As the CEO of the UK Management College (UKMC), Md Zahidul Islam is focused on fostering educational leadership and strategic management to support adult learners in achieving their aspirations. With a background in both strategic management and hospitality, he leads an organization that excels in creating an inclusive learning environment tailored to the unique needs of a diverse student population.
Md Zahidul Islam was inspired to establish the UK Management College because he believes that seeking knowledge is a fundamental human right and nobody should be deprived of it. He aims to bridge the gap for students and education and make education accessible to all, regardless of their age or prior qualifications/ experience, alongside strengthening and widening participation for socially disadvantaged students.
Under his stewardship, the college has experienced significant evolution in its operational and financial frameworks, ensuring that its accredited programs not only meet but exceed industry standards. His vision is to empower students by equipping them with qualifications that enhance their career trajectories and enrich their personal lives.
Shaping Leadership Through Experience and Purpose
Md Zahidul Islam’s professional journey spans over 15 years in the education sector, working across major cities such as London and Manchester. Before the UK Management College entered the Higher Education space, it began by offering further education and short skill development courses. Over time, the institution evolved to provide Higher Education opportunities for socially deprived students who may not have access to traditional academic pathways at mainstream universities.
Md Zahidul Islam acknowledges that every individual’s professional journey shapes their unique strategy and leadership style. Leadership, for him, means leading by example – demonstrating hard work, self-awareness, and a steadfast commitment to positivity and solution-focused thinking. He believes this mindset not only inspires others but also creates new opportunities for progress and growth.
Redefining Success Through Impact and Reflection
Md Zahidul Islam’s definition of success has evolved, shaped by diverse experiences and personal growth. Today, he views success as multidimensional – it is about what he has accomplished, the positive impact he has made on others, and the continuous reflection on how he can improve, both professionally and personally.
“It also means that as a college and an education provider, we provide excellent education, as well as supporting our students not just from an academic point of view, but also emotionally, socially, and professionally. This enables all our students to make a positive impact on their lives and allows us to empower them to work hard towards their goals, strengthen communities, and work towards a greater future,” he explains.
Md Zahidul Islam believes that the only way to have successful, empowered, supported students is to have a strong team that shares the same vision, values, and ethos. Developing his team and seeing them grow alongside the students is his most treasured definition of success. “However, leadership success is never static; it’s a cycle of progress, reflection, and reinvention, as individuals do not follow people who give orders – they follow leaders who help them succeed, and a vital part of helping others succeed is reflection,” he emphasizes.
Empowering Students Through Accessible and Supportive Education
UK Management College (UKMC) is a private higher education provider in the UK with campuses in Manchester, Derby, Newcastle, and Sunderland. It offers a range of undergraduate programmes, the majority with foundation years, to allow individuals with lower entry-level results than those typically required by public or government-funded colleges and universities. The college offers teaching in areas such as Business Management, Digital Marketing, and Health & Social Care, with more programmes to be introduced in the near future.
UKMC focuses on accessibility, flexibility, and employability, catering to students from diverse backgrounds, including those without traditional qualifications. Courses are delivered in various formats to suit different needs, with weekday, evening, and weekend classes available, as the majority of students work or have families. The college maintains a strong student support team dedicated to ensuring students are supported, empowered, and equipped with career-focused learning.
UK Management College provides multiple services tailored to the individual needs of students. The institution ensures that all students are taught by highly educated and inspiring lecturers. UKMC places great emphasis on student well-being, maintaining a dedicated well-being team across all campuses to offer general advice, guide students to the appropriate departments for additional support, and ensure that their mental, emotional, physical, and psychological needs are met. When necessary, students are referred to external experts for further assistance.
A key service offered by the college is the Student Success Team, which consists of a group of dedicated Student Success Tutors who accompany students throughout their entire journey at UK Management College, regardless of campus location. Each tutor serves as the first point of contact for students facing academic or non-academic challenges. The Student Success Tutors possess strong knowledge of the courses they support and share the same level of understanding as lecturers, ensuring that whenever students seek assistance, they receive the guidance and education they need to succeed.
A Journey of Growth, Purpose, and Impact in Education
Md Zahidul Islam admits that leading in the education sector comes with both its rewards and challenges. The journey started when he moved to the UK from Bangladesh and had to understand the education system in England while learning to live in a different country, a difficulty in itself. However, understanding the education system allowed him to identify the gaps in education and where the UK Management College could fill these gaps to provide education for all.
“The most rewarding part of the journey is seeing students succeed, establishing successful relationships within communities and with partnerships to continue closing the gaps in education, and encouraging my staff to grow and gain their own higher education, such as master’s, PGCE, and PhDs,” Md Zahidul Islam affirms.
He shares that his most significant achievement to date as the CEO of UK Management College was changing so many students’ lives by giving them access to education. In addition, he takes pride in the growth that led him to become the founder of The Unibridge Group, which encompasses UKMC and other educational institutions he has invested in or acquired, including Chequers Academy, GAMTA (Triple Threat Training), Civil Ceremonies and ASIQUAL.
