Related Resources
Equity and diversity policy of Ahlia University
Ahlia University, as a higher education institution, is dedicated to upholding equity within its diverse community of students, faculty, and staff, in accordance with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This commitment aligns with Goal 4, which focuses on quality education, Goal 5, which promotes gender equality, and Goal 10, which aims to reduce inequalities. The university ensures that all individuals within its community are treated fairly and respectfully, following the principles outlined below.
Diversity
Appreciation and acknowledgement of differences amongst the members of the university community that promote acceptance and belonging, regardless of factors that span age, color, disability, employment status, ethnic or national origins, language, family status, marital status, race, religious or spiritual belief, gender, socio-economic circumstances and taste.
Equity
A standard of treatment of people that involves reasonable efforts to ensure fairness in
decisions impacting all members of the university community. However, equitable treatment does not necessarily mean equal treatment as a range of interests impacting all parties need to be balanced.
I. Equity and diversity among the student body:
Ahlia University believes that all students, regardless of color, race, gender, nationality, religion, and physical or learning disability, have the right to the best educated. Admission to Ahlia University is selective based on prior academic achievement. The most qualified candidates — regardless of race, color, gender, religion, nationality or disability — will be selected to fill the UC Approved Paper No.: UC/P 685/2024 Equity and Diversity Policy – Version 2.0 Page 2 of 2 available places. In the course of student participation in the educational life at the university, academic and non-academic, Ahlia University is committed to a discrimination-free learning environment for all students based on principles of fairness and equity.
II. Equity and diversity among staff:
Ahlia University strives to treat its staff fairly by maintaining a healthy, safe and productive work environment which is free from discrimination based on any other factor that is unrelated to Ahlia legitimate interests. Ahlia University shall not tolerate any offensive, intimidating or inappropriate statements or behaviour undermining equity in the work environment. Harassment in all its manifestations is prohibited. Committed to applying an effective recruitment policy that is based on the principles of equity and fairness, and equal employment opportunity, Ahlia University shall ensure to identify, efficiently and effectively, the right candidates for vacancies in Ahlia and recruitment shall be based on qualifications, experience, and merit. Supervisors and managers are expected to ensure that work- related decisions regarding task allocation, compensation, performance evaluations, the administration of Ahlia benefits et. al. reflects principles of fairness and equity.
The University mandates that members of the University community pay heed to applicable codes of conduct as well as to the University’s Anti-Harassment Policy
Equal Opportunity
Since inception, Ahlia University has championed equal opportunity and women empowerment. This is manifest in the University’s core values: Excellence, inclusiveness, integrity, collegiality, ambition, and engagement.
What do we do about inclusiveness?
We champion inclusivity, diversity, and equity both within and outside the institution. We strive to mainstream the principle of equal opportunity in all our operations, and in relation to all stakeholders.
In 2017, Ahlia University established an Equal Opportunity Committee as part of the university’s formal governance structure. The committee is chaired by the President and oversees/advises on all issues relating to the principle of equal opportunity.
EOC Purpose
To mainstream the culture and practice of equal opportunity, diversity, and inclusivity across the University in line with the Bahrain Vision 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goal 5.
Equal Opportunity Plan
Equal Opportunity Plan Aims:
- To promote the principle of equal opportunity through gender-responsive policy design that achieves coherent linkage with the national legislative/policy framework within the context of multilevel (international, nationally, organisational) policy frameworks on inclusion, equal opportunity and women empowerment.
- To empower women by integrating their needs in development programmes.
- To foster a safe and supportive work environment that ensures work-life balance, life-long learning, and competitiveness for women.
- To collaborate with allies and partners to mainstream the culture of equal opportunity
to society at large. - To support national strategies as a progressive and model organization for women.
Equal Opportunity Plan
Develop a systematic and sustainable approach to equal opportunity and women empowerment through institutionalisation of practice.
- Create a centralised advisory body to oversee progress and institutionalise practice
- Employ a targeted approach vis-à-vis professional development, capacity-building, and up-skilling programmes to redress gender imbalance issues
Leverage partnerships for knowledge sharing and exchange of best practice in the areas of equal opportunity and women empowerment.
- Organise conferences/symposia with a focus on equal opportunity and/or women topics
- Develop a common understanding and framework with local and international partners on topics related to equal opportunity and women in STEM
Champion the principle of equal opportunity through awareness campaigns, activities, and events.
- Plan and organise women-focused events for students and staff
- Develop gender-responsive policies that foster work-life balance and life-long learning
- Develop and utilise data collection instruments to gauge and measure awareness/impact
Empowering Women Facts & Figures
In line with our core values, from inclusiveness to integrity, the Equal Opportunity Committee at Ahlia University has recently conducted a self-evaluation exercise in relation to women empowerment and equal opportunity at the University.
