Sustainable Development Goals

Overview and Highlights:

Ahlia University was ranked 14th worldwide by Times Higher Education Impact Ranking and 1st in Kingdom of Bahrain.

Ahlia University conducted international forums tackling quality of education and proposing measures for virtual learning.

Ahlia University attracted more than 20 national and international speakers from government officials, academic experts and policy makers. The forums enable setting clear measures for UNSDGs specifically SDG4.

Ahlia University revised its graduate attributes and academic programmes to be aligned with UNSDGs by
integrating new topics in specific courses contents to create a cultural mindset for the future generation.

Ahlia University development in the area of SDG4 was selected to be presented as a case study in national and international debates and conferences. Ahlia University quality of education was measured during COVID-19 and learner satisfaction level was 81%.

A book was published by IGI global discussed best practices and recommendation for sustaining quality
education.

New/Revised Policies and Procedures Serving SDG4:

• Ahlia University Assessment Manual for Online Delivered Courses – To support digital transformation from traditional learning to virtual learning, Ahlia University developed a designated Assessment Manual for virtual courses that assures appropriateness of the selected assessment methods, measurement of learning outcomes effectively and fairness of grading.
• Virtual Learning Academic Policy and Guidelines – Ahlia University promote blending virtual learning as part of teaching, learning and assessment and use of virtual learning platforms in learner’s interaction and engagement to maintain quality education.
• Revision of Ahlia University Graduate Attributes to include Adaptability and Personal Resilience, Connectivity, Engagement and Local Citizenship, Research and Ethics and Human Rights and Gender Equality.

Overview and Highlights:

An annual conference tackling equal opportunities is conducted in collaboration with Brunel University London that attracts national and international speakers discussing topics related to gender equality and recommendations for policy-makers.

Ahlia University added Gender Equality as part of the research niche areas with budget allocated to support faculty and learners publishing in the field of gender equality and women empowerment.

Offering a PhD (without residence) in collaboration with Brunel University London that provides the opportunity to women to progress in their career while conducting their research.

Ahlia University provides sponsorship for faculty members to proceed with PhD to support women empowerment and advancement in line with Kingdom of Bahrain National Strategies.

New/Revised Policies and Procedures Serving SDG4:

•  Admission Policy – The admission policy was revised taking into account gender equality.
• Policies to Support Women Needs – A new policy covering different support to Women Needs was established with an aim to support women progression.
• Paternity Leave – The current policy was extended above the minimum legally required as per the labour law.
• Reduction of Workload – A policy was established to reduce women workload studying PhD.

Overview and Highlights:

Ahlia University promote staff progression and career growth policies and procedures were revised to support academic and professional staff career progression and growth. Ahlia University ensure that all academic and administrative staff are provided with staff development activities to support their career progression. A budget is allocated to ensure that staff are provided with continuous professional development including academic qualifications such as PhD and Postgraduate level. As part of Ahlia University strategy faculty support and progression is the main aim to retain highly qualified staff.

New/Revised Policies and Procedures Serving SDG4:

• The Period of Care – The period of care for female employees was extended to support female employees. The extended period shall be deemed part of the working hours and shall not entail any wage deduction.
• PhD Support and Progression – A set of policies were developed to support PhD candidates which includes paid leave to attend (professional development activities, conferences and symposiums).
• Staff Discounts for further Study – All the staff members are provided with staff discounts for proceeding with further study.

Overview and Highlights:

Ahlia University attracted partnership with different industries to collaborate on a number of innovative projects to reflect an impact on the society.

The academic programmes were revised to cover more practical component as per industrial expert background. Academic programmes were upgraded to cover employability skills and professional certifications.

Actively engaged the External Advisory Board to review academic programmes and evaluate its currency and relevancy. The External Advisory Board demonstrated high satisfaction level with all the academic programmes.

Ahlia University Learners participated in International Network based in the UK “World Technology Universities Network WUTN” and won the first prize for their innovative research in relation to the use waste recycling.

New/Revised Policies and Procedures Serving SDG4:

• Policy on Commercialisation of Research – This policy provides definitions of policy on Commercialisation of Research targeting relationship with the industry and promote innovation.

Overview and Highlights:

Ahlia University ensures supporting learners with special needs and ensures providing support to learners to avoid any inequalities and assures equivalent learning to all learners. Since inception, Ahlia University welcomed students with special needs and maintained learner’s progression. The admission policy and procedures were revised to support learners with special needs catered with various needs to support leaners progression throughout the learning experience.

Ahlia University attracted learners from various nationalities from diversified backgrounds, the learners demonstrated satisfaction with the overall experience, with non discrimination, diversity and quality which reflected fair and transparent environment to all.

The university established relationship with Bahrain Association for Parents and Friends of the Disabled Society to donate plastics for recycling to be replaced with assistive devices to support mobility and inclusion.

New/Revised Policies and Procedures Serving SDG4:

• Admission Policy – The admission policy was revised to be focused on inclusiveness, diversity, disability and special needs. It focused on ensuring we offer equal opportunity to all learners.
• Special Needs Discount – All learners with special receive 50% scholarship on their tuition fees.

Overview and Highlights:

Ahlia University demonstrated effective commitment towards United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs), the commitment was carefully aligned to Ahlia University’s Vision, Mission and Strategy and implemented though a well-sounded Sustainable Development Plan. A result of Ahlia University’s commitment, the university was ranked among 101-200 by Times Higher Education Impact Ranking 2021 and achieved 13th world wide in SDG4 related to Quality Education and 14th world wide related to SDG10 reduced inequalities.

As part of Ahlia University’s vision since inception the university aimed to create a capacity building and create a research hub for learners in Bahrain and the surrounded countries. The Sustainable Partnership with International Partners such as Brunel University London has led to enhance international aliation for implementing effective and targeted capacity-building in relation to SDG4 and SDG5 through the conduct of annual conference related to equal opportunities that supports discussion of national plans and devising regulations to support sustainable development.

The Academic Programmes were aligned with the priority UNSDGs, the academic programmes are aligned to ensure learners connectivity, engagement, adaptability, personal resilience, gender equality and global citizenship.

Ahlia University took the lead to create awareness and conducted a number of societal impact seminars by engaging relevant stakeholders that reflected improvements at multiple societal levels and built experience for new dimensions of sustainable strategies. The University Journey towards UNSDGs is annually assessed and reported, the reporting is also part of UN Commitment Platform. The following is SDG17 contribution at a glance.