Applied Science University (ASU) Bahrain – Engagement in Policymaking to End Poverty (SDG 1)

Local Engagement and Community Partnerships

ASU actively participates in local community initiatives that support poverty alleviation and social welfare. For example, the university has contributed directly to national charitable campaigns – notably donating BD 30,000 to Bahrain’s “Feena Kheir” fund, a nationwide COVID-19 relief and poverty support campaign [1]. ASU’s Community Engagement Office also forges partnerships with local non-profit organizations. In one initiative, ASU was honored by Bahrain’s Ministry of Labour & Social Development for assisting with an online training platform for NGO workers, specifically providing remote financial management training to build NGO capacity [2]. This project strengthened the skills of local charity and social work organizations, indirectly enhancing services for low-income communities. ASU students are encouraged to volunteer and engage in community service; the university hosts events such as an annual “NGO Fair”, where students connect with NGOs and even obtain internships. Through this fair, some ASU students have undertaken internships in low-income countries, contributing to poverty-reduction projects abroad while gaining experience in development work. Such local and grassroots engagements illustrate ASU’s commitment to public outreach in its vicinity – addressing immediate needs (e.g. food security drives and charity partnerships) and fostering a culture of social responsibility among students. These efforts not only provide direct aid but also influence local policy implementation by demonstrating effective community-university collaboration in poverty alleviation.

Regional Collaboration and Policy Involvement

Beyond its immediate community, ASU extends its influence to the regional level in the Gulf. The university’s leadership has engaged with GCC-level policymaking bodies on social development issues. In May 2025, ASU’s President and Community Service officials hosted a delegation from the Executive Office of the GCC Ministers of Labour and Social Affairs to discuss enhanced cooperation [3]. This coordination meeting focused on aligning ASU’s community initiatives with broader Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) strategies on labor and social affairs. By collaborating with the GCC Ministers’ executive office, ASU contributes academic expertise and programmatic input to regional discussions on employment, social protection, and poverty reduction policies. The university also frequently participates in regional forums and fairs aimed at economic empowerment. For instance, ASU took part in a Higher Education and Career Fair in Saudi Arabia, showcasing its programs and forging links to improve graduate employment opportunities across the GCC [4]. Such regional engagement helps inform policy by highlighting the role of cross-border educational cooperation in tackling unemployment and skill gaps (key factors in poverty). Furthermore, ASU’s affiliations with regional bodies (like the Association of Arab Universities and the Gulf SDGs Universities network) enable it to share best practices and research on poverty alleviation in Arab states. Through these channels, ASU indirectly influences regional policy frameworks – for example, by promoting entrepreneurship education and workforce training as tools for economic uplift in line with GCC development plans. In summary, ASU’s regional involvement – from high-level meetings with GCC social development officials to participation in Gulf-wide educational initiatives – positions the university as a stakeholder in shaping policies that address poverty and opportunity in the Arab region.

National Policy and Strategy Contributions

At the national level in Bahrain, ASU plays a proactive role in policymaking and advisory efforts related to social development, education, and poverty reduction. Higher Education Policy: ASU was a key stakeholder in the development of Bahrain’s National Higher Education Strategy (2014–2024), which recognizes higher education as central to the country’s economic and social future. The Higher Education Council (HEC) convened universities and other stakeholders to draft this 10-year strategy, and ASU’s input helped shape its focus on “strategic access” to education, skills for the future, and entrepreneurship as means of national development. By contributing to this strategy, ASU ensured that widening access to quality tertiary education – an important long-term lever against poverty – remains a national priority. Economic Development and SDGs: ASU also participated in formulating Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030, a comprehensive development roadmap launched by the Kingdom’s leadership. The Vision 2030 emphasizes sustainability, fairness, and competitiveness in building “a better life for every Bahraini,” and it explicitly aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals including SDG 1 (No Poverty). ASU’s involvement in the consultative discussions for Vision 2030 (through representation alongside other universities and experts) ensured that the perspective of academia was included in strategies for diversifying the economy and raising living standards. The university has aligned its own strategic plan with these national aims – for instance, complying with Bahrain’s national social development plan that seeks to raise family living standards, enhance self-reliance, and achieve financial independence for citizens.

-Partnerships with Government Agencies

ASU frequently collaborates with ministries on policy-implementing initiatives. A notable example is its work with the Ministry of Labour & Social Development (MLSD). Bahrain’s MLSD leads the national plan to support vulnerable groups, focusing on defining minimum living requirements and promoting income-generating activities for low-income families. ASU supports these goals through joint projects – as seen when HE Jameel Hamaidan, the Minister of Labour & Social Development, honored ASU for building an e-training system for NGO personnel [2]. That partnership enhanced the effectiveness of social assistance programs by improving how NGOs deliver services to the poor. Additionally, ASU has signed formal agreements to advance social and economic inclusion. In 2024, ASU’s Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Prof. Waheeb Al-Khaja, signed an MoU with the Ministry of Interior’s Verdict Enforcement Directorate to provide education and training for beneficiaries of Alternative Sentencing (individuals serving non-custodial sentences) [5]. This initiative – supported by Bahrain’s Interior Minister – is designed to upskill those under alternative sanctions and improve their employment prospects, aiding their reintegration into society and reducing the risk of poverty or recidivism. It demonstrates ASU’s direct involvement in innovative social policy measures linking justice, education, and poverty reduction.

