About EMA
Management Board 2023-2025
The Management Board (MB) oversees EMA's daily management, administration, and representation.
In 2019 EMA members voted on updating the initial structure of the Association. Three types of units were formed: Working Units, Administrative Units, & Support Units. Visit EMA's Structure & History page to learn more. Each of these is led by a Unit Director and contributes to the well-functioning of EMA. Apart from the 10 Unit Directors, the President and Vice-President comprise the MB.
Below you can see the current MB members.
Md Ashiqur Rahman
President - president@em-a.eu
Dr. Md Ashiqur Rahman is the current President of the Erasmus Mundus Association.
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Md Ashiqur Rahman, Bangladeshi, Research Fellow at the Spanish National Research Council (Institute for Nanoscience and Materials of Aragón – University of Zaragoza) in Spain. With notable achievements, he completed his Ph.D. through the Marie SkÅ‚odowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) ITN H2020 ED-ARCHMAT program in cotutelle with the University of Burgos (Spain) and the University of Evora (Portugal), achieving the highest distinction in the Spanish academic system, titled "SOBRESALIENTE CUM LAUDE". He worked on another MSCA H2020 COFUND Ph.D. project – Tech4Culture at the University of Turin (Italy) back in 2018.
Prior to that, Ashiqur accomplished Erasmus Mundus European Master in ARCHMAT, securing the highest possible distinction in the Italian system – ‘SUMMA CUM LAUDE’ that three universities awarded: University of Evora (Portugal), Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Greece), and Sapienza Università di Roma (Italy). His educational background also includes a B.Sc. and M.S. in Engineering from the Department of Applied Physics, Electronics & Communication Engineering (APECE) at the University of Chittagong, Bangladesh. His research focuses on materials for energy and laser processing applications, environmentally respectful laser processing methods, and the non-invasive study of artistic and archaeological objects.
Beyond his academic pursuits, Ashiqur has been involved with EMA in different prestigious roles since 2015. He volunteered as the Country Representative for Bangladesh for four consecutive years, two years as the Vice President for EMA South Asian Chapter, two years as the CRNet (Country Representative Network) Manager, one year as Vice President and one year as EMA's President (Ad Interim). As EMA’s President, he aims to elevate the EMA community as a globally recognized brand, fostering alumni involvement, worldwide outreach, and visibility, guided by the vision of being "globally connected, locally skilled."
In his leisure time, Ashiqur finds joy in travelling, immersing himself in different cultures, working in diverse countries, engaging with local communities, exchanging ideas for a better world, and participating in social activities that benefit humanity.
Ruturaj Trivedi
Vice President - vice.president@em-a.eu
Ruturaj Trivedi is the current Vice President of the Erasmus Mundus Association.
Ruturaj Trivedi is an engineer with specialisation in mechanical design, naval architecture and hydrodynamics. He graduated from the Erasmus Mundus Masters in Advanced Design of Ships and Offshore Structures (EMSHIP) in 2019.
Ruturaj is currently based in France, working as a Lead Calculations Engineer in the energy sector. He has been a member of EMA since 2017 and an active volunteer since February 2018, working with EMA’s Communications Unit, Selection Committee, Policy & Quality Assurance Unit and Students & Alumni Relations Unit. He is also the Program Representative (PR) of the EMSHIP program. Ruturaj worked on several projects with his team, including the EMA Cookbook, the EMA mentoring programme, establishing & growing the PRNet, and building closer relationships between EMA and EMJM programmes, drafting MoUs for EMJMs, and many more in the previous years.
As the elected Vice President of EMA, Ruturaj looks forward to leading the EMA Management Board along with the EMA President, strengthening the EMA structure, fostering collaboration between EMA and stakeholders and working on EMA's mission & vision to make EMA a global authority on higher education in Europe.
In his free time, Ruturaj enjoys sketching, jogging, cooking, travelling, learning new skills and volunteering.
Rajon Bhuiyan
Outreach and Capacity Building Director - outreach@em-a.eu
Rajon Bhuivan is the current Director of Outreach and Capacity Building.
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Rajon Bhuiyan is a mechanical engineer specialising in sustainability, clean energy, and climate action. Having completed his EMJM in Management and Engineering of Environment and Energy (ME3) in 2019 across Spain, France, and Hungary, he brings interdisciplinary knowledge and international experience to his continued role as the Director of the OCB Unit for the term 2023-2025.
Based in Luxembourg since 2020, Rajon currently serves as a researcher at the Interdisciplinary Centre SnT at the University of Luxembourg and has presented his research at Stanford University and other reputable conferences. He moved to Luxembourg following his prior employment in Berlin and Bonn.
