Ahlia University’s International SDG Collaborations (2020–2025)

Introduction

Ahlia University (Bahrain) has made sustainable development a strategic priority in the past five years, embedding the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into its teaching, research, and community engagement. In 2021, Ahlia launched a University Sustainable Development Plan (2021–2025) to align its initiatives with national strategies and international standards sdgs.un.org. A core pillar of Ahlia’s approach is forging global partnerships – the university actively promotes collaboration with national and international organizations to tackle SDGs, encouraging joint research in areas like quality education, equal opportunity, and sustainable growth ahlia.edu.bh. These efforts have positioned Ahlia as a leading institution in Bahrain for SDG engagement, with a commitment to sharing knowledge and data on its progress at regional and global levels. For instance, Ahlia voluntarily reports its annual SDG achievements on the United Nations Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI) platform, contributing to global tracking of SDG progress ahlia.edu.bh. The university’s contributions have also been benchmarked internationally: Ahlia was ranked 14th worldwide in 2021 (and 23rd in 2022) by the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings, placing first in Bahrain and reflecting its strong performance across SDG indicators ahlia.edu.bh. The following sections detail how Ahlia University has engaged in international collaborations from 2020 to 2025 – through formal agreements, joint projects, exchange programs, and global initiatives – to advance the Sustainable Development Goals.

Ahlia University Sustainability Initiative

Ahlia University considers Social Responsibility and Sustainability as part of its prioritised strategies that is embedded in its core functions including teaching, research and community. The University is committed to contribute and work towards United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through encouragement of research in various research areas such as quality education, equal opportunities and sustainable growth. In order to create a recognised impact Ahlia University promotes partnership with national and international organisations tackling UNSDGs.

 

Implementation of the Project/Activity

Ahlia University (AU) aligned the UNSDGs initiatives as part of it strategies, a University Sustainable Development Plan (2021-2025) was developed and approved with clear set of initiatives to contribute to the overall UNSDGs with prioritized measures. In the next 5 years AU is committed to increase the number of publications in specific areas including gender equality, quality education and sustainable growth. AU is also committed to revise the structure of the curriculum to include higher percentage of critical long term sustainable thinking skills with social responsibility across all fields. AU aims to produce society ready graduates equipped with social responsibility and life-long learning skills to support managing global growth and sustainability. In order to assure effective implementation of the planned initiatives within the Sustainable Development Plan (2021-2025) the plan will be evaluated by Centre for Accreditation and Quality Assurance and reported to the University senior management for decision making. The actions will be measures the contribution in increasing number of research in relation to sustainable growth, contribution in various out-reach activities considering social responsibility and promoting life-long learning skills.

 

Sustainable Development Goals

 

SDGs commitment

AU developed Sustainable Development Plan (2021-2025), the plan is developed to reflect AU’s commitment towards UNSDGs and to contribute to National Strategies as well as International Standards.

This plan is committed to contribute to national strategies and Initiatives (2030) and create an impact at National, Regional and International Level for sustainable future for our next generations.

The plan is focused on SDGs as a priority, AU carefully selected the 7 SDGs with assurance of its relationships with national strategies and government directions, AU emphasis on Quality Education and providing a sustainable future for all and promotes UNSDGs to be part of its core functions, teaching and learning, research as well as community.

 

Integrating Education Sustainable Development (ESD) Skills within Academic Programs:

Ahlia University academic programs was revised with a consideration of Educational for Sustainable Development (ESD) Framework by UNESCO.  AU aligned the ESD competencies with AU graduate attributes with a focus on key skills including (adaptability, personal resilience, connectivity, engagement, negotiation, global citizenship, research, ethics and innovation). The key skills are integrated within courses through specific intended learning outcomes related to knowledge, applied skills, critical thinking and general and transferable skills. The courses are carefully crafted with assurance of learning cascaded across 4 years of study, the learning outcomes are assessed through direct and in-direct assessments. The integration of UNSDGs within the curriculum enabled generating 217 published research studies with recommended conclusions to support the society and policy making.