The results published cover the period 2016-20, in line with the former institutional strategic plan 2016-20.
We look forward to achieving new milestones as we work to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and continue our efforts to mainstream the principle of equal opportunity throughout the university and beyond.
Fairness
Fairness refers to the equitable treatment of different people, or groups, conforming to a consistent set of standards. Employees are entitled to expect fair treatment at Ahlia University and are expected to treat others fairly. That also requires employees to conduct themselves in such a way so as to ensure that Ahlia University’s reputation for fairness is sustained and enhanced all the time.
Our Student Diversity
At AU we believe that all students, regardless of colour, race, religion, and physical or learning disability, have the right to the best education we can provide. Our student body comprises over 30 nationalities. At AU, we work hard to ensure that all our students are treated equally and with respect.
Our International Culture
Our faculty members are from 25 different countries and possess credentials from some of the best universities in the world, ensuring we continue to work with our students to prepare them for the global market
Equal Opportunity
Ahlia University provides a space for its administrative staff and students to learn about their equal opportunities, as shown below:
WTUN Gender Equality Pledge
As a founding member of the World Technology Universities Network, Ahlia University is proud of playing a key role in the development of a gender equality pledge for the network of 20+ members from across the World.
4th Equal Opportunities Conference
Under the patronage of H.E. Fawzia Bint Abdulla Zainal Speaker of council of Representatives.
It is our honor to invite you to the Fourth Conference on Equal Opportunities
The emergence of Covid19 and the resultant public health crisis has brought societal inequalities into sharp relief. How different countries have chosen to respond is not only shaping the current moment but is also having a crucial impact on the shape of the future; on who has access to vital resources and who is denied. This year’s conference will focus on the way in which the global pandemic is shaping our collective futures in new and unexpected ways and what that means to the ongoing objective of equal opportunities. More specifically how has and how should activity in the fields of health, education, law and business respond to what might be considered a pivotal moment that will set the direction and economic & social impacts for the coming decades. Decades in which responses to climate change, public health crises and economic imperatives must find a way to align with each other. What can be learnt from responses in health, education, law and business that serve to advance the objectives of equal opportunities? What must we do to avoid losing ground and ensure that the drive to maintain and build more equal opportunities and equitable futures continues unabated? We invite you to submit 15–20-minute papers and presentations which explore specific elements of these broad questions.
Welcome message from the founding president & chairman of board of trustees Prof. Abdulla y. Al hawaj
It gives me great pleasure to announce that we are holding The Fourth Conference on Equal Opportunities in “Health, Education, Law and Business.” We are absolutely ecstatic to conduct this conference under the patronage of Her Excellency Mrs. Fawzia Bint Abdulla Zainal, the Speaker of the Council of Representatives, whose renown, as a pioneer in the cause of women’s empowerment, is widely acknowledged and recognized in the Arabian Gulf region and far beyond. Under her stewardship, the Council of Representatives indefatigably tackles and relentlessly drives women’s empowerment as part and parcel of its wider stimulation and development of communities and organizations as a core element of what uncontrovertibly ranks as society’s most important social cause.
This conference, organized jointly by Ahlia University and Brunel University London, is inspired by our mission to move forward the frontiers of human knowledge and to elevate the social and living standards of society. It is a demonstration of our core values in action and exemplifies our commitment to scholarship across various academic fields and disciplines.
The theme “Health, Education, Law and Business” was carefully selected as it goes to the heart of a transcendental and transformational issue of paramount salience in the world today; namely, women’s empowerment and female participation in human capital development. Promoting equal opportunity engenders benefits of far-reaching consequences – be they economic, social or otherwise — impacting all aspects of society.
We are proud of, and heartened by, the path-breaking activities of the Supreme Council for Women under the leadership and guidance of H. R. H. Princess Sabeeka Bint Ibrahim AI Khalifa in furtherance of women’s empowerment. Given these efforts, it is unsurprising that the Kingdom of Bahrain has emerged as an unparalleled leader in equality between men and women. Using a cross-section of the latest scholarly methods, we accordingly strive to highlight and to reflect on the good practice evinced in the sphere of women’s empowerment in Bahrain. Moreover, the conference includes empirical studies about “Health, Education, Law and Business” in Bahrain involving a set of workshops employing cutting-edge methods in the field,
Finally, I offer my thanks to all the contributors of the conference and our distinguished guests, and would like to offer my sincere gratitude to the organizing committee who made this conference a success.
