ASU Bahrain’s Public Executive Education and Vocational Training Events (2019–2024)

Yes – Applied Science University (ASU) in Bahrain offers both executive education programs and vocational training events that are open to the general public. ASU established a dedicated Training, Development and Continuing Education Centre (TDCEC) to make education accessible beyond its enrolled students. This centre’s mission is explicitly to “open the doors of the university… to the general public” by hosting short courses, workshops and other educational events for individuals and professionals in the community [1]. In fact, the TDCEC “conducts [ASU’s] executive education program [and] short rapid learning courses” for external participants [1]. These offerings include both ad-hoc seminars and programmed training courses in a variety of fields, providing life-long learning opportunities to the wider public.

Public Training Courses and Workshops (Ad-hoc and Programmed)

ASU has organized numerous short courses and training workshops open to the public over the past four years, ranging from one-off community seminars to structured professional programs. Notable examples include:

-Online Community Lecture Series (2020–2021) –

During 2020–21, ASU delivered a series of free public lectures via online platforms as part of its community engagement. University faculty presented practical topics such as “Credit Cards Standards” (10 Dec 2020) and “The Art of Decision-Making and Solving Administrative Problems” (6 Jan 2021) to the local community, with attendees including members of the public, ASU staff, students and alumni [1]. Similar vocational talks on 3D design software, tax calculation, strategic planning, and other skills were offered in early 2021, all hosted by ASU’s TDCEC in collaboration with the Community Engagement Office [1]. These ad-hoc seminars allowed community members to gain new skills and knowledge from ASU experts.

-Executive Education for Industry Professionals (e.g. CIOB Event) –

ASU also hosts professional development events in partnership with industry bodies. For example, on 24 September (2019), the university hosted the inaugural Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) continuing professional development event in Bahrain [2]. In this executive workshop – titled “The Art and Science of Leadership in Construction” – ASU’s President (Prof. Ghassan Aouad, a past CIOB President) delivered a leadership training session on campus. The event drew over fifty external participants (including industry professionals, government officials like ambassadors, and ASU representatives), and was opened by ASU’s Board of Trustees Chairman [2]. This ad hoc executive education event exemplifies how ASU opens its facilities to the wider professional community for continuing education and networking.

-Training Programs for Government Employees (2022) –

In 2022, ASU’s TDCEC offered tailored training courses for public-sector professionals as part of its community outreach. For instance, on 22 May 2022 ASU delivered a training course on “Successful Administrative Communication – Types and Obstacles” for employees of the General Secretariat of Bahrain’s Council of Representatives (the national parliament) [3]. This session, presented by an ASU faculty expert (Dr. Adel Al-Zyoud), was one of several programmed courses developed in consultation with the Council. Likewise, ASU conducted a “Strategic Planning” training course for the Council’s staff, as well as a workshop on designing political and financial infographics, to help build their professional capacities [3]. These vocational training programs were formally requested by the government and delivered by ASU at the university campus, illustrating ASU’s role in upskilling the broader workforce. (The University was later honored by the Council’s General Secretariat in recognition of the impact of these training initiatives [3].)

-Specialized Legal Training Series (2023–2024) –

Recently, ASU (through its College of Law and TDCEC) launched a programmed series of legal training courses open to students, alumni, and interested practitioners from the community. For example, in early 2024 the university held short courses such as “Negotiation and Settlement Skills: Strategies for Legal Disputes” (6 Feb 2024) and “Advocacy Skills and Effective Courtroom Speech” (24 Jan 2024) [4] [5]. These sessions were led by ASU law professors and welcomed not only current students but also graduates and external individuals interested in legal affairs in Bahrain [4] [5]. Attendees received certificates upon completion. The strong turnout and positive feedback from participants underscore how ASU’s ad-hoc professional courses serve the wider legal community with practical skills training.

In addition to the above, ASU’s training centre regularly offers short courses and workshops in various vocational skills (IT applications, business skills, English language, etc.) as part of its community program. These are often scheduled during the academic year and advertised to the public. The University ensures that its non-degree courses are continuously updated to meet market needs, gathering feedback from stakeholders and aligning topics with local demand [1]. In sum, ASU Bahrain clearly hosts a wide range of educational events open to the general public – from executive education workshops for professionals to vocational training courses and public seminars. These initiatives, both ad hoc and programmed, demonstrate ASU’s commitment to lifelong learning and community engagement, in line with global higher-education impact standards [1].

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