Rate My Professor Rasha Abu Safieh Alfar

Rasha Abu Safieh Alfar serves as Head of Digital Strategy and Partnering within the Information Technology Services (ITS) senior leadership team at the University of Otago. With 18 years of extensive international and national experience in leadership, strategic management, social entrepreneurship, and innovation, she brings a visionary approach to her role. Recognized as a Time Magazine Next Generation Leader in 2018, Rasha holds degrees in IT, Digital Strategy and Transformation, Systems Change, and Strategic Business Management. She oversees the formulation and implementation of the University’s digital strategy, ensuring it aligns with overarching institutional objectives, including the ambitious Vision 2040. Her responsibilities include cultivating strategic partnerships with other universities and industry leaders to propel digital innovation forward. Committed to educational advancement, she drives digital innovation initiatives and promotes sustainable technology projects that particularly benefit underrepresented communities globally. As a prominent keynote speaker, she frequently shares her expertise on digital transformation, inclusion, and sustainability at global and regional conferences.

In her previous capacity as IT Project Manager at the University of Otago, Rasha Abu Safieh Alfar led the innovative IT internships program as part of the Digital Workspace project. This initiative employed 44 students across the Dunedin, Wellington, and Christchurch campuses over four to six months, tasking them with inventorying the University's digital assets to enhance management efficiencies, support, and workstation suitability. The program focused on developing essential skills such as communication, teamwork, documentation, and time management to bridge the gap between academic study and professional work. Originally from Palestine, she inspired the university community with her presentation 'From Palestine to Otago' at the Staff Women's Caucus in July 2022, recounting a journey marked by challenges, resilience, and triumph. Additionally, she co-presented at the eResearch Australasia Conference in 2023 on 'Leapfrogging to the Future: Transforming Otago University's Research Landscape.' Her engagement extends to panels on sustainability during Sustainability Week 2024 and participation in cultural and leadership events such as the Otago Muslim Chaplaincy Committee discussions and the 'Claiming a Seat at the Table' seminar.