 

Conducting Annual Conferences tackling UNSDGs

Ahlia University in collaboration with Brunel University of London and University of Business and Technology (KSA) is conducting the annual conference tackling Equal Opportunities in the fields of Business and Technology. The conference attracted 170 researchers from 27 different countries including GCC, UK, USA and Africa. The conference also attracts policy makers from regulatory authorities including the Supreme Council of Women to discuss vital topics related to women empowerment, gender equality etc. The outcome of the conference includes publishable research in Scopus indexed proceeding.

 

Voluntary Reporting of AU’s Commitment:

Ahlia University is committed to knowledge sharing therefore, AU reports annually the major achievements against UNSDGs and share it voluntary through United Nations Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI) Platform. The platform includes progress tracking on the committed actions which includes integration of UNSDGs in the curriculum to support UNSDG4. For more information, please see: UN HESI – Platform Commitment Ahlia University Sustainability Initiative | Department of Economic and Social Affairs

 

International Partnerships and Agreements for Sustainable Development

Ahlia University has strengthened its global network by signing formal agreements with foreign universities and institutions to collaborate on SDG-related education and research. A notable recent example is the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in October 2024 with Northern Technical University (Iraq). This comprehensive partnership is designed to foster academic and research exchange between Bahrain and Iraq ahlia.edu.bh. It encompasses several SDG-aligned objectives, including: joint program development in education and science, faculty exchanges for teaching and research, student exchange programs for cross-cultural learning, and collaborative research projects in priority fields such as technology and artificial intelligence ahlia.edu.bh. By establishing such agreements, Ahlia and its partners aim to share knowledge and data that support capacity-building and innovation – key aspects of SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure).

In a significant move to enhance academic relations and international cooperation, Northern Technical University, represented by its President, Professor Dr. Alyaa Abbas Ali Al-Attar, has reached an agreement with Ahlia University in the Kingdom of Bahrain on October 3, 2024.

This comprehensive academic collaboration aims to foster the exchange of academic and research expertise between the two universities.

 

The agreement encompasses organizing joint programs in education and scientific research, developing postgraduate programs, and facilitating student and academic exchanges. A Letter of Intent (LOI) has been agreed to be signed between the two institutions, establishing a formal framework for future cooperation. The LOI includes the following key points:

 

1. Academic and Researcher Exchange: This collaboration will enable faculty members from both universities to deliver lectures and participate in scientific research.

2. Student Exchange: Programs will be organized to allow students from both universities to study and benefit from diverse educational experiences.

3. Joint Scientific Research: Support will be provided for collaborative research projects between the two universities in areas of mutual interest, particularly in technology, applied sciences, and artificial intelligence.

4. Joint Academic Programs: Development of shared educational programs, including bachelor’s and master’s degrees focusing on new specializations such as technology and modern sciences.

5. Professional Training and Workshops: Organization of joint workshops and training programs to enhance the academic and research skills of students and faculty members.

 

The signing of this Letter of Intent marks the first step towards establishing a long-term strategic partnership between the two universities. This initiative is expected to significantly contribute to strengthening scientific and educational cooperation between Iraq and the Kingdom of Bahrain

 

 

Another cornerstone of Ahlia’s international collaboration is its long-standing partnership with Brunel University London (UK). Through this alliance, Ahlia offers joint postgraduate programs and leverages Brunel’s research expertise to enhance its own academic capacity ahlia.edu.bh. For example, Ahlia hosts two doctoral programs in Management and Information Technology in cooperation with Brunel, allowing local scholars to pursue PhDs under international supervision ahlia.edu.bh. In addition, Ahlia delivers a Master of Engineering Management degree in partnership with George Washington University (USA), integrating global best practices into its curriculum ahlia.edu.bh. These cross-border academic programs not only elevate the quality of education (contributing to SDG 4), but also facilitate the exchange of data, research findings, and pedagogical innovations between institutions.