With a strong passion for volunteerism, Rajon has actively contributed to EMA since 2017, initially as a Program Representative (PR) during his EMJM and subsequently as Bangladesh's Country Representative (CR) in 2020-2021. His exceptional leadership led him to join the previous EMA Management Board in 2021, where he successfully guided the OCB Unit and led global initiatives.
Becoming the OCB Unit director again, Rajon remains committed to promoting EMA globally and positioning EMJM as the pinnacle of attractive master's programs worldwide.
In his leisure time, he indulges in his love for travelling, cycling, and hiking.
Raquel Galeano
Talent Management Unit Director - careers@em-a.eu
Raquel Galeano is the current Director of Talent Management.
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Raquel is from Asuncion, Paraguay. She has over two decades of experience teaching English and Spanish and teacher training in various countries and is interested in youth and adult education and community development. This interest led her to pursue the EMJMD International Masters in Adult Education for Social Change (IMAESC).
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Raquel has been an active volunteer in EMA since 2020. She has worked as Programme Representative for IMAESC in the S&A Unit, website manager in the C&IT unit, and was part of EMA’s General Assembly 2023 Agenda team.
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As Director of the TM Unit, Raquel wants to focus on the continuous personal and professional development of EMA’s volunteers and members. A firm believer in community development, she plans to collaborate with EMA’s units to improve the support offered to their collaborators and hopes to engage like-minded people in the TM Unit. Raquel believes in EMA as a platform for adult education for social change.
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She can be found walking along tape po’is (wee paths as they are called in Paraguay), cooking, trying to befriend dogs or, occasionally, dressed as a T-Rex.
Nikshan Paudel
Students and Alumni Relations Unit Director - students.alumni@em-a.eu
Nikshan Paudel is the current Director of Students and Alumni Relations.
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Nikshan, an energy engineer from Nepal, specializes in Energy Systems. He recently completed his Eramus Mundus Masters in Decentralized Smart Energy Systems (DENSYS-2021-2023).
Throughout his academic journey, Nikshan has displayed a deep passion for creating a sustainable future and driving innovation in the energy sector. With a strong commitment to fostering connections, Nikshan has volunteered in EMA, strengthening the EMA community and fostering meaningful relationships.
Nikshan volunteered in S&A unit as the Program Representative Network (PRNet) Coordinator and PRNet Manager. As the new Director of the Students and Alumni Relations Unit, He aims to build a robust student and alumni network and foster knowledge sharing within EMA. Serving as a focal point with the EMJM Consortia, he seeks to engage EMJMs, EMA alumni, and students in creating meaningful connections.
Nikshan enjoys nature and loves short hikes in his free time.
Shahin S Eity
Policy and Quality Assurance Unit Director - policy-quality@em-a.eu
Shahin S Eity is the current Director of Policy & Quality Assurance.
Shahin S Eity is an architect passionate about designing smart cities and sustainable transportation in cities. He holds an EMJMD degree in Smart Cities and Communities (SMACCs). His research focuses on enhancing the quality of life for city dwellers through intelligent design, sustainable transportation, and technology integration. Currently, Shahin is working on his start-up, a collective of smart solutions for cities and creative sectors in Belgium.
Shahin's commitment to social causes is persistent. He has been a dedicated volunteer with EMA, serving in various roles since 2021. These roles include being the Programme Representative for SMACCs, Programme Representative Network Development Executive in the Student & Alumni Relations Unit, Project Leader of ‘EMA for Equity’ in the Policy and Quality Assurance Unit, and Members' Coordinator in the Legal and Internal Affairs Unit. Shahin looks forward to upgrading the current policy measures in EMA to ensure the inclusiveness of Erasmus Mundus students and alumni from diverse backgrounds, promote gender equity, especially for the LGBTQIA+ community, at the same time, work on engaging EMA in European Higher Education at the policy level ensuring inclusiveness of diverse Erasmus Mundus community.
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Outside of his professional pursuits, Shahin is an avid reader and a tea connoisseur, reflecting his appreciation for both knowledge and the finer things in life.
Collins Santhanasamy
Partnership Development Unit Director - partnership@em-a.eu
Dr Collins Santhanasamy is the current Director of Partnership Development.
He has over a decade of experience in nonprofit management, stakeholder engagement, and community building. His dedication to creating positive change extends beyond his professional endeavours.
