Ahlia University Community Engagement Plan (2021–2025)

This plan, like the one before it, is underpinned by AU’s vision: the university strives to make a positive contribution to the development of the Bahraini community and the wider Gulf region through its three core functions—Teaching and Learning, Research, and Community Engagement. AU’s Community Engagement Plan 2021–2025 continues and strengthens its Community EMPOWER Plan 2016–2020. A review and revision were deemed necessary as AU's new strategic plan came into effect in 2021. The Plan draws from national and international strategies to maintain high-quality academic standards in Community Engagement and Social Responsibility.

Community Engagement Plan Aims

Enforce social responsibility and serve the local and regional community.
Encourage and enhance participative community-based research supporting social and economic development.
Strengthen the university's community relationships through cooperation and planned extension programs and services.
Provide budding entrepreneurs with skills, knowledge, and mentoring support to translate ideas into viable businesses.

Initiative 1

Support and encourage students in a culture of engagement, entrepreneurship, and innovation, and prepare them through mentoring and partnerships to become leaders in their chosen professions.

Create a culture of awareness about the importance of entrepreneurship for economic growth at the university and the wider community.
Provide experiential learning, conduct meaningful entrepreneurial research, and connect students with mentors and resources for successful startups.
Offer entrepreneurship-related courses to educate, coach, and encourage young entrepreneurs.
Link academic life with the business world through training, incubation, research, and consultation.
Partner with local and regional industries, including SMEs, to support budding entrepreneurs.
Conduct events, seminars, lectures, and conferences to promote entrepreneurship institution-wide.

University & Community

Annual Report 2018–19

Ahlia University strives for excellence in all aspects of its community engagement activities. In 2018/19, AU created a Community Engagement Unit to enhance management, monitoring, and reporting, maximizing the impact across all stakeholders. Collaboration among colleges, deanships, and directorates supports the implementation of the plan, aiming to contribute to the community's development and prosperity.

Community Engagement at AU involves students, faculty, staff, alumni, and organizations exchanging information, resources, and referrals for service and learning opportunities. Community engagement is a core university function, integral to the Strategic Plan and Community Empowerment Plan, focusing on both internal and external communities.

Offering programs that meet the needs of students and employers in Bahrain.
Supporting good causes and promoting volunteering, civic duty, and global citizenship.
Making high-quality education accessible through scholarships, grants, and tuition remission schemes.
Focusing research on societal needs and challenges.

In 2018/19, AU organized and participated in 90 community engagement activities, averaging over two activities per week during the academic year.

Social Responsibility

Learn more about AU's Social Responsibility

We promote active participation in social change through volunteerism, leadership, and civic action involving faculty, staff, and students. AU commits to contributing to societal growth by supporting worthy causes, advancing welfare through research, and preparing professionals for leadership in their fields and communities.

Community Engagement

Sustainability in Connectivity

AU’s students, faculty, and staff are deeply connected with their communities. Community engagement activities reflect AU's decentralized structure. The Deanship of Student Affairs supports campus life and student engagement initiatives. Collaboration among colleges, departments, and the student council connects students to resources that broaden their perspectives on ethical and social issues.

One of AU’s core values essential to achieving its vision is Social Responsibility. The university promotes participation in social change, leadership, and civic action, supporting research that advances human welfare, and preparing students for professional and community leadership roles.

Community EMPOWER Plan

AN-Issue37.pdf

AU’s Community EMPOWER Plan 2016–2020 responds to Bahrain's social and economic challenges. The plan emphasizes Entrepreneurship, Mentoring, Partnerships, Outreach, Widening Access, Lifelong Learning, and Expertise Sharing through Research. AU fosters positive, mutually beneficial relationships with businesses, industries, governments, and civic organizations to create fulfilling and prosperous opportunities for all involved.

Al-Ahliyya University Visit to Al-Fateh Secondary School for Boys

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1006478579735750&set=pcb.1006478979735710

Al-Ahlia University Visit to Shaikh Abdullah Bin Isa Al Khalifa Industrial High School for Boys

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1003557046694570&set=pcb.1003557416694533

“Al-Ahlia” expresses its readiness to volunteer in the national campaign to combat Corona

https://www.ahlia.edu.bh/cms4/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Ahlia-News25.pdf

Professor Al-Hawaj, Chairman of the University’s Board of Trustees, announced eligibility for his application to volunteer to work in the national campaign against the Corona virus, expressing confidence that a large number of teachers and employees, the students and graduates of Ahlia University were also quick to do so, and that the university encourages all its members to do so, of course, as affiliation

This country and loyalty to its wise leadership are two main pillars of the foundations of education and character building, whether in the private university or in our various universities and other national institutions. He added: We are proud that a large number of our professors and employees hurriedly demanded that we progress to volunteer to work in the national campaign to combat the Corona virus, it is a duty compelled by our belonging to this dear homeland and our loyalty to its leadership.

The university with all its professors, staff, and students are available to serve this dear country in this exceptional circumstance during what the whole world is going through.

“Al-Ahlia” students visit “Dar yoko” inmates

http://www.alwasatnews.com/news/959949.html ـ

Providing financial support for its management

Ahlia University students provided financial support to Yoko Parents’ Care Home, within the framework of the social responsibility programs adopted by the university.

Whereas, the Student Activities Department organized a series of charitable and purposeful events, the proceeds of which were allocated to support the employees of the House, with the aim of providing university students with the values of community service and charitable participation in social work.

World Diabetes Day

https://www.bna.bh/en/BahrainmarksWorldDiabetesDay.aspx?cms=q8FmFJgiscL2fwIzON1%2BDlinboIFyAf%2Bda5cnDj2LTw%3D

On November 16, a ceremony was held at the Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Park in Awali marking World Diabetes Day which falls on the 14th of November“[20].

The SCH chief addressed the ceremony marking World Diabetes Day, being held this year under the theme: “Family and Diabetes”. He stressed the crucial role of the family in promoting prevention from the disease. He warned against the alarming increase of the prevalence of diabetes in the Kingdom of Bahrain, which has health, social, and economic repercussions on the community and threatens national sustainable development, where the Ahlia students participated.