Central Asian University is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Chen Yang as Dean of the Hospitality Management & Tourism School.
Professor Chen Yang brings extensive international experience in higher education, transnational education, strategic management, and consulting. Throughout his career, he has held academic and management positions at international educational institutions and taught at universities in Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, and China.
Prior to joining Central Asian University, Professor Yang served as Director of Transnational Programmes for Uzbekistan and China at IMC Business School in Austria, where he was responsible for international programme management, quality assurance, curriculum development, and faculty recruitment. His professional experience also includes international executive management projects, institutional partnerships, and cross-border academic initiatives.
Professor Yang’s areas of expertise include strategic management, entrepreneurship, hospitality management, intercultural communication, and international business development. His research interests focus on hospitality and tourism firms, transnational entrepreneurship, SMEs, and family businesses.
In addition to his academic and management roles, Professor Yang serves as Managing Editor of Tourism and Hospitality Research (THR), a Scopus-indexed Q1 journal in tourism, leisure, and hospitality management. He also serves as a peer reviewer for international academic journals and as an external expert reviewer of academic degree programmes.
As Dean, Professor Yang will lead the development of the Hospitality Management & Tourism School and its BA in International Hospitality and Tourism Management programme.
The School operates at the heart of a rapidly developing region, shaped by growing tourism, international investment, expanding infrastructure, and increasing connectivity between Central Asia and global markets. Its programme combines specialized knowledge in hospitality and tourism with a strong foundation in business and management, preparing students not only for careers in the hospitality and tourism industries, but also for leadership, entrepreneurship, and strategic roles across the wider visitor economy.
Professor Yang’s vision is to develop the School into a leading centre for hospitality and tourism education in Central Asia, bringing together academic knowledge, industry engagement, and an international outlook.
Professor Chen Yang brings extensive international experience in higher education, transnational education, strategic management, and consulting. Throughout his career, he has held academic and management positions at international educational institutions and taught at universities in Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, and China.
Prior to joining Central Asian University, Professor Yang served as Director of Transnational Programmes for Uzbekistan and China at IMC Business School in Austria, where he was responsible for international programme management, quality assurance, curriculum development, and faculty recruitment. His professional experience also includes international executive management projects, institutional partnerships, and cross-border academic initiatives.
Professor Yang’s areas of expertise include strategic management, entrepreneurship, hospitality management, intercultural communication, and international business development. His research interests focus on hospitality and tourism firms, transnational entrepreneurship, SMEs, and family businesses.
In addition to his academic and management roles, Professor Yang serves as Managing Editor of Tourism and Hospitality Research (THR), a Scopus-indexed Q1 journal in tourism, leisure, and hospitality management. He also serves as a peer reviewer for international academic journals and as an external expert reviewer of academic degree programmes.
As Dean, Professor Yang will lead the development of the Hospitality Management & Tourism School and its BA in International Hospitality and Tourism Management programme.
The School operates at the heart of a rapidly developing region, shaped by growing tourism, international investment, expanding infrastructure, and increasing connectivity between Central Asia and global markets. Its programme combines specialized knowledge in hospitality and tourism with a strong foundation in business and management, preparing students not only for careers in the hospitality and tourism industries, but also for leadership, entrepreneurship, and strategic roles across the wider visitor economy.
Professor Yang’s vision is to develop the School into a leading centre for hospitality and tourism education in Central Asia, bringing together academic knowledge, industry engagement, and an international outlook.
