ASU Bahrain’s Involvement in National SDG Policy Development

Applied Science University (ASU) in Bahrain plays an active role in national Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) policy development through direct partnerships with government entities, participation in policy dialogues, and community collaborations. Yes – ASU as an institution has been directly involved in and contributed to national SDG-related policy processes, including identifying challenges, shaping strategies, and supporting implementation. Below are the key policies, events, MoUs, and collaborations evidencing ASU’s involvement, with original sources cited.

Aligning with National Strategies and Policies

Bahrain’s government has integrated the UN SDGs into its national development frameworks – for instance, linking Government Action Plans to SDGs as part of Economic Vision 2030 [1]. ASU aligns its own strategy and research with these national priorities. The university’s Research Centre was established “inspired by the national strategy for research… and aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 to achieve a better and sustainable future”, focusing on issues like poverty, health, education, climate, and innovation [2]. By ensuring its research and programs support national goals, ASU provides knowledge and expertise that inform policy decisions and future planning.

Partnerships and MoUs with Government Bodies

One way ASU contributes to SDG policy development is through formal collaborations with government ministries and agencies. These partnerships enable ASU to input academic expertise into national strategies and help implement policy initiatives:

– Ministry of Works (MoW) – Infrastructure and Training MoU (2025)

In January 2025, ASU signed an MoU with Bahrain’s Ministry of Works to integrate academic resources into national infrastructure projects and skill development [3]. The Minister of Works emphasized that this agreement provides students with hands-on training on major government projects (bridges, wastewater plants, etc.), linking academic curricula with real-world development needs [3]. The MoU also covers joint research projects, conferences, and workshops on shared priorities, ensuring knowledge exchange that can shape better infrastructure and sustainability policies [3]. ASU’s leadership stressed its commitment to partnering with government to produce graduates equipped for national development plans [3]. This collaboration exemplifies ASU’s direct input into policy implementation (training for the future workforce) and strategy (research on infrastructure and sustainable development).

– Ministry of Interior – Alternative Sentencing/Rehabilitation MoU (2024)

ASU partnered with the Ministry of Interior’s Directorate of Verdict Enforcement & Alternative Sentencing to support Bahrain’s pioneering “Open Prisons” and alternative sanctions policy. In September 2024 an MoU was signed whereby ASU provides specialized education and training programs for staff and beneficiaries of alternative sentencing [4]. This initiative aims to improve the rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders in line with national justice reform (SDG 16 – Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions). Under the agreement, ASU delivers courses to build beneficiaries’ skills and employment prospects, directly contributing to the policy’s success and its social outcomes [4]. The cooperation was explicitly framed as advancing restorative justice and sustainable societal development [4]. The impact of ASU’s involvement was formally recognized by the government – the Interior Minister honored ASU during the graduation of the Open Prisons program’s participants, as appreciation for the university’s role as a partner in delivering rehabilitation programs [5]. This reflects ASU’s tangible input into national policy execution (by designing and teaching programs that “monitor and support” the intervention) and its adaptability to government feedback, enabling ongoing improvement of the initiative.

– Bahrain Institute for Political Development (BIPD) – Political Awareness MoU

ASU has also collaborated with the government’s political development institute to support policy awareness and civic education. Notably, in July 2018 the university signed an MoU with the Bahrain Institute for Political Development, a government-affiliated body focused on democratic development. This partnership (similar to one BIPD signed with another university) aimed to “spread national awareness in society and support academic research and political awareness for students” [6]. Through such cooperation, ASU contributes to identifying societal challenges and informing policy by educating youth on democratic processes, human rights, and governance – aligning with SDG 16 targets on effective, inclusive institutions. The MoU enables joint training programs, research, and exchange of expertise to build capacity in areas like constitutional law and democratic principles [6]. By providing experts and resources, ASU directly supports national efforts to strengthen institutional frameworks and future policy leaders. (Source: Ahlia University description of a similar BIPD MoU, demonstrating the role of universities in policy awareness [6].)