These institutions continue to grow under his leadership, further strengthening the bridge between students and education across diverse fields such as creative arts, health, and business. UK Management College is evolving under Md Zahidul Islam’s leadership by increasing its student numbers each year. The staff are being offered PGCEs to improve the standard of education provided, and they are opening more campuses to ensure individuals who want to study and grow with us have the facilities to do so.
In addition, the college aims to expand the remit of courses it offers to the arts, humanities, and social sciences to allow more lives and more areas of society to be positively impacted by its students and staff. “As a community-led college, we actively listen to external stakeholders to drive the college to provide the best education possible,” Md Zahidul Islam shares.
Empowering Growth Through Opportunity and Vision
As a leader, Md Zahidul Islam believes that true empowerment begins by first providing individuals with the opportunity to be empowered. “Sometimes education is not even an option, so being able to provide that opportunity, along with the space and support to grow and develop, is the most important part of our approach at UK Management College,” he observes. In addition, as a leader, he aims to never deny an opportunity to any individuals or organisations wanting to develop and grow.
He illustrates this with an example: “A staff member who has been with me since the beginning managed to study and work at the same time; she has now graduated and has since been promoted to a Head of Department.” Md Zahidul Islam describes his methodology as unique because it goes beyond traditional leadership – he inspires individuals to envision new possibilities, expand their beliefs, and find motivation within themselves. By surrounding them with successful, resilient, and passionate colleagues and students, he fosters an environment where growth becomes both personal and collective.
Expanding Access and Excellence in Global Education
Md Zahidul Islam’s vision and plan for the UK Management College is centered on providing education for all. The college aims to expand by establishing more campuses, supporting a greater number of students, and developing specialized schools of education, such as a dedicated Business School.
Looking ahead, the institution aspires to gain degree-awarding powers, become an awarding body, and ultimately achieve University Title – both within the UK and internationally, with planned expansions to Cyprus, Dubai, and Bangladesh. “UK Management College remains competitive in the ever-evolving education industry by continuously creating opportunities and finding ways to say ‘yes’ to as many individuals as possible,” he asserts.
The college strives to remind students that they are never alone and that consistent support is always available. Furthermore, maintaining high-quality teaching and implementing continuous improvements remain central to its strategy for sustained growth and excellence.
Passion-Driven Leadership with Purpose and Vision
Md Zahidul Islam explains that a typical day in his role as CEO starts with spending the early morning with his wife and two daughters, “as they are the reason, I work so hard.” Once on campus, his focus is on ensuring important meetings happen to make decisions that benefit students, staff, and the operations of the UK Management College, whether this entails internal meetings or external meetings with stakeholders or new potential partners.
Alongside this, he ensures that vital emails are being answered to pursue long-term goals and conducts smaller, frequent 1-2-1 meetings to confirm projects are being handled appropriately, and if further support is needed, he makes sure that it is given to leadership and team members.
“I believe, and my staff agree, that the word that best describes me as a leader would be passionate. Due to my passion, the UK Management College has been able to grow and empower students. This allows me to be hardworking, alongside always being positive, no matter whether I have received positive or negative news. Overall, being passionate allows me to envision where UK Management College is going and how we will get there,” he explains.
Balancing Ambition with Family and Community Values
Md Zahidul Islam admits that balancing personal and professional life can be incredibly demanding. Initially, it was difficult for his wife and the rest of his family, as his goals differed from theirs. “However, over time, our goals started to align with one another, my family supported me and the vision I had. We came to the consensus that spending time together allowed our passion and happiness to grow more, and that being able to provide basic needs such as food for one another and the community gave us more pride and happiness than any luxury item,” he reflects.
Md Zahidul Islam’s personal goals consist of always being with people, whether that is his family, community, or at work. A vital part of his life is ensuring that he is visible within the community and works to ensure people feel supported. “It has always been something I have done, and I will make sure this remains,” he affirms. Professionally, his goals are to spread education across the world for anyone and everyone who seeks it and to create an education provider that will always endure and continue to have a lasting impact on students, staff, and the community.
The Cornerstones of Effective Educational Leadership
Md Zahidul Islam observes that if he were to start again as an education leader and reflect on the advice, he wishes he had received, he would emphasize four key principles for becoming a good leader and building a successful organization. First, always be positive – because when you maintain positivity, you can overcome any challenge that comes your way. Second, believe in yourself, as self-belief inspires others to believe in you too.
Third, focus on solutions rather than problems – by concentrating on how to solve issues instead of dwelling on them, challenges become far less intimidating. Lastly, ensure your door is always open to everyone, including staff, students, and the wider community. Md Zahidul Islam believes that when you invest in others, they, in turn, invest in you – and together, as a united team, you can create something truly great and go far.
Conclusion
As a leader in education, Md Zahidul Islam’s journey reflects a deep commitment to making education accessible, inclusive, and transformative. Through his leadership, the UK Management College continues to grow as a beacon of opportunity for learners from all walks of life. His philosophy – rooted in positivity, self-belief, and community empowerment – serves as a powerful reminder that true leadership lies not just in achieving success, but in inspiring others to rise and succeed alongside you.
