Dr. Cagri Bagcioglu

Dr. Cagri Bagcioglu is a passionate and visionary leader in higher education, with more than 30 years of experience working with universities across the United States, Europe, Asia, North Africa, and the Middle East. His career has been defined by a commitment to transforming student experiences and building institutions that are both globally connected and locally impactful. Dr. Bagcioglu currently serves as the Vice Chancellor of the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Pakistan and Regional CEO for Eastern Europe and Central Asia at Cintana Education, an international network of universities co-founded with Arizona State University (ASU). He also currently serves on the boards of multiple universities in Europe and Central Asia. In these roles, he brings together the strengths of American-style higher education with regional needs, ensuring that students have access to world-class academic programs grounded in their own cultural context. Before joining Cintana as one of its founding leaders, Dr. Bagcioglu held a senior leadership role at INTO University Partnerships in North America, providing operational leadership to established university centers and supporting senior leadership in innovation and new initiatives. Prior to INTO, he spent more than a decade at Laureate Education, one of the world’s largest university networks. During his tenure, he served in several senior leadership roles, including CEO of Laureate International Universities in Türkiye and President of Istanbul Bilgi University. Under his leadership, Istanbul Bilgi University tripled its enrollment to over 30,000 students, strengthened academic outcomes, improved national and international rankings, and secured multiple national and international accreditations. Dr. Bağcıoğlu’s career in higher education began in the United States, where he served as a Senior International Officer at public universities. There, he built global partnerships, expanded study abroad opportunities, and led initiatives that connected students and faculty to international experiences and perspectives. A lifelong learner, Dr. Bağcıoğlu holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Finance and an MBA in Marketing and Finance from the University of North Alabama. He earned his Doctorate in Higher Education Leadership from the University of Liverpool, an experience that further shaped his belief in the power and necessity of global education. He is an active member of several international education organizations, has been a frequent presenter at global conferences.