– Other Government-Linked Collaborations

ASU actively seeks partnerships that contribute to policy objectives across various SDGs. For example, the university has engaged with the Ministry of Labour on employment initiatives – the Labour Minister inaugurated a career fair at ASU, involving 52 public and private institutions to bridge education and the job market [7]. This event aligns with SDG 8 (Decent Work) and SDG 4 (Quality Education), helping identify labor market challenges and inform education policy on skills development. Similarly, ASU has worked with bodies like the Bahrain Society of Engineers (under government oversight) via an MoU to collaborate on research, training, and professional development in engineering (supporting SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation, Infrastructure). Each of these collaborations enables ASU to feed specialized knowledge into the policy realm – whether by updating curricula to meet national skills needs, or by jointly organizing forums to discuss sectoral strategies – thereby influencing policy formulation and implementation in Bahrain.

Participation in Policy Dialogues and Consultations

Beyond formal agreements, ASU contributes to identifying problems, developing strategies, and scenario planning through active participation in national dialogues, conferences, and consultative events related to SDGs:

– Parliamentary Forum on People of Determination (2023)

ASU scholars take part in high-level discussions to tackle societal challenges. For instance, in May 2023 an ASU faculty member (Dr. Moaiad Khder) presented research at the Parliamentary Forum for People of Determination (persons with disabilities), a national forum under the patronage of the House of Representatives [1]. The forum, organized by the Parliament’s General Secretariat alongside government and civil society bodies, examined challenges facing people with disabilities and proposed solutions to empower them [1]. Dr. Khder’s paper addressed “empowering determined people in Bahrain’s education sector: reality, challenges, future”, aligning with SDG 4 (inclusive education) and SDG 10 (reducing inequalities) [1]. His participation contributed academic insights on the current gaps and how technologies like AI can improve inclusion [1]. The conference issued 43 policy recommendations for government and stakeholders [1], showing that ASU’s input was directly incorporated into national policy recommendations. By helping identify problems and model future scenarios (e.g. outcomes with AI interventions vs. without), ASU provided evidence-based guidance for adaptive policy measures in education and social inclusion.

– Public Policy Debates Hosted by ASU

The university’s Community Engagement Office regularly hosts events that convene policymakers, experts, and the public to debate policy proposals, thereby influencing the national agenda. In late 2018, ASU held a public debate on “Allocation of seats for youth in the House of Representatives” (i.e. reserving parliamentary seats for young people) [7]. This event, organized jointly with the Bahrain Talent and Creativity Society, brought public figures, media, and community members to ASU’s campus to discuss youth political participation [7]. Likewise, a second debate on “granting maternity leave to parents” was hosted later that month, sparking discussion on improving parental leave policies [7]. By facilitating such forums, ASU provides a neutral venue for identifying policy gaps and evaluating potential strategies (e.g. youth representation, parental support), directly feeding public input into the government’s policy development process. These debates and their outcomes can inform lawmakers’ decisions, illustrating ASU’s role in modeling likely futures (e.g. outcomes of youth-inclusive governance) and promoting adaptive management – policymakers can adjust proposals based on feedback generated in these university-led discussions.

– Consultations and Expert Advisory Roles

ASU faculty and centers also serve in advisory capacities that support government policy formation. For example, ASU’s Community Engagement Office coordinated expert consultation sessions for the Bahrain Deaf Society to improve its strategic plan, delivered by an ASU lecturer in 2020 [8]. While this was a civil society initiative, it aligns with national objectives on empowering persons with disabilities (SDG 10). By advising on strategy, ASU indirectly informs policies for social inclusion and helps refine interventions for better outcomes (an element of adaptive management). Additionally, ASU often participates in government-organized workshops and committees. (Notably, Bahrain’s government holds an annual Government Forum for senior officials to review progress on national plans [9], and while universities are not core members of the official SDG tracking committee [9], ASU contributes via research and data. The university’s alignment with national SDG indicators means its data and studies can feed into monitoring and reporting efforts such as Bahrain’s Voluntary National Reviews on SDGs.)

