Prof. Rifat Rustom

Dr. Rustom has M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Drexel University in the U.S.A. in 1993 and B.Sc. in Civil Engineering from Bir-Zeit University in the West Bank in 1985.

Currently, serves as Rector of the University College of Applied Sciences (UCAS). Prof. Rustom is former Vice President for External Affairs and IT at the Islamic University of Gaza (IUG) and he is former Dean of Planning and Development at IUG, Chairman of Resources Development Center, Dean of Community Service and Continuing Education and former Dean of Technical College of Applied Science and Technology at the Islamic University of Gaza.

Dr. Rustom has research interests and published several papers in Construction Management, Institutional Management and Development, Geosynthetics, and Concrete Technology.

Prof. Rustom has wide experience in public institutions operations and capacity building. He also has experience in analyzing and assessing performance measures of institutions. His professional work at the Municipality of Gaza, the Ministry of Housing, and the Islamic University of Gaza gives him the necessary institutional background, insight and leadership. Dr. Rustom also worked as Advisor to the Mayor of the Municipality of Gaza (Technical Advisory and Follow Up Unit, TAFU) where he was involved directly with the Mayor in drawing development schemes at different institutional, managerial, and technical levels at the Municipality. He was also the Coordinator of the Technical Consulting Unit (TCU) at the Municipality of Khan Younis. He was directly involved with the Mayor in service evaluation, capacity building programs, and organizational development issues.

Prof. Rustom was the chairman of the Board of the Institute for Development Studies (IDS).

Prof. Rustom’s experience gained at the Engineering & Management Consulting Center in Gaza, as a Member of the Board, adds to his technical capacity in many engineering and management disciplines. He was a principal consultant in several strategic Planning, assessment and evaluation studies.

Also as a consultant for several World Bank and Islamic Development Bank assignments, Prof. Rustom worked on community development projects, damage assessment, local governments finance, and reconstruction schemes.