
Mohammad Nasimul Azim
Professor and Program Director, MBA YU, HM RU
Professor and Program Director, Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management
Head of the Department, Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management
Personal profile
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.