Center for Learning Innovations & Customized Knowledge Solutions

What Center for Learning Innovations & Customized Knowledge Solutions does

CLICKS (Center for Learning Innovations & Customized Knowledge Solutions) is a Dubai-headquartered professional services firm founded in 2012 by Dr. Narimane Hadj-Hamou that exclusively serves the higher education sector. The company delivers a portfolio of training, consulting, mentoring, and coaching services to universities, colleges, and higher education institutions, with flagship offerings that include a 12-week Executive Coaching Program, a tiered Leadership Mentorship Program (3/6/9-month engagements), a Leadership Summer Institute, open-enrollment Public Training Programs, and customized In-House Programs ranging from half-day webinars to multi-month certificate programs. Adjacent offerings include major convening platforms such as the MENA Higher Education Leadership Forum (MENA-HELF), the Zairi International Awards for Excellence in Higher Education (5th edition), the Voice of Higher Education (VoHE), the MENA Association of University Presidents, and the Arab Consortium of Teaching and Learning Centers.

The company's delivery model relies on a curated network of international associates and global partners rather than any proprietary technology platform; no AI/ML capabilities, APIs, or software products are disclosed. Revenue is generated entirely through professional-services engagements, with publicly visible pricing of $2,300 per individual for 12-week coaching, $20,500 per institutional cohort of 10 for the same program, and $3,000 / $5,000 / $7,500 per participant for 3/6/9-month mentorship tiers. Go-to-market is sales-led and consultative, combining direct institutional sales, public open-enrollment programs, in-house customized delivery, and event-based pipeline generation.

CLICKS has collaborated with nearly 200 higher education institutions across more than 14 countries and has trained participants from over 35 countries, with active markets in the UAE, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, plus a 2026 expansion into the Kurdistan Region of Iraq via partnership with VisionAID. The firm operates with a 1-10 employee core team and is privately held with no disclosed external funding, parent company, or acquisition activity.

Name

Center for Learning Innovations & Customized Knowledge Solutions

Legal name

The Center for Learning Innovations and Customized Knowledge Solutions

Website

https://cli-cks.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CLICKS is a Dubai-headquartered professional services firm founded in 2012 that delivers training, consulting, mentoring, and coaching exclusively to higher education institutions, primarily across the MENA region. It serves nearly 200 universities and colleges through flagship programs like the Executive Coaching Program, Leadership Mentorship Program, and the MENA Higher Education Leadership Forum.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education Consulting and Training Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171), Professional and Management Development Training (61143)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Coaching, Mentoring & Facilitation Services (BPACANAI)

Keywords

• Higher education consulting
• Academic leadership training
• Faculty development programs
• Accreditation advisory services
• Institutional capacity building

Headquarters

HQ city

Dubai

HQ country

United Arab Emirates

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Training Programs: Revenue generated from public workshops, in-house training programs, and certificate programs delivered to higher education institutions. Programs range from half-day webinars to multi-month certificate programs.
2. Consulting Services: Fee-for-service consulting engagements for quality assurance, accreditation, strategic planning, governance, and institutional development.
3. Mentoring and Coaching: One-on-one mentorship programs (3, 6, or 9 months) and 12-week executive coaching programs charged at per-participant rates.
4. Conferences and Events: Networking events including the MENA Higher Education Leadership Forum and The Voice of Higher Education (VoHE).
5. Capacity Building Programs: Customized capacity building initiatives for institutions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

CLICKS delivers training, consulting, mentoring, and coaching services exclusively to higher education institutions, covering leadership development, governance, strategy development, quality assurance and accreditation, innovation in learning and teaching, research capacity, and student support. Offerings include the Executive Coaching Program, Leadership Mentorship Program, Leadership Summer Institute, public workshops/webinars, customized in-house certificate programs, and convening platforms such as MENA-HELF, VoHE, and the Zairi International Awards.

Product overview

CLICKS is a training and consulting organization dedicated to the higher education sector, offering a comprehensive portfolio of professional development services. The portfolio includes core service offerings such as the Executive Coaching Program (12-week virtual leadership coaching with weekly sessions and webinars), Leadership Mentorship Program (3/6/9-month one-to-one mentorship for deans and department heads), Leadership Summer Institute, Public Training Programs (open enrollment workshops), and In-House Programs (customized training delivered at institutions ranging from half-day webinars to 6-month certificate programs). The company also organizes major conferences and awards including MENA-HELF, Zairi International Awards, VoHE, and the Arab Consortium of Teaching and Learning Centers. A significant portion of the business involves downloadable resources including corporate brochures, program schedules, consultancy forms, and marketing flyers for specific services. The company was established in 2012 and serves higher education institutions across the MENA region and beyond.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MENA-HELF: The MENA Higher Education Leadership Forum - an annual forum for higher education leaders in the MENA region
• Zairi International Awards
• VoHE
• Leadership Summer Institute (LSI)
• Executive Coaching Program
• Leadership Mentorship Program
• Arab Consortium of Teaching and Learning Centers