Developing International Collaborations

ahlia.edu.bh

Al Ahlia hosts a British expert to develop international cooperation in the field of scientific research

The Head of the Human Resources Department at Al-Ahlia University, Dr. Lamia Al-Tahou, stressed that knowledge and science have become of a universal nature, and in order to be available to all researchers and those interested as knowledge or tools, Al-Ahlia University is making great efforts in the context of strengthening the bonds of communication and cooperation with various universities and prestigious scientific institutions in the world.

She explained on the sidelines of the hosting of the Ahlia University for the international expert, Dr. Anuj Sood, President of Synergy Ltd. in Britain, that international cooperation programs are an important means of transferring and localizing knowledge and scientific technology, and supporting scientific research initiatives, which motivates the university to partner with prestigious universities in providing a number of its scientific programs within graduate studies, such as the doctoral programs in management and information technology, which are offered in partnership with Brunel University, Britain, and the Master of Engineering Management program offered by the university in partnership with George University. Washington, USA.

The British expert, Dr. Anuj Sood, presented a workshop attended by a number of members of the university's academic staff on "Mechanisms for Developing International Cooperation in the Field of Scientific Research", during which he touched on the best vision of international relations in the field of scientific research, and the best way to provide successful scientific research in accordance with specialized arbitration standards, in addition to a general survey of the most important ways that contribute to opening cooperative relations with those interested in scientific research.

He presented successful models of scientific and academic initiatives that international cooperation between universities and researchers was a major reason for providing appropriate practical solutions to many problems in the fields of industry, management, economy and other sectors of life.

The Head of the PhD Program Delegated from Brunel University, Dr. Talal Al-Dabi, stressed the importance of the themes and ideas included in the workshop, stressing the importance of benefiting from the international network of relations in the field of scientific research, and calling on academic staff members to take advantage of the support opportunities available for scientific research initiatives, whether from what is provided by Al-Ahlia University or its partners such as Brunel University London.

This course is part of a series of external hosts aimed at meeting the training needs of the university's academic staff, as it will be followed by various hosts, some of which focus on the field of scientific research as it falls within the university's interests and priorities, and some of which focus on modern education strategies followed by advanced universities in the world.

 

Ahlia has also formalized collaborations with European institutions to support data-driven sustainability initiatives. The university is listed on the UN SDGs Partnership platform as a committed stakeholder and engages with international networks to share best practices ahlia.edu.bh. It joined the UN HESI network to transparently report SDG progress, showcasing how data on curriculum integration and community impact is measured and shared globally ahlia.edu.bh. Such partnerships ensure that Ahlia’s SDG-related data and experiences contribute to collective international efforts in monitoring progress towards the 2030 Agenda. Furthermore, Ahlia’s policies are informed by global frameworks – for instance, its academic programs were revised in line with UNESCO’s Education for Sustainable Development competencies ahlia.edu.bh – demonstrating alignment with international standards in sustainability education. Through these agreements and memberships, Ahlia University has positioned itself as an active node in the global education network working toward sustainable development.

 

