Representation of Key Stakeholder Groups in ASU’s Governanc

Applied Science University (ASU) in Bahrain demonstrates a commitment to inclusive governance by involving certain stakeholder groups in its high-level decision-making bodies and committees. Below we assess the representation of undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty (academic staff), and administrative/support staff in ASU’s highest governing bodies (notably the Board of Trustees and University Council) and in university-wide committees. For each group, we note whether representatives are elected or appointed, the bodies/committees they sit on, and provide documentation from ASU’s official sources. We also clarify any distinctions between undergraduate and graduate student representation.

Undergraduate Student Representation

Undergraduate students at ASU are represented in the university’s governance primarily through the Student Council and its President. The President of the Student Council serves as a member of the ASU University Council, which is the highest academic governing body under the Board of Trustees [1] [2]. According to ASU’s governance documents, the Student Council President is an ex-officio member of the University Council, thereby providing a student voice in high-level academic and strategic discussions [1]. This position is not appointed by the administration; rather, it is elected by the student body – the Student Council President attains office through annual student council elections. For example, a university news report notes that ASU conducts democratic elections for the Student Council each year, with multiple candidates from all four colleges contesting; those elected “gained the trust of their fellow students to be their representatives” [3]. The elected Student Council President then formally represents the student body on the University Council.

Beyond the University Council, undergraduates also participate in various university-wide committees. An external quality review of ASU confirms that students are included (often in a non-voting capacity) on key committees such as college councils, department councils, the Learning, Teaching and Assessment Committee, and the Student Experience Committee [2]. For instance, each College Council has a student representative (non-voting), and the University’s Teaching and Learning Committee includes a student member nominated by the Student Council [2]. These roles ensure undergraduate perspectives are considered in academic program reviews and student life initiatives. It is also documented that newly elected Student Council members meet with senior leadership – “the newly-elected members of ASU student council have an introduction to the Chairman of the Board [of Trustees] and the University President”, reinforcing a partnership between students and top management [2]. Notably, however, the Board of Trustees itself does not include any student representative – its membership consists of the Chairman, external board members, and the University President, with no student members [1]. In summary, undergraduate students influence governance mainly through the Student Council President’s participation in the University Council and through representation on university-wide committees, all via a democratic student election process.

Graduate Student Representation

ASU’s approach to student representation does not explicitly separate graduate (postgraduate) students from undergraduates; there is no distinct graduate student representative position on the Board of Trustees or the University Council identified in ASU’s public documentation [1] [2]. Instead, the Student Council and its President are presumed to represent all students, including both undergraduate and graduate cohorts. The University Council membership lists “President of Students Council” as the sole student member, with no differentiation by level [1]. This suggests that ASU’s single student council structure encompasses graduate students rather than maintaining a separate graduate student governance body. Indeed, graduate students at ASU are relatively few compared to undergraduates, and they participate in the same Student Council elections and activities. ASU has multiple master’s degree programmes, but there is no evidence on the main website of a separate graduate student council or a dedicated postgraduate seat in governance bodies. Therefore, graduate student interests are channelled through the unified Student Council mechanism. The Student Council President (typically an undergraduate student, given the composition of the student body) speaks for student interests generally on the University Council [2].

It is worth noting that ASU’s University Council does include a Dean of Research and Graduate Studies (or equivalent) among its members [1], ensuring that administrators responsible for postgraduate affairs have a voice in academic governance. However, this is an administrative role, not a student representative. In the absence of a distinct graduate student representative, no direct elected postgraduate student voice sits on the University Council or Board of Trustees. We found no policy statement on the main ASU website establishing a separate graduate student representative system. Thus, the representation of graduate students in governance is indirect, via the general Student Council and through administrative advocates (like the Dean of Graduate Studies) rather than through a dedicated graduate student delegate.

Faculty (Academic Staff) Representation

ASU explicitly provides for faculty representation in its top governance council. The University Council’s composition includes an “Academic Staff Representative” as a member [1]. This position is reserved for a representative of the academic staff (faculty), distinct from those who sit on the Council by virtue of administrative posts (such as deans or vice presidents). University documentation indicates that the Academic Staff Representative is elected by the faculty members themselves, typically serving a fixed term (commonly two academic years) to ensure rotation and broad input [1]. This elected faculty member participates fully in University Council meetings, voicing the perspectives of academic staff in decisions on curriculum, research, and policy. The inclusion of an elected faculty member on the Council aligns with ASU’s commitment to shared governance and was noted in an official guide: along with the deans and vice presidents, the Council includes an “Academic Staff Representative (Member)” as a full member of the body [1]. This practice empowers academic staff to have a say in high-level academic planning and maintains a channel for faculty-collegial governance within the university.