Collins is a distinguished Global Atlantic Fellow with the Equity Initiative, a Development Fellow with The Asia Foundation, an Ambassador for UNLEASH, and an alumnus of the Community Solutions Program. He has previously served as an Advisory Mentor to the Queen’s Young Leaders and was awarded the title of Associate Fellow of the Royal Commonwealth Society.
As Director of the Partnership Development Unit, Collins is determined to spearhead initiatives that drive growth, innovation, and impact within the Erasmus Mundus Association. With a keen eye for opportunity, Collins aims to identify and forge strategic partnerships that align with the association's core goals and values. By leveraging these partnerships, Collins seeks to foster collaborative and impactful initiatives for the community at large.
Based in Geneva, Switzerland, Collins finds inspiration in travel and meeting new people. This global perspective informs Collins's approach to partnership development and his appreciation for diverse cultures and perspectives.
Razan Rashid
Communication and IT Unit Director - communications@em-a.eu
Razan Rashid is the current director of Communications and IT.
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Razan, a motivated Design Manager and Senior Architect from Jordan, embarked on her professional journey in 2012, with a background in Architectural Engineering. Her educational pursuits led to a first master's degree in Architectural Engineering in 2019, followed by her recent completion of a second master's degree (EMJMD) in the BIM A+ program: European Master in Building Information Modeling in 2023. During her mobility studies in Portugal and Slovenia, lifelong friendships were forged.
Since 2022, Razan has been an active volunteer with EMA, serving as the Country Representative for Jordan and contributing significantly to the R&I and FMU units. As Director of the CIT unit, Razan will focus on enhancing EMA's online presence through social media, refining brand identity and visual communication strategies, and optimizing IT solutions for enhanced team collaboration and efficiency.
Beyond her professional pursuits, Razan's interests span arts, cooking, photography, design, fashion, and the excitement of exploring new destinations, embodying a zest for life and diverse experiences.
Razy Aman Eddine
Legal and Internal Affairs Unit Director - legal@em-a.eu
Razy Aman Eddine is the current director of Legal and Internal Affairs.
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Razy Aman Eddine is a Lebanese Lawyer and student of the Erasmus Mundus Programme in International Law of Global Security, Peace and Development (ILGSPD) at the University of Glasgow (UofG), Institut Barcelona d'Estudis Internacionals (IBEI), and Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB). His specialisation is in Peace, Security, and Conflict, and his particular focus is on disarmament and arms control.
He has received several awards in the field of law, such as the recently received Valedictorian and la plus grande distinction at the Advanced LLM in Public International Law at Université Libre de Bruxelles (2023), as well as the Bar Exams Valedictorian from the Beirut Bar Association (2021), the Jamal Abdel Nasser Award for Academic Distinction in the field of legal studies (2020).
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Yixuan ZHU
Finance Management Unit Director - finance@em-a.eu
Zhu Yixuan is the current director of Finance Management.
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She has been the Country Representative (CR) of China since 2020. She is a business professional with a profound academic background. Yixuan graduated from the Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters in the Models and Methods of Quantitative Economics (QEM) program.
Before stepping into the world of academia, Yixuan held a pivotal role as a Business Manager in a Fortune 500 company. The role equipped her with significant exposure in strategic planning and international operations. She is now associated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, with her work focused on international collaborations, AI, blockchain, smart city, IoT, V2X, and joint laboratories and research projects. Her professional journey across France, Algeria, Saudi Arabia and Morocco. Her current endeavour in the field of technology and finance reflects her versatile professional landscape.
In her leisure time, Yixuan relishes exploring new places and engaging in intellectual discourses.
Tarun Kumar Agrawal
Research & Innovation Unit Director - research-innovation@em-a.eu
Dr. Tarun Kumar Agrawal is the current Director of Research & Innovation.
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Tarun is a Senior Lecturer in the Division of Supply and Operations Management at Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden. His research interests include production logistics and supply chain traceability, supply chain management and industrial system engineering. He has more than ten years of research and industrial experience in India, Mauritius, France, China and Sweden.
Tarun holds a Joint Doctorate degree recognised in the area of Production Automation/ Management/ Engineering from the University of Lille, France; the University of Borås, Sweden and Soochow University, China, under the Erasmus Mundus Joint Doctorate Fellowship by European Commission.
He joined EMA in 2015 and actively volunteered as a Program Representative of the EMJD SMDTex Program (2016-18) and as a member of the PRNet Team (2017-19) and Director (ad - interim) of the Research & Innovation Unit (2022-23).
When Tarun is not teaching or doing research work, he likes to go for a run, swim, or just enjoy Swedish winter indoors