Mattheus (Theo) F. A. Goosen has played key roles in the development of new start-up academic institutions. For the past thirteen years, he has held the position of founding Associate Vice President for Research & Graduate Studies at Alfaisal University, a private start-up non-profit institution in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (www.alfaisal.edu). Since 2017, he has also held the post of Acting Dean of the College of Science and General Studies. Dr Mattheus feels extremely proud to be part of this competent, diverse, and internationally renowned institution. Alfaisal University has been ranked 31st by the Times Higher Education Young University Rankings 2020, 28th by the Times Higher Education Asia University Rankings 2020, and 251-300 by Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2020. Prior to joining Alfaisal University, Dr Mattheus acquired vast academic experience working for several prestigious institutions over a span of more than 30 years. He was Campus Dean at the New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) in Amman, Jordan (2006-2008). Before this role, he worked in Puerto Rico, USA, as the Dean of the School of Science & Technology at the Universidad del Turabo (2004-06), an institution of 15,000 students that forms part of the Anna G. Mendez University System (SUAGM). Other Institutes where he has held academic positions are Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman (1994-2004) as Dean of Engineering & Dean of Agricultural and Marine Sciences, Oxford University, UK (1990-91