-Employment and Income Generation

ASU also contributes to national employment policies and income-generation efforts. The university works closely with Bahrain’s Ministry of Labour to ensure graduates find decent work – a critical factor in lifting individuals out of poverty. In June 2023, under the patronage of the Labour Minister, ASU organized its annual “Careers Day” job fair, inviting over 50 employers from public and private sectors onto campus [6]. The Ministry of Labour participated with a pavilion showcasing government programs on citizen employment and training, reflecting a shared commitment to tackling unemployment [6]. By convening employers, policymakers, and job-seekers, ASU’s Careers Day directly supports the national agenda of providing decent work opportunities (SDG 8) and thereby reducing poverty. Furthermore, ASU has formalized partnerships to bolster employability: in January 2025, ASU signed an MoU with Bahrain’s Ministry of Works to integrate academic learning with real-world infrastructure projects [4]. This agreement allows ASU students to train on major development projects (bridges, wastewater plants, etc.), equipping them with practical skills for the job market [4]. The Minister of Works noted this helps align graduates’ skills with industry needs [4]. Such academia-government collaborations feed into policy by demonstrating effective models of experiential learning and workforce development to improve youth employment outcomes. In the realm of entrepreneurship and income generation, ASU contributes through its curricula and centers (e.g. a Business Incubation Centre) that encourage student startups and innovation. This aligns with Bahrain’s national priority to encourage entrepreneurship as a means of economic empowerment for individuals. While these university-led efforts are not legislation, they inform and support national policies by building human capital, which is ultimately pivotal for poverty reduction.

Global Outreach and SDG-Focused Initiatives

ASU Bahrain extends its commitment to ending poverty beyond national borders through global engagement and contributions to international policy dialogues on sustainable development. The university is an active participant in global higher-education networks that promote the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It has been recognized internationally for its impact: ASU is ranked in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings (401+ band globally) for its efforts toward achieving the SDGs, including SDG 1 (No Poverty). This global ranking reflects ASU’s tangible actions and data in areas like poverty alleviation, and it allows the university to share its best practices on an international stage. ASU also engages with the United Nations’ development agenda through academic collaborations. For instance, ASU aligns its programs with the UN SDGs Academic Initiative; it has hosted guest lectures in cooperation with UN agencies (e.g., UNDP Bahrain) to sensitize students and staff on global poverty issues and sustainable development strategies (such as social protection systems, climate resilience for the poor, etc.) [7].

On a more direct level, ASU provides its students opportunities to contribute to poverty reduction worldwide. Through partnerships with international NGOs and schemes like the NGO internship program, ASU students have worked on community projects in developing countries. These internships in low-income countries (in support of SDG initiatives) enable students to engage in on-the-ground poverty alleviation – from teaching in underprivileged schools to assisting in rural development projects – thereby fostering a global perspective and sharing knowledge across borders. The university’s commitment to global citizenship is also evident in its hosted conferences and research. ASU has organized international conferences on sustainability and social development (often in partnership with foreign universities and organizations), where global experts convene to discuss issues like poverty eradication, economic inclusion, and sustainable growth. Through such events, ASU indirectly influences global policy conversations, contributing academic research and regional insights to the worldwide effort to end poverty.

Lastly, ASU’s collaborations with international institutions help advance SDG 1 by improving access to education financing – a key barrier in many countries. In 2022, ASU partnered with Kuwait Finance House – Bahrain to offer Sharia-compliant education financing for its students [8]. This program provides low-cost tuition loans (with grace periods and subsidized profit rates) up to BD 30,000, enabling students from lower-income backgrounds to pursue higher education without undue financial burden [8]. By making education more accessible and affordable, ASU and its banking partner directly address one root cause of poverty (limited access to quality education) and set an example that can be emulated globally in policy frameworks for educational equity. In summary, ASU’s global engagements – from student involvement in international development work to thought leadership in SDG forums – underscore the university’s role in shaping and supporting policies aimed at ending poverty in all its forms everywhere. Each of these efforts, whether direct or indirect, contributes to building the global knowledge base and collaborative spirit needed to achieve SDG 1.

Conclusion

Through a multifaceted approach spanning local community action, regional cooperation, national policy input, and global initiatives, Applied Science University Bahrain demonstrates comprehensive involvement in the fight against poverty. Its engagements range from advising on education and economic strategies at the national level (to ensure inclusive growth), to implementing programs that empower vulnerable groups (such as training for NGO workers and rehabilitative education for ex-offenders), to fostering international partnerships in line with the SDGs. All factual evidence – from ministry collaborations and MoUs to recognized rankings – affirms that ASU Bahrain, as an institution, actively participates in and influences policymaking and initiatives targeting poverty alleviation. This broad spectrum of participation, both direct and indirect, reinforces Bahrain’s progress toward SDG 1: No Poverty and reflects the university’s mission to serve as a catalyst for sustainable social development.

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