-Report: Training and programmes that improve access to basic services for all

(Direct & indirect contributions; internal & external audiences; evidence drawn from ASU’s main website, official PDFs, and verified social‑media—not from the sustainability sub‑site)

-Executive finding

Yes. ASU Bahrain, as a university body, organises and delivers programmes that improve access to basic services—health, legal awareness, education/skills, digital inclusion, and student services—both directly (university‑run units and clinics) and indirectly (community partnerships and outreach). Activities are open to students, staff, alumni, and the wider public, with documented events, workshops, clinics, and community campaigns [1].

Direct university provision that expands access to basic services

-Training, Development & Continuing Education Centre (TDCEC) – open training to the public

Mandate & audience

TDCEC was established to deliver bespoke training and learning solutions to individuals and corporate professionals in Bahrain—i.e., not limited to enrolled students. The Centre provides theory‑based and practical sessions and maintains public information pages (About/Staff/Contact) [2].

Delivery at scale and in hybrid modes

University bulletins document virtual and in‑person workshops run by TDCEC (e.g., English‑skills workshop for staff; multiple virtual workshops during the pandemic), evidencing continuity of access when physical access is disrupted. [3]

–Legal Clinic (College of Law) – legal literacy and community legal education

Scope

ASU’s Legal Clinic explicitly focuses on lectures, workshops, training programmes, community engagement, field visits and meetings—training that builds public legal awareness and practical access to justice [4].

Ongoing outreach

The Law College posts Legal Clinic engagements and public‑facing seminars (e.g., on maritime navigation laws/regulations), showing continuous legal‑literacy activity and external participation. The Law college handbook also states the aim to “spread awareness of legal culture among citizens locally and regionally.” [5].

–Health access on campus – medical clinic and mental‑health counselling

• On‑campus Health Clinic. ASU operates an integrated Health Clinic staffed by a full‑time and part‑time nurse; university handbooks publish contact details and first‑aid protocols (free, confidential first‑aid and referral). This guarantees basic healthcare access for students and staff. [6]
• Student Counselling Office. The Counselling Office provides educational, social, and psychological counselling—core mental‑health and well‑being services available year‑round. [7]
• 

–Knowledge & skills access

Library & Information Services

ASU’s library provides extensive collections, e‑resources, and study facilities (including private research rooms) that support equitable access to academic knowledge for the university community [8].

Open academic seminars

ASU’s Local Seminars Series and conferences are published with audiences that explicitly include “participants from outside ASU,” demonstrating open access to university expertise and research updates [9].

–International students – facilitation of service access

ASU’s International Students pages list Other Services that help learners complete official procedures (letters for government transactions, King Fahd Causeway proof letters), plus access to the on‑campus medical clinic and support with accommodation options—all of which improve practical access to public and basic services for non‑nationals [10].

Indirect provision and community partnerships that enhance access

–Health literacy for the public – World Health Day community carnival

Under ASU’s patronage, the Community Engagement Office and volunteer partners ran the “I Can Change” health‑themed carnival at Seef Mall (Arad) for World Health Day. The event drew broad public participation and regional sports teams, offering health education and awareness beyond campus [11].

–Food security – large‑scale Ramadan meal distributions

ASU repeatedly participates in the “Ramadan Aman” campaign that distributes 30,000 iftar meal boxes on Bahraini roads (in coordination with the General Directorate of Traffic and civil‑society partners). University documentation shows ASU staff, students and alumni volunteering in this effort—directly enabling access to food for low‑income workers and commuters [12].

–Digital inclusion & civic awareness – public workshops and forums

ASU community booklets document digital‑skills and safety workshops delivered to the public, e.g., “Social Media Clinic” sessions with the Social Media Club Bahrain (and UNDP‑linked awareness campaigns) and cybercrime awareness sessions that include methods for reporting—helping residents access safe digital services and public protection mechanisms [13].

–Professional and public‑sector upskilling

ASU has hosted open CPD events (e.g., the Chartered Institute of Building’s inaugural Bahrain CPD workshop hosted at ASU), and its Career Development Office runs workshops and lectures with specialised organisations—broadening access to employability‑relevant services for students and graduates who are transitioning into the labour market [12].

Financial access to education (a basic service) – enabling mechanisms

Education‑financing partnership (KFH‑Bahrain). A public MoU with Kuwait Finance House–Bahrain provides student‑friendly education financing for ASU students, reducing cost barriers to access and completion of higher education [14].

What counts as “Direct” vs “Indirect” (THE alignment)

Illustrative evidence set (links)

• TDCEC (public‑facing training unit): Centre homepage & About [1].
• TDCEC virtual & in‑person workshops (institution bulletins): English skills; pandemic virtual series [3].
• Legal Clinic (mandate) and Law events (seminars/engagements) [4].
• Law College handbook (mission to spread legal culture among citizens) [16].
• On‑campus Health Clinic (IQR finding; Student & H&S handbooks with clinic contact and scope) [6].
• Student Counselling Office (services) [7].
• Library & Information Services (facilities/resources) [8].
• International Students – Other Services (official letters; medical clinic; guidance) & Accommodation Options [10].
• World Health Day “I Can Change” public carnival (President’s News Digest) [11].
• Ramadan Aman – 30,000 iftar meals campaign (Community Engagement Booklet 2017/18) [12].
• Digital inclusion/cybercrime awareness (community booklet: Social Media Clinic; cybercrime reporting awareness) [13].
• Career Development & Alumni Affairs Office (workshops with specialised organisations) [15].
• Education‑financing (KFH‑Bahrain × ASU agreement) [14].

THE Impact Rankings – how ASU’s evidence meets the rubric

• Direct university programmes:
  • TDCEC trainings open to the wider public (non‑degree participants) [2].
  • Legal Clinic workshops and seminars for legal awareness [4].
  • Health Clinic & Counselling providing basic health and mental‑health services to the university community [6].
  • Open seminars with external attendees [9].
• Indirect/community contributions:
  • Health literacy events in public spaces (World Health Day carnival) [11].
  • Food security via Ramadan meal distributions at scale [12].
  • Digital access & safety through public workshops/awareness [13].
  • Financial access to education through bank partnership [14].
• Internal coherence & coverage: Services address education, health, legal justice, digital access, and financial barriers—the core domains of “basic services”—and include students, staff, alumni, and the broader community, including international participants where relevant [10].

Conclusion

ASU Bahrain’s training programmes, clinics, and community partnerships constitute a multi‑channel ecosystem that improves access to basic services for internal (students/staff) and external (community/public) audiences. The portfolio spans public trainings (TDCEC; open seminars), legal and health services (Legal Clinic; Health Clinic; Counselling), and community campaigns (World Health Day carnival; Ramadan Aman). Documented activities and unit mandates on ASU’s main website and official publications provide robust, verifiable evidence suitable for THE Impact Rankings submission—without relying on the sustainability sub‑site [1].

References