Joint International Projects and SDG Initiatives

Ahlia University has actively co-developed academic, scientific, and cultural projects with international partners to advance various SDGs. One flagship initiative is the Equal Opportunities International Conference, which Ahlia has co-organized annually alongside Brunel University London and the University of Business and Technology in Saudi Arabia. This conference series, running throughout the early 2020s, serves as a global forum on sustainable development challenges with a focus on inclusion and innovation. For example, the 6th Equal Opportunities Conference in 2022 – themed “Sustainable Leadership and Technology Innovation Management” – drew researchers from 20 countries across the GCC, Europe, Africa, and the US, addressing topics spanning SDG 3 (Health), SDG 4 (Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Economic Growth), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities), and SDG 17 (Partnerships) ahlia.edu.bh. The broad international participation at this event included policymakers and even United Nations representatives, who presented UN initiatives and praised the conference’s research outcomes – highlighting that such scholarly findings should inform policy development at the national level ahlia.edu.bh. Indeed, the conference series has produced publishable research (in Scopus-indexed proceedings) and practical recommendations on issues like women’s empowerment and digital innovation, which are fed back to government bodies (e.g. Bahrain’s Supreme Council of Women) and other stakeholders ahlia.edu.bh. By hosting these conferences, Ahlia and its partners create a cross-border knowledge exchange that directly supports SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 9 (Innovation), and strengthens multi-stakeholder partnerships per SDG 17 ahlia.edu.bh.

6th Equal Opportunities Conference

The 6th Equal Opportunities ‎Conference “Sustainable Leadership and Technology Innovation Management” is ‎organized by Ahlia University in collaboration with Brunel University London and the University ‎of Business and Technology KSA, the conference will take place 6th -8th February 2023, Wyndham Grand Manama, Manama, Bahrain.

The Conference aims to gather leading academics, professionals, scholars, and researchers ‎to share their knowledge and new ideas and discuss current developments in the ‎field of Sustainable Leadership and Technology Innovation Management focusing on Equal ‎Opportunities in relation to leadership and sustainable management. This conference aims ‎to shed the light on topics related to the use of technology and innovation management that ‎could support business sustainability and leadership engagement.

 

The conference aims to ‎tackle issues related to the following aspects: ‎

·         Assess the impact of sustainable leadership, technology, and innovation on organizational ‎effectiveness. ‎

·         Shed light on different sustainable leadership practices in relation to the use of digital ‎sustainability, technology, and innovation.‎

·         Publish high-quality research that focuses on sustainable leadership in a transformative ‎environment covering various contextual factors.

·         Act as a guide for scholars, practitioners, and policymakers while devising or revising policies ‎and procedures related to United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.‎

 

Beyond conferences, Ahlia University engages in collaborative research and competitions that link its students and faculty with international peers. A notable achievement was Ahlia’s participation in the World Technology Universities Network (WUTN), a UK-based global network of tech-focused universities. Through this platform, Ahlia students entered an international innovation competition and won first prize for their research on waste recycling, demonstrating creative solutions for sustainability ahlia.edu.bh. This accomplishment not only showcases Ahlia’s contribution to environmental sustainability and circular economy goals (touching on SDG 12: Responsible Consumption & Production), but also highlights the value of international collaboration in sparking innovative ideas. Similarly, Ahlia has convened or joined international forums on education quality – for instance, hosting global experts and over 28 international speakers to discuss improvements in virtual learning and inclusive education ahlia.edu.bh. These forums have led to concrete outcomes such as new measures for ensuring quality education (SDG 4) in a digital era ahlia.edu.bh.

WTUN Exchange Program 2024-25: Meet the 2024/25 Participants

Meet the 18 successful participants of this year’s WTUN Exchange Programme who following selection by the assessment panel will each be awarded up to £2,000 (GBP) to support their proposed collaboration with a fellow WTUN member university.

The WTUN Exchange Program runs annually and provides academic and professional services staff and PhD students the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues at a member institution of their choosing. Participants of the Exchange Program are awarded up to £2,000 (GBP) to support them in their shared projects, facilitating face-to-face collaboration in new research environments and the opportunity to immerse themselves in the cultural landscapes of the hosting institution.

The WTUN Exchange Program has led to outcomes such as student exchanges, collaborative research projects, joint publications, and memorandums of understanding (MOUs) between institutions. Previous Exchange Program partnerships have focused on areas such as renewable energy storage, the promotion of healthy childhood movement within school curriculum, and multi-dimensional models for promoting equity in higher education.

