Higher Education Council (HEC) board of trustees held its regular meeting, chaired by Education Minister and HEC board of trustees chairman Dr Mohammed Mubarak Juma.
The board reviewed the implementation of decisions issued at its previous meeting and considered requests submitted by higher education institutions.
The board approved the following requests related to co-operation agreements and memoranda of understanding:
The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland - Medical University of Bahrain was authorised to sign memoranda of understanding with Hawler Medical University in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, the Children’s Cancer Hospital Foundation in Egypt, and the University of Malta.
It was also authorised to sign a participation agreement with the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) in the US.
The American University of Bahrain was authorised to sign co-operation agreements with the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) in the UK and WACOM Europe GmbH in Germany.
Applied Science University was authorised to sign memoranda of understanding with O P Jindal Global University in India, Tunis El Manar University in Tunisia, the British University in Egypt, and the National Inspection and Quality Assurance Technical Institute (ITQAN) in Saudi Arabia.
Applied Science University was also authorised to sign co-operation agreements with Pathway Educatia Global Ltd in Kenya and the National Open College Network in the UK.
Vatel Bahrain Hospitality School was authorised to sign a co-operation agreement with the National Open College Network in the UK and memoranda of understanding with Hilton Al Khobar - King Fahad Causeway in Saudi Arabia, INNSiDE Ibiza Beach by Melia in Spain, and De La Salle - College of Saint Benilde in the Philippines.
Ahlia University was authorised to amend its co-operation agreement with George Washington University in the US.
The Royal University for Women was authorised to sign a memorandum of understanding with the University of Nicosia in Cyprus.
University of Technology Bahrain was authorised to sign memoranda of understanding with Selart International Education and Research Group in Switzerland and Savvy Games Group in Saudi Arabia.
Gulf University was authorised to amend its memorandum of understanding with Lomonosov Moscow State University and sign a memorandum of understanding with the Arab Dream Foundation, both in Russia.
Ahlia University was authorised to sign co-operation agreements with Malardalen University in Sweden and the University of Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The board also approved the following requests related to academic programmes:
The Royal University for Women was authorised to host a Master of Game Design programme, a Master of Science in Cybersecurity programme, and a Master of Public Administration and Public Policy programme from the University of Liverpool in the UK.
The British University of Bahrain was authorised to host a Master of Applied Psychology programme and a Master of Science in Construction Management programme from the University of Salford in the UK.
The European University of Bahrain was authorised to host a Master of Business Administration programme from the University of London in the UK, comprising three pathways in accounting, leadership and law.
University of Technology Bahrain was authorised to introduce Master of Science programmes in Cybersecurity, Engineering Management, and Artificial Intelligence and its Applications.
Gulf University was authorised to introduce a Bachelor’s degree programme in Safety Engineering.
Applied Science University was authorised to introduce a postgraduate certificate in teaching and learning practices in higher education.
The board did not approve Gulf University’s request to add five pathways to its Master of Business Administration programme.
Regarding the formation of boards of trustees and appointments to leadership positions at private higher education institutions, the board approved the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland - Medical University of Bahrain’s request to reconstitute its board of trustees under the chairmanship of Professor Michael Kerin.
It also approved Kingdom University’s request to appoint Professor Hassan bin Rafdan Al Hajhoj as president of the university.
The board granted institutional accreditation to Vatel Bahrain Hospitality School.
It also deferred decisions on several requests submitted by higher education institutions for further study, as they had not fulfilled the regulatory requirements, and rejected a request to license the establishment of a new higher education institution pending the completion of the required conditions.
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