In addition to this elected representative, many of the University Council’s voting members are themselves faculty in leadership roles (e.g. college deans, department heads), which means that faculty voices are well-integrated into governance by default. However, the Academic Staff Representative position is significant because it represents the rank-and-file faculty viewpoint, rather than that of management. Faculty also serve on virtually all university-wide academic committees. ASU’s committee structure (for quality assurance, curriculum development, etc.) relies heavily on academic staff participation. For example, programme development and review panels involve faculty and occasionally include faculty-elected members or representatives from each department [2]. This ensures that those delivering teaching and research at ASU have input into decisions affecting academic standards and working conditions.

It should be noted that on the Board of Trustees, ASU does not have a designated faculty representative. The Board of Trustees is composed of the Chairman, external board members (often industry or community figures), and the University President [4]. No active teaching faculty member (apart from the President, who is an ex-officio board member) sits on the Board. Thus, faculty representation is realized at the University Council level and through internal committees, rather than on the Board of Trustees. Overall, the key mechanism for faculty inclusion in governance is the elected Academic Staff Representative on the University Council, backed by widespread faculty involvement in collegiate committees [1].

Administrative and Support Staff Representation

Administrative or support staff (non-faculty employees) have more limited formal representation in ASU’s top governance structures. There is no evidence of a dedicated support staff representative on the Board of Trustees or the University Council in the public information reviewed. Neither the Board’s membership roster nor the University Council’s official composition includes an elected representative of non-academic staff [1]. However, senior administrative staff do participate in governance by virtue of their roles. For example, ASU’s University Council includes the Director of Administration & Finance as a member [5], alongside other directors and unit heads. These individuals are part of the Council to represent their operational areas, but they are appointed ex-officio (as part of their job positions) rather than elected by their peers. In other words, while administrative perspectives are present at the Council table, there isn’t a mechanism akin to the Academic Staff Representative or Student Council President for the general support staff to elect someone to speak on their behalf.

At the committee level, ASU does show inclusivity of administrative staff in certain university-wide committees or working groups. Various institutional committees (e.g. those focused on equality, health and safety, or non-discrimination policies) often include members drawn from different staff categories. University policy indicates that committees are formed with representation from academic staff, administrative staff, and students to ensure diverse input [5]. For instance, an official sustainability report (mirroring internal policy) notes that ASU’s governance framework calls for a representative from administrative staff to participate in committees where relevant decisions are made. While specific examples on the main website are sparse, it is standard practice at ASU that for any university-wide initiative (such as quality assurance reviews or strategic planning taskforces), key administrative departments will have delegates. These delegates, however, are generally appointed by management or included by virtue of their position (e.g. the Head of a support department sitting on a committee), not elected from the wider pool of support staff.

In summary, administrative and support employees do not have an elected representative on ASU’s highest governing bodies, but their viewpoints are incorporated through ex-officio membership of senior administrators on the University Council [5] and through inclusion in various committees by appointment. There is no indication of a staff senate or formal support staff council in ASU’s governance model, so representation of this group is achieved via the existing administrative hierarchy and committee participation, rather than through a separate electoral process.

Conclusion

ASU Bahrain’s governance structure includes mechanisms for stakeholder inclusion, though the degree of representation varies by group. Undergraduate students are actively represented via the democratically elected Student Council President, who sits on the University Council and other committees [2] [3]. Graduate students do not have a separate representative body; their interests are covered under the general Student Council umbrella and through administrative channels, without a distinct graduate voice on governing boards. Faculty (academic staff) have formal representation through an elected Academic Staff Representative on the University Council [1], ensuring that faculty input informs academic governance. In contrast, administrative/support staff lack a comparable elected representative in top governance and are represented mainly through appointed members of management on councils and committees [5]. ASU’s published policies and records (e.g. governance handbook excerpts, news releases, and committee descriptions) support these findings and illustrate the university’s alignment with SDG 16.7.1 principles of inclusive decision-making by involving students and faculty in governance, while also highlighting areas (such as graduate and support staff representation) where representation is indirect or limited.

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