A New Perspective for Hospitality & Tourism at CAU

Central Asian University is pleased to welcome Chen Yang as the new Dean of the School of Hospitality Management & Tourism.

Chen Yang joins CAU with international experience in higher education, hospitality, and tourism. His professional journey spans Austria, China, Uzbekistan, and Saudi Arabia, combining academic leadership, transnational education, curriculum development, quality assurance, and international partnerships.

Before joining CAU, Chen Yang worked at IMC University of Applied Sciences Krems, Austria, where he held leadership positions in transnational education. He managed international Bachelor’s programmes delivered in partnership with universities in China and Uzbekistan, overseeing academic governance, curriculum development, faculty coordination, student admissions, examinations, quality assurance, and accreditation.

His academic experience also includes teaching at King Saud University in Saudi Arabia and Hainan Tropical Ocean University in China. His teaching areas have included hospitality management, tourism, strategic management, intercultural communication, academic writing, and research methods.

Alongside his academic work, Chen Yang contributes to the hospitality and tourism research community as the Managing Editor of Tourism and Hospitality Research, a SAGE journal. His research interests include hospitality and tourism, SMEs, family business, entrepreneurship, and business succession.

Chen Yang is currently pursuing a PhD in Management at the University of Innsbruck, Austria. He holds a Master’s degree in International Business and Export Management and a Bachelor’s degree in Tourism and Leisure Management from IMC University of Applied Sciences Krems.

As Dean, Chen Yang will contribute to the continued development of the School of Hospitality Management & Tourism, strengthening its academic programmes, international partnerships, and opportunities for students to prepare for careers in the global hospitality and tourism industry.