Applied Science University (ASU) Bahrain – International SDG Partnerships and Data Initiatives

Applied Science University (ASU) in Bahrain has actively pursued collaborations that align with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in the context of SDG 17.19.1 (Partnerships for the Goals). This report evaluates ASU’s participation in international and regional partnerships aimed at gathering data, sharing knowledge, and contributing to the monitoring and achievement of SDGs. It draws on evidence from ASU’s main website to illustrate how the university engages with global networks, co-hosts international events, and undertakes joint projects that support SDG-related data analysis and capacity building.

International Research Collaborations and SDG Networks

ASU demonstrates a commitment to global research partnerships that address sustainable development challenges. The Research Centre for Interdisciplinary and Futuristic Studies at ASU explicitly aligns its mission with the UN 2030 Agenda, recognizing that issues such as poverty, health, education, equality, climate change, and innovation are intrinsically linked to the work of universities [1]. In line with national strategies (e.g. Bahrain Economic Vision 2030) and the SDGs, the research center aims to increase ASU’s participation in regional and international research networks, thereby boosting interdisciplinary research output and contributing knowledge to global sustainability efforts [1]. This strategic orientation ensures that ASU’s research activities are not isolated, but rather contribute data and insights toward solving real-world problems in partnership with the international academic community.

ASU is also an active member of global and regional higher education networks that facilitate data sharing and collaborative action on common concerns. Notably, ASU holds membership in the International Association of Universities (IAU) – a UNESCO-based worldwide consortium of higher education institutions from 120+ countries [2]. Through IAU, ASU contributes to collective initiatives and reflects on global higher education challenges, many of which are linked to SDGs (such as quality education and sustainability) [2]. Likewise, ASU is a member of the Association of Arab Universities (AARU), a regional NGO under the Arab League that strives to improve higher education’s impact on Arab communities [2]. ASU’s participation in AARU involves sharing expertise and data with 280 member universities, focusing on preparing graduates to serve society and drive development [2]. These affiliations indicate that ASU is embedded in international knowledge networks, contributing to and drawing from collective data, research, and best practices aligned with SDGs (e.g. SDG4 Quality Education and SDG17 Partnerships).

In addition to network memberships, ASU has forged bilateral partnerships with foreign universities to enhance research and educational quality. For example, ASU recently expanded cooperation with several Jordanian universities – including Yarmouk University and Al-Ahliyya Amman University – by signing memoranda of understanding to collaborate in education and scientific research [3]. These agreements facilitate the exchange of academic expertise, joint research endeavours, and development of academic programs attuned to regional market needs and sustainable development requirements [3]. ASU emphasizes that such partnerships are part of its mission to achieve sustainable development in the region through academic cooperation [3]. This approach aligns with SDG 17’s call for cross-border knowledge partnerships and indicates that ASU’s collaborations with other universities focus on building capacity and generating data-driven solutions for societal needs.

Global Conferences and SDG-Focused Knowledge Sharing

ASU regularly hosts and co-hosts international conferences and symposiums that serve as platforms for SDG-related knowledge exchange. One notable example is the International Conference on Decision Sciences and Applications (DASA 2024), which was held at ASU in January 2025 under the patronage of Bahrain’s Higher Education Council [4]       . Organized in collaboration with partner universities from the UAE, Jordan, and Kuwait, this conference convened participants from over 200 institutions across Fifty countries, yielding 437 research papers submitted by 1,568 researchers [4]. The breadth of international participation and the peer-reviewed research outcomes (with accepted papers published in IEEE Xplore) underscore ASU’s role in facilitating global data-sharing and scholarly discussion on decision-making science [4]. The conference highlighted the importance of data-driven, technology-enabled decision-making in various sectors – a theme closely tied to SDG targets on innovation, infrastructure, and effective institutions [4]. By bringing together multidisciplinary experts to address real-world challenges in business, healthcare, and education, ASU’s DASA 2024 conference contributed to the indirect monitoring of SDGs (for instance, improving health and education through better decisions) and reinforced Bahrain’s status as an emerging research hub [4].

Similarly, ASU has demonstrated leadership in convening events focused on sustainability and technology – key areas of the SDGs. In 2024, ASU hosted the ASU International Conference in Emerging Technologies for Sustainability and Intelligent Systems (ICETSIS 2024), a hybrid global conference in Manama aimed at showcasing innovations for sustainable development [5]. Such conferences directly address SDG themes (e.g. clean energy, industry and infrastructure, sustainable cities) by providing a forum for researchers to share data, present solutions, and build international collaborations. The ICETSIS series, which continued into 2026, reflects ASU’s ongoing commitment to global dialogue on sustainability and intelligent systems research.

Beyond large academic conferences, ASU also engages in more targeted international seminars and training events that support SDG knowledge sharing. One example is the Bahraini-German Symposium “Utilising Talents in an Evolving Economy” hosted at ASU in cooperation with the German-Saudi Office for Economic Affairs [6]. This symposium (held in late 2024) brought together over 100 ASU students and German industry leaders (from companies such as Siemens, BASF, and SAP) for panel discussions on integrating graduates into the workforce and applying innovative technology in education [6]. The event, inaugurated by ASU’s Chairman and the German Ambassador, facilitated an interactive exchange on topics like Artificial Intelligence, essential skills, and recruitment practices, directly relevant to SDG8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG4 (Quality Education) [6]. Notably, German industry delegates praised the symposium as an excellent platform for Bahraini academia to engage with international expertise, and expressed interest in expanding future cooperation with ASU [6]. By co-hosting such international training forums, ASU contributes to the capacity building and data exchange needed for SDG monitoring – for instance, sharing insights on labor market data, technological trends in education, and gender inclusion in the workforce (the symposium coincided with Bahraini Women’s Day, highlighting women’s empowerment in industry) [6].

