
Citations: 21
Title: Using econometric analysis of willingness-to-pay to investigate economic efficiency and equity of domestic water services in the West Bank
Authors: I.M. Awad
Year: 2012
Citations: 20
Title: Using currency demand to estimate the Palestine underground economy: An econometric analysis
Authors: I.M. Awad, W. Alazzeh
Year: 2020
Citations: 13
Title: Testing the validity of Okun’s rule of thumb across Palestine and Israel
Authors: I. Awad, A. Hallam, M. Alialhuseen
Year: 2017
Citations: 11
Title: Volatility persistence in Palestine exchange bulls and bears: an econometric analysis of time series data
Authors: I.M. Awad, A.R. Al-Ewesat
Year: 2016
Citations: 9
Title: Toward efficient management of working capital: the case of the Palestinian exchange
Authors: I.M. Awad, A.R. Al-Ewesat
Year: 2012
Citations: 8
Title: The impact of water price on the financial sustainability of the Palestinian water service providers
Authors: A. Murrar, I. Awad, A.F. Hasan, E. Yaqob, I. Barghothi, A. Sadaqa, S. Samhan, …
Year: 2017
Citations: 4
Title: Toward efficient, equitable and sustainable municipal water supplies for domestic purposes in the West Bank: A contingent valuation analysis
Authors: I. Awad, R. Hollander
Year: 2010
Citations: 4
Title: CSV Strategy and clustering for improvement of the stone and marble sector’s competitiveness: Empirical evidence from Hebron
Authors: I.M. Awad, N.A. Alnatsha
Year: 2024
Citations: 3