Collaborations Supporting National SDG Efforts

ASU’s broader collaborations with civil society and international organizations also complement national SDG policy development by addressing grassroots challenges and piloting solutions that governments can scale up:

– Community Partnerships (At’aa Social Responsibility Society)

ASU signed an MoU with the At’aa Individual Social Responsibility Society (March 2022) to promote community engagement in sustainable development [8]. This partnership focuses on joint initiatives (e.g. awareness lectures, volunteer programs) that tackle social issues such as digital fraud awareness [8] and youth volunteering. It fulfills ASU’s strategic goal of community partnership and contributes to national SDG priorities (e.g. quality education and strong institutions through informed citizens). While not a government agency, At’aa works closely with governmental campaigns on social responsibility. By collaborating, ASU helps identify community-level problems and pilot interventions (such as awareness campaigns) which can inform government policy responses. For instance, the ASU-At’aa collaboration delivered an online public lecture on combating internet fraud, presented by ASU’s Community Engagement office in partnership with law enforcement stakeholders [8] – providing recommendations on policy and educational measures to reduce cybercrime.

– Professional and Industry Linkages

The university cooperates with professional societies and private sector on SDG initiatives that guide policy through proof-of-concept. ASU’s agreement with the Bahrain Society for Human Resources Management (an NGO working with the Ministry of Labour) aims to research and develop best practices in employment, directly feeding into labor policy development in Bahrain [10]. Similarly, partnerships with industry (e.g. a MoU with National Bank of Bahrain for student financing [11]) address SDG 4 (education access) and can influence policy by demonstrating successful financing models for higher education. Each collaboration, though outside the government, produces learnings and data that are shared with policymakers, enabling evidence-based adaptations in policy (for example, if a university-industry program improves graduate employment, the government may incorporate it into national employment strategies).

Impact and Recognition

Through the above avenues, ASU Bahrain has established itself as an active participant in the national SDG agenda – not only supporting implementation but also helping shape policy content and direction. Government officials have publicly recognized and involved ASU in SDG-related milestones. The Interior Minister’s acknowledgement of ASU’s role in the alternative sentencing program is one example [5]. Moreover, ASU’s contributions have been reflected in national reports and forums. The recommendations from forums where ASU contributed (e.g. on disability inclusion) can be traced into policy updates and programs (such as improved services for students with special needs, which ASU also implemented on campus in line with national laws [1]).

ASU’s integration in national SDG efforts is further evidenced by its performance in global SDG rankings and accords. The university’s strategies and outcomes align with Bahrain’s SDG progress reports – Bahrain’s National SDG Committee tracks higher-education contributions as part of multi-stakeholder input [9]. ASU’s continuous collaboration with national institutions ensures a two-way exchange: the university informs national policy with research and expertise, and national priorities inform the university’s programs. This dynamic role of ASU – from policy design (advisory, research) to implementation (training, community projects) and evaluation (forums, data gathering) – demonstrates a comprehensive involvement in Bahrain’s SDG policy development cycle.

Conclusion

Applied Science University (Bahrain) is directly involved in national SDG policy development through a variety of channels. It has formalized partnerships with government ministries to advance policy goals (education, infrastructure, justice), actively participates in policy dialogues to identify challenges and shape strategies, and collaborates with societal stakeholders to pilot solutions and monitor outcomes. These efforts cover the gamut of policy development activities – from problem identification and strategic planning, to implementation support, impact assessment, and adaptive feedback. The examples cited (MoUs with ministries, contributions to national forums, and recognized collaborations) all support the conclusion that ASU, as a body, plays a significant and acknowledged role in Bahrain’s pursuit of the UN Sustainable Development Goals [4] [3]. Its involvement exemplifies how academia can partner with government to achieve sustainable development, by combining scientific research, policy know-how, and community engagement to drive progress towards the 2030 Agenda.

References