ASU’s colleges also infuse global sustainable development themes into academic events and lectures, thereby raising awareness and disseminating knowledge on SDG indicators. The College of Arts and Science, for instance, organized a series of expert lectures and workshops in December 2024 explicitly tied to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals [7]. In one session, Dr. Albert Fakhouri (President of the International Council for Accreditation in Architecture and Design) delivered a lecture on the relationship between academic programs and the SDGs 2030, underlining the department’s commitment to addressing pressing global issues and contributing to these goals [7]. This educational initiative indicates that ASU is not only gathering and analyzing data related to SDGs in a research context, but also actively disseminating SDG knowledge within its community. By hosting international experts to speak on sustainable development (and complementary topics like innovative lighting design for environmental sustainability [7]), ASU helps cultivate a generation of students and faculty who are informed about SDG targets and capable of contributing to SDG monitoring and implementation in their future endeavors.

Joint Projects and Institutional Partnerships for SDG Data and Capacity Development

ASU’s international collaborations also extend to joint projects and formal partnerships that enhance data capabilities and support SDG-related objectives. A recent example is the memorandum of cooperation signed in February 2025 between ASU and the G.C.C. Commercial Arbitration Centre – a regional institution serving the Gulf Cooperation Council countries [8]. This partnership establishes a long-term strategic relationship focused on fostering a culture of arbitration and raising awareness of alternative dispute resolution methods [8]. Concretely, the agreement provides for exchange of expertise, joint training programs, and the use of modern technology and educational tools by both ASU and the Centre [8]. These initiatives aim to build advanced legal and administrative competencies in the region, aligning with SDG16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) by improving the quality of justice services and institutional effectiveness [8]. By leveraging ASU’s academic resources and the Centre’s specialized expertise, the cooperation will contribute to professional development and knowledge dissemination in the legal field, thereby indirectly supporting SDG monitoring (e.g. through better data on dispute resolution outcomes and strengthened rule-of-law practices).

ASU also engages in partnerships that emphasize training, entrepreneurship, and social development, which correlate with various SDG indicators. For instance, ASU has formal Memoranda of Understanding with organizations like the Social Media Club and the Bahrain Small & Medium Enterprises Society to conduct joint events and training programs for students and the broader community [2]. Through the SME Society collaboration, ASU focuses on entrepreneurship development, echoing goals related to economic growth and innovation (SDG8 and SDG9) [2]. Likewise, partnering with the Bahrain Businesswomen’s Society allows ASU to promote the role of women in business leadership, contributing to SDG5 (Gender Equality) by empowering women through education and professional training [2]. While these particular partnerships are local/regional, they are embedded in a larger international context: for example, ASU’s initiatives for women in business and entrepreneurial skill-building align with global SDG targets and are informed by international best practices shared through networks like AARU and IAU.

Moreover, ASU’s joint academic programs with international universities ensure a two-way flow of knowledge and standards that benefit SDG-related outcomes. A prime case is the dual-degree partnership with London South Bank University (LSBU) in the UK, through which ASU offers six bachelor’s programs with curricula benchmarked to global standards [2]. Graduates of these programs earn dual degrees (from ASU and LSBU), meaning they are trained under internationally recognized frameworks and often on topics critical to sustainable development (e.g. engineering, business, law). Such collaborations elevate the quality of education (addressing SDG4) and produce graduates equipped with skills to contribute to their communities and local economies. In the Architectural and Civil Engineering programs, for example, ASU (in partnership with LSBU and accredited by the UK’s Chartered Institute of Building) places strong emphasis on sustainability, environmental design, energy conservation, and resource management [9]. Student capstone projects in these programs frequently incorporate sustainability principles, demonstrating how ASU’s collaborative academic ventures lead to practical solutions and data for SDG-related challenges (such as energy efficiency, renewable energy use, and sustainable construction practices) [9].

Finally, ASU encourages its students and faculty to participate in international competitions and research projects that address global issues, thereby contributing data and innovative ideas toward the SDGs. A notable achievement was in 2024 when a team of ASU engineering students won second place in the Global Student Challenge organized by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) [9]. Competing against finalists from Indonesia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and China, the ASU team developed an innovative project “Rebuilda” aimed at post-war reconstruction of Gaza with lower cost, faster construction, and higher quality [9]. This project provided creative engineering solutions to a pressing humanitarian and development issue, effectively contributing to knowledge on sustainable cities and communities (SDG11) and post-conflict infrastructure rebuilding [9]. The international judges praised the project for its real-world relevance and innovative approach [9]. Such participation not only enhances ASU’s international collaborations (by connecting students with a global professional body like CIOB), but also generates valuable data and case studies in sustainable development. It exemplifies how ASU contributes to global SDG efforts through practical research output and problem-solving, shared on an international stage.

Conclusion

In summary, evidence from ASU’s official publications confirms that the university is deeply involved in international collaborations that advance the SDG agenda, particularly in gathering and sharing knowledge relevant to sustainable development indicators. ASU’s strategy of partnering with reputable global networks and institutions has led to active contributions in areas ranging from academic research networks (UNESCO-linked associations) [2] and joint educational programs, to international conferences on sustainability and data-driven decision-making [4], and cross-sector training initiatives with development-oriented outcomes [6]. Through these partnerships, ASU not only elevates its educational quality and research impact, but also provides platforms for data exchange, capacity building, and dissemination of SDG-related knowledge at the local, regional, and global levels. The university’s collaborations – whether through formal agreements, global events, or joint projects – clearly align with THE Impact Rankings’ SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) criteria, demonstrating ASU’s role as a proactive contributor to sustainable development data and expertise in Bahrain and beyond.

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