We are pleased to formally announce the 2024/25 WTUN Exchange Program participants and we look forward to the impact and outcomes that these visits will support. Thank you to each of this year’s participating member institutions and congratulations to the grant recipients on their successful proposals.

 

On the scientific research front, Ahlia’s international MOUs have laid the groundwork for joint research projects with partner universities abroad. The 2024 Ahlia–Northern Technical University agreement specifically allocates support for collaborative research in technology, applied sciences, and AI between the two institutions ahlia.edu.bh. This collaboration is expected to generate shared research outputs and technological innovations addressing common development challenges in Bahrain and Iraq. Likewise, through its Brunel partnership, Ahlia has bolstered research in niche areas like gender equality by establishing it as a joint research focus and budgeting funds to support faculty and student publications in that field ahlia.edu.bh. Many of these studies propose evidence-based solutions for social issues, directly contributing to national and regional SDG targets (for example, research on women’s economic participation or health management). In summary, by pursuing joint international projects – from conferences and competitions to research initiatives – Ahlia University multiplies the impact of its scholarship and aligns its outcomes with global sustainable development efforts.

 

International Exchange Programs and Women’s Empowerment

Integral to Ahlia University’s SDG collaborations are programs for international exchange of students and faculty, often with a strong emphasis on women’s empowerment and cultural inclusivity. In recent years, Ahlia has encouraged its students to gain overseas experience through partnerships that integrate sustainability topics into exchange curricula. For instance, Ahlia joined forces with the University of Bradford (UK) to participate in the International Master’s Summer School on Sustainability in Business. This program immerses graduate students in a five-day intensive learning forum on global business challenges, focusing on social value, climate action, and circular economy solutions ahlia.edu.bh. In Summer 2022, five Ahlia master’s students (from MBA, FinTech, and Engineering Management programs) were selected to attend this sustainability summer school in the UK ahlia.edu.bh. The exchange was designed to be accessible – the students only covered travel costs while tuition and accommodation were provided free – ensuring equal opportunity for participation ahlia.edu.bh. Through such initiatives, Ahlia students (male and female) interacted with peers and faculty from around the world, debating and solving real-world sustainability problems in an international team setting ahlia.edu.bhahlia.edu.bh. These experiences not only build students’ professional skills and global citizenship values, but also support SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 13 (Climate Action) by raising awareness and competency in sustainable business practices.

Ahlia University Offers Free Summer Courses and Programmes Outside the Kingdom

Mr. Ammar Al-Hawaj, the Executive Director of Communications and International Relations, has encouraged students to enroll in the international student exchange programme, which has positive impact on refining the students’ personalities, enhancing their life skills, and improving their scientific and professional capabilities.

He said that participating in an international master summer school allows students to experience studying abroad for a semester or two, in which they deal with the topic of the Circular Economy and Sustainability related to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Mr. Al-Hawaj explained that the University offers free summer courses and programmes outside the Kingdom of Bahrain. He clarified that these programmes are organised by a number of international universities such as Bradford University in the United Kingdom. The student will pay only the travel cost, while the accommodation and the programme will be free of charge. This summer, 5 masters students from the MBA, FinTech, and Engineering Management programmes, have participated in the IMSS. The students are: (Ali AlQattan, Khalid AlDosseri, Ali Shehab, Sharifa AlSubaie, Faisal Alasfoor).

 

Ahlia’s exchange and dual-degree programs also explicitly aim to empower women and promote gender equality (SDG 5). A prime example is the university’s collaboration with Brunel University London to offer a PhD program by research (without residency) for Ahlia staff and graduates. This arrangement provides Bahraini women (and men) the chance to pursue doctoral degrees from a UK university while remaining in Bahrain – a flexible pathway that is particularly beneficial for women who may have work or family commitments ahlia.edu.bh. Ahlia supports this initiative by sponsoring female faculty members to undertake PhD studies through the Brunel partnership, thereby advancing women’s academic qualifications and career progression ahlia.edu.bh. Such support aligns with Bahrain’s national strategies for women’s advancement and exemplifies how international academic cooperation can help close the gender gap in higher education. In addition, the annual Equal Opportunities Conference co-hosted with Brunel and other partners consistently incorporates a women’s empowerment component: it invites female leaders and organizations (like the Supreme Council of Women) to engage in dialogue, and it highlights research on gender equality in fields such as business and technology ahlia.edu.bh. By facilitating these exchanges of knowledge and culture, Ahlia not only enriches its own academic community but also contributes to SDG 5 by creating platforms where women’s voices and development are foregrounded in an international context.

