Biography

Professor Mohammed Nasimul Azim is a distinguished scholar and professional in the field of Tourism and Hospitality Management, with more than three and a half decades of multifaceted experience spanning academia, industry, consultancy, and professional training across Bangladesh, the United States, and Europe. His career reflects a rare synthesis of academic rigor and industry leadership, positioning him as a pioneer in advancing tourism and hospitality education in Bangladesh.

Professor Azim’s association with the Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management (THM) at the World University of Bangladesh (WUB) began in 2013, when he joined as an adviser and subsequently served as adjunct faculty until 2022. In the Fall 2023 semester, he assumed the position of full-time Head and Director of the Department of THM. Notably, he holds the distinction of being the first Bangladeshi graduate in Tourism and Hospitality Management, a milestone that underscores his pioneering role in shaping this discipline within the country.
Professor Azim earned his Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management from Roosevelt University, Chicago, USA, and completed an MBA in Hospitality Management at York University, United Kingdom. He also holds an Associate of Science in Hotel Management from Inter College, Cyprus. His formal education has been further enriched by professional training programs in sustainable tourism, hospitality skills development, guest service methodology, and corporate management conducted in diverse international settings, including the USA, Canada, Mexico, Cyprus, Switzerland, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

His professional career in the global hospitality industry is equally distinguished. He has held senior leadership positions in several renowned organizations, including:

• Executive Director – Grand Riverview Hotel, Rajshahi (the first four-star hotel in Rajshahi)
• Group General Manager – Sikder Resort & Villas, Ocean View Hotel & Convention, and The View Hotel (Sikder Group), Kuakata
•  Chief Consultant – Ornate Hotel, a Japan–Bangladesh joint venture enterprise, Dhaka
•  Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Western Group (comprising Hotel Sea Palace Ltd., Rana Resort & Amusement Park, Hotel Rana, Western Engineers Ltd., and Rana Trading Corporation)
• General Manager – Hotel Sea Palace Ltd., Cox’s Bazar (Founder GM), Days Inn, USA, and Best Western Inn, USA
• Managerial and Operational Roles – Taiwan Chinese Restaurant, Cyprus, and TipTop Motel, USA

In these roles, Professor Azim demonstrated expertise in strategic planning, financial management, international hospitality standards, and large-scale project leadership, contributing significantly to the growth and modernization of the hospitality sector in Bangladesh and abroad.
Parallel to his industry career, Professor Azim has established himself as an academic leader. His contributions include founding and leading academic departments, developing curricula, supervising research, and mentoring students who have gone on to work in global hospitality enterprises. His academic appointments include:

•  Head & Director – Department of Tourism & Hospitality Management, World University of Bangladesh (2013–Present)
• Principal – Ornate Institute of Hotel & Tourism (2010–Present)
• Adjunct Faculty – Department of Tourism & Hospitality Management, Daffodil International University (2015–2020)
• Chairman & Professor – Victoria University of Bangladesh (2008–2012)
• Head of  the Department – Premier College, London, UK (2007–2008)
• Founder & Head of the  Department – Victoria University of Bangladesh (2004–2007)

In addition to his academic and industry engagements, Professor Azim has contributed actively to national and international forums on tourism and hospitality. His professional affiliations include:

• Executive Member – Standing Committee on Tourism & Hospitality, Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FBCCI) (2010–2011)
• Founder Director – ISC Tourism & Hospitality, International Labour Organization (ILO)
• Expert Director – ISC Tourism & Hospitality, National Skill Development Authority (NSDA) (2022–Present)
•  Lifetime Member – Roosevelt University Alumni Association, USA
• Alumnus – Netherlands University Foundation for International Cooperation (NUFFIC)

He has represented Bangladesh at numerous international conferences, symposium, and training programs, where his expertise in curriculum development, sustainable tourism practices, and capacity building has earned him recognition as a thought leader in the discipline.
Through his unique combination of academic insight and practical expertise, Professor Mohammed Nasimul Azim has played a transformative role in developing tourism and hospitality management as both a profession and an academic field in Bangladesh. Under his leadership, the Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management at WUB has emerged as a hub of academic excellence, producing graduates who are contributing to leading hotels, airlines, resorts, and academic institutions worldwide.

Professor Azim continues to inspire the next generation of hospitality professionals through his commitment to teaching, research, professional innovation, and international collaboration.

Education/Academic Qualification