Products and services

• Executive Coaching Program A 12-week professional leadership coaching program for academic and administrative leaders in higher education, featuring weekly one-on-one coaching sessions and small-group interactive webinars. Runs twice yearly in Fall (October) and Spring (March) semesters.
• Leadership Mentorship Program One-to-one confidential mentorship program for heads of departments and deans, connecting them with experienced international associates. Available in 3, 6, or 9-month durations with monthly dedicated hours.
• Leadership Summer Institute (LSI) Summer intensive leadership development program for higher education professionals, aimed at developing leadership skills and capabilities.
• Public Training Programs Open enrollment training workshops and webinars offered throughout the year, covering leadership development, strategy, quality assurance, innovation in teaching, research, and student support.
• In-House Programs Customized training programs delivered at client institutions, ranging from half-day webinars to 3-6 month certificate programs, tailored to institutional specific needs.
• MENA Higher Education Leadership Forum (MENA-HELF) Annual forum bringing together higher education leaders from the MENA region to discuss challenges and share best practices.
• Zairi International Awards for Excellence in Higher Education International awards recognizing excellence and transformative impact in higher education institutions.
• The Voice of Higher Education (VoHE) Platform for discussion and knowledge sharing in the higher education sector.
• Arab Consortium of Teaching and Learning Centers Collaborative consortium focused on teaching and learning center development across Arab institutions.
• One-to-One on Demand Consultancy Individualized consulting sessions available on demand for specific institutional needs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 200 Higher Education Institutions served since 2012
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• VisionAIDcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership signed in 2026 to advance higher education development and institutional capacity building in the Kurdistan Region. CLICKS and VisionAID collaborate to provide comprehensive support to institutions in the Kurdistan region, combining CLICKS's expertise in higher education consulting with VisionAID's regional presence and capabilities.
• International Associates NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of seasoned international associates who bring expertise from similar leadership positions and provide mentorship, coaching, and consulting services. Mentors are carefully selected based on their significant contributions, track records, and accumulated reservoir of knowledge and expertise.
• Global PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading global partners supporting CLICKS in delivering integrated knowledge solutions to higher education institutions. Partners contribute to the organization's ability to offer customized, evidence-based solutions with global best practices.
• The Arab Consortium of Teaching and Learning CenterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative initiative bringing together teaching and learning centers across Arab institutions to share best practices, promote innovation in learning and teaching, and advance academic excellence in the region.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• AACSB International: Global accreditation body for business schools that delivers quality assurance, accreditation training, and consulting to HEIs. Matches CLICKS' quality assurance and accreditation practice at the institutional level.
• Huron Consulting Group: US-listed higher education consulting firm offering strategy, accreditation, and operational improvement services to universities. Directly comparable to CLICKS in delivering institutional consulting and transformation mandates to HE leadership, though at much larger scale.
• EAB (Education Advisory Board): Research and consulting firm dedicated to higher education institutions, covering enrollment, student success, and academic affairs. Closely aligned with CLICKS' institutional-improvement remit, but operating primarily in North America.
• EFMD (European Foundation for Management Development): International management education association offering accreditation, program evaluation, and institutional development services to HEIs. Comparable to CLICKS' quality assurance and institutional effectiveness work, especially for business schools in the MENA region.

Broad incumbents

• KPMG (Higher Education practice): Big Four firm with a higher education consulting offering spanning strategy, governance, and accreditation support. Comparable mandate content to CLICKS but operating as part of a much broader advisory portfolio.
• Baker Tilly (Higher Education practice): Global advisory firm with a dedicated higher education practice serving governance, accreditation, and operational improvement mandates at universities. Comparable to CLICKS in mandate content though broader geographic and service footprint.
• Deloitte (Higher Education practice): Big Four advisory with a dedicated higher education consulting practice serving institutional strategy, digital transformation, and operating model redesign. Comparable in mandate scope to CLICKS, with substantially greater scale and global footprint.
• EY-Parthenon (Education practice): Strategy consulting arm of EY serving higher education institutions on growth strategy, M&A, and operational transformation. Directly comparable consulting mandate type to CLICKS' strategy development engagements, with global reach.

Regional players

• NAFSA: Association of International Educators: Association serving international education and exchange professionals globally. Comparable to CLICKS in serving HEI leaders, but anchored to North America and focused on internationalization — overlapping with CLICKS' strategy and internationalization engagements.

Emerging players

• Guild Education: US-based education and upskilling platform focused on employer-funded tuition benefits. Adjacent to CLICKS' executive coaching and capacity-building programs in terms of learners, but serves a corporate-buyer model rather than direct institutional sales.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/CLI_CKS
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCxK7swdujDLHSC3Vj0a0Ngg
• Facebookfacebook.com/clicksme
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/2938146
• Instagraminstagram.com/clicks_mena

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Center for Learning Innovations & Customized Knowledge Solutions