Faculty exchange and development programs further strengthen Ahlia’s global engagement. The university’s agreements (e.g. with Northern Technical University) include provisions for professor exchanges and joint workshops ahlia.edu.bh, enabling educators to share pedagogical strategies and research methodologies across borders. Ahlia has also hosted international experts for on-campus training seminars – for example, bringing in a British research collaboration specialist to conduct a workshop for Ahlia’s academic staff ahlia.edu.bh. These sessions cover best practices in securing international research partnerships and accessing global funding opportunities ahlia.edu.bh. By investing in its faculty’s global exposure, Ahlia ensures that its teaching and research stay aligned with international developments, ultimately benefiting students and contributing to the capacity-building targets of SDG 17 (Partnerships) ahlia.edu.bh. In summary, through student abroad programs, joint degrees, and faculty exchanges, Ahlia University cultivates an international learning environment. These initiatives particularly uplift women – whether by supporting female scholars’ advancement or by embedding gender equality discussions in cross-cultural programs – and they reinforce the university’s role in fostering inclusive, globally minded education.

Developing International Collaborations

ahlia.edu.bh

Al Ahlia hosts a British expert to develop international cooperation in the field of scientific research

The Head of the Human Resources Department at Al-Ahlia University, Dr. Lamia Al-Tahou, stressed that knowledge and science have become of a universal nature, and in order to be available to all researchers and those interested as knowledge or tools, Al-Ahlia University is making great efforts in the context of strengthening the bonds of communication and cooperation with various universities and prestigious scientific institutions in the world.

She explained on the sidelines of the hosting of the Ahlia University for the international expert, Dr. Anuj Sood, President of Synergy Ltd. in Britain, that international cooperation programs are an important means of transferring and localizing knowledge and scientific technology, and supporting scientific research initiatives, which motivates the university to partner with prestigious universities in providing a number of its scientific programs within graduate studies, such as the doctoral programs in management and information technology, which are offered in partnership with Brunel University, Britain, and the Master of Engineering Management program offered by the university in partnership with George University. Washington, USA.

The British expert, Dr. Anuj Sood, presented a workshop attended by a number of members of the university's academic staff on "Mechanisms for Developing International Cooperation in the Field of Scientific Research", during which he touched on the best vision of international relations in the field of scientific research, and the best way to provide successful scientific research in accordance with specialized arbitration standards, in addition to a general survey of the most important ways that contribute to opening cooperative relations with those interested in scientific research.

He presented successful models of scientific and academic initiatives that international cooperation between universities and researchers was a major reason for providing appropriate practical solutions to many problems in the fields of industry, management, economy and other sectors of life.

The Head of the PhD Program Delegated from Brunel University, Dr. Talal Al-Dabi, stressed the importance of the themes and ideas included in the workshop, stressing the importance of benefiting from the international network of relations in the field of scientific research, and calling on academic staff members to take advantage of the support opportunities available for scientific research initiatives, whether from what is provided by Al-Ahlia University or its partners such as Brunel University London.

This course is part of a series of external hosts aimed at meeting the training needs of the university's academic staff, as it will be followed by various hosts, some of which focus on the field of scientific research as it falls within the university's interests and priorities, and some of which focus on modern education strategies followed by advanced universities in the world.

 

Participation in Global SDG Monitoring and Benchmarking

Ahlia University’s commitment to sustainable development is further demonstrated by its active participation in multinational SDG assessment and monitoring initiatives. By engaging in these global frameworks, Ahlia contributes data on its performance and learns from international benchmarks to improve its impact. A key venue for this is the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, a worldwide evaluation of universities’ contributions to each of the 17 SDGs. Ahlia has submitted detailed SDG data to THE annually and achieved remarkable results: in 2021, it was ranked 14th globally overall, and in 2022 it placed 23rd globally – making it the top-ranked institution in Bahrain for sustainable development impact ahlia.edu.bh. These rankings are based on evidence such as Ahlia’s research output on social and environmental issues, its campus operations, and outreach initiatives. Ahlia’s high standing thus reflects measurable successes in areas like Quality Education, where the university has been listed among the top 15 worldwide in 2023 for SDG4 (according to THE data) gotouniversity.com. By participating in such international assessments, Ahlia not only holds itself accountable to global standards but also helps benchmark Bahrain’s progress on the SDGs against international peers.

In addition to rankings, Ahlia University engages with UN-led monitoring platforms. Each year, Ahlia prepares a comprehensive SDG progress report that it shares via the UN HESI (Higher Education Sustainability Initiative) online portal ahlia.edu.bh. This voluntary reporting covers the university’s major SDG-aligned achievements – for example, integration of SDG themes into curricula (supporting SDG4), community service projects, research contributions, and policy advocacy results. The HESI platform allows Ahlia to track its commitments and showcase them to a global audience of educators and policymakers ahlia.edu.bh. Such transparency facilitates peer learning; other universities can learn from Ahlia’s approaches (like how it revised programs for sustainability skills or increased research on gender equality), and vice versa. Ahlia’s SDG initiatives have also been highlighted in international forums and case studies, contributing to collective monitoring efforts. Notably, improvements made by Ahlia in delivering quality education during the COVID-19 pandemic – such as effective virtual learning policies and an 81% student satisfaction rate – were presented as a case study in both national and international conferences on education, illustrating practical strategies to sustain SDG4 in challenging times ahlia.edu.bh. Likewise, the outcomes of Ahlia’s equal opportunity conferences (policy recommendations on gender and tech) have been recognized by UN officials as valuable inputs for shaping national SDG policies ahlia.edu.bh.

Through these activities, Ahlia ensures it is not working in isolation but as part of a global SDG monitoring ecosystem. The university’s data and experiences feed into worldwide assessments (via THE rankings and UN platforms), and in turn, Ahlia gains insight from international benchmarks to guide its future strategy. This two-way exchange exemplifies SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, demonstrating how Ahlia University leverages international collaboration not only for project-based outcomes but also for tracking and accelerating progress towards the sustainable development goals.

Conclusion

Over the 2020–2025 period, Ahlia University has deeply integrated international collaboration into its pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals. The university has secured global partnerships – from formal agreements with universities in the Middle East, Europe, and North America to active membership in UN sustainability networks – thereby creating channels for sharing SDG-related data, expertise, and resources. Through joint academic projects like conferences and research initiatives, Ahlia and its partners have addressed critical issues such as gender equality, digital innovation, health, and environmental sustainability on a multinational stage. At the same time, Ahlia’s robust exchange programs for students and faculty have enriched its educational offerings, with a special focus on empowering women and cultivating globally competent graduates. Finally, Ahlia’s engagement in international SDG assessments and reporting has reinforced its accountability and leadership, with the university’s achievements gaining worldwide recognition ahlia.edu.bh. Taken together, these efforts highlight Ahlia University’s role as an active contributor to the global 2030 Agenda, using international collaboration as a catalyst to advance sustainable development locally and beyond. Each partnership and program not only supports Ahlia’s institutional mission but also helps to build the cross-border solidarity and knowledge-sharing that are essential for achieving the SDGs on a global scale.