SDG 17.2.2
Cross Sectoral Dialogue about SDGs
Three students from the College of Engineering win second place in the Global Student Challenge after competing against the top five finalists from Indonesia, Hong Kong, Malaysia and China
Three students from the College of Engineering win second place in the Global Student Challenge after competing against the top five finalists from Indonesia, Hong Kong, Malaysia and China
They designed an innovative project to rebuild Gaza at lower cost, faster time and higher quality
In an achievement that attests to the quality of educational outputs for students at the College of Engineering at Applied Science University, three students from the College of Engineering won second place in the 2024 Global Student Challenge organized by the Chartered Institute of Building, after competing against the top five finalists from Indonesia, Hong Kong, Malaysia and China, and undergoing online interviews conducted by a distinguished team of international judges.
Architecture engineering students Batoul Khalaf, Walaa Reda and Fatima Dhaif succeeded in achieving this accomplishment with their project titled “Rebuilda”, which provided innovative engineering solutions to the human tragedy caused by the war on Gaza, by designing prefabricated and fast-construction buildings, to contribute to the reconstruction process at lower cost, faster time and higher quality, which impressed the international judging committee who praised the project and affirmed that it touches reality and provides innovative engineering solutions, and that the students’ ability to design such a project indicates their high skills and the quality of the university’s educational outputs.
The Global Student Challenge is an annual competition organized by the Chartered Institute of Building, which is considered one of the most important and professional institutions in construction management and leadership worldwide. It dates back more than 185 years and is headquartered in the United Kingdom. This competition aims to test the creative thinking of engineering students and measure their analytical skills and ability to work as a team to design unique engineering projects.
The Dean of the College of Engineering Dr. Mohamed Salama affirmed that this achievement attained by the college’s students confirms the quality of the college’s educational outputs and the important role played by its faculty in supporting students and providing them with the knowledge, sciences, and theoretical and practical skills that contribute to honing their talents and supporting them to become distinguished engineers capable of excelling in the labor market and keeping pace with successive technological developments in various engineering fields. He extended his thanks to Dr. Wael Abdel Hamid and Mrs Safa Jamal, who supervised the students during the implementation of this project.
Dr. Salama explained that the programmes offered by the university in architectural engineering and civil engineering are unique in the Gulf and Middle East region in terms of their strong focus on sustainability and environmental design, in addition to providing graduates of these programmes with the opportunity to obtain a dual academic degree and graduate with certificates from both Applied Science University and London South Bank University, which provides advanced technical skills and greater job opportunities after graduation.
He noted that the academic content of the two programmes prepares students to master and apply environmental considerations such as energy conservation, renewable energy, electricity consumption, water recycling, water filtration, and the preservation of the world’s natural resources. The students’ graduation projects comprehensively reflect sustainability applications and environmental design strategies. Academic activities, including research and design projects, are based on sustainability principles and strategies, making the university’s construction environment programs among the most advanced in the region.
Dr. Mohammed Salama stated that the architectural engineering programme covers a wide range of topics, including building design, structural engineering, construction management, and environmental design, while the civil engineering program focuses on the design, construction, and maintenance of infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and water systems. He pointed out that both programmes are accredited by the Chartered Institute of Building.
International Students’ Scientific Research Conference in Collaboration with Ajman University
Under the slogan “Empowering Youth in the Digital Era”, the University organized the International Student Conference (ISCAS 24) in cooperation with Ajman University in the United Arab Emirates. The conference witnessed the participation and cooperation of 94 students who presented 41 research papers in the fields of administrative sciences, law, engineering, and information technology.
This conference is part of the efforts made by the University and Ajman University to enhance cooperation and exchange academic, administrative, and research expertise, especially since the two Universities are bound by a memorandum of understanding aimed at utilizing human and material capabilities in a way that positively reflects on educational outcomes and contributes to graduating distinguished students capable of competing in the labour market and meeting its needs.
The conference aims to promote a culture of peer-reviewed scientific research, develop research skills among students of both Universities, support cooperation and exchange research experiences across various disciplines in the field of scientific research. Additionally, it seeks to enhance the spirit of competition in preparing scientific research, innovations, and research ideas, and encourage students to present their research to judging committees and showcase their research capabilities and potential in diverse specializations.
The conference organizers aspire to promote and develop a culture of scientific research, creativity, and innovation among the students of both Universities, producing prominent research leaders by highlighting and honing their talents, building bridges of scientific communication between them, contributing to serving their communities, and equipping them with a set of academic and personal skills. The conference includes research, innovations, and graduation projects in scientific fields for the University’s students across various disciplines.
The University Continues Its Excellence on the Global Rankings Scale and Secures the 539th Position Globally According to the QS World University Rankings 2025
In a new achievement and a remarkable progress in its global ranking, the University secured the 539th place among the best 1,503 universities included in the ranking from around the world for the year 2025. Thus, the University becomes the highest-ranked in the Kingdom of Bahrain, surpassing many prestigious Arab and international universities according to the QS ranking.
On this occasion, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Prof. Waheeb Al Khaja, congratulated all members of the University community on this achievement, affirming that it reflects the university’s progress and enhances its position among the leading global universities. He pointed out that the university has been keen to continue its progress in the QS ranking by strengthening its strategic operations that focus on the quality of education, scientific research, academic reputation, graduate support, sustainable development, and other indicators on which the ranking is based.
The Chairman of the Board of Trustees explained that the University has been progressing in its global ranking since 2021, where it secured the 651-700 position at that time. It then advanced to the 591-600 rank in 2022, and in the 2023 ranking, it continued its progress by securing the 561-570 position, followed by the 582nd rank in 2024. Finally, the remarkable progress in this year by securing the 539th position, thus affirming its excellence and the quality of its educational operations, as well as its distinction at the local, Arab, and global levels.
The Chairman of the Board of Trustees extended his thanks and appreciation to the Minister of Education, Chairman of the Higher Education Council His Excellency Dr. Mohammed bin Mubarak Juma, Supreme Council for Development of Education and Training, the Higher Education Council, and the Education and Training Quality Authority for their tireless efforts in developing higher education in Bahrain and their continuous support for the educational system.
For his part, the President of the University, Prof. Hatem Masri, affirmed that the University, according to performance standards and indicators, has made progress in various fields. It has advanced in the indicators of international academic and administrative staff, international students, employer reputation, the ratio of faculty members to students, and academic reputation.
The President of the University expressed his pride in the achievements made by the university, noting that reaching this distinguished level is the result of accumulated efforts from the collective work carried out by its senior management, faculty, research, administrative staff, students, and alumni, with the aim of improving the quality of academic programs, scientific research, the university environment, and achieving global ranking standards.
In turn, Dr. Mohammed Youssif Ahmed VP for Administration, Finance and Community Engagement, expressed his happiness with the progress achieved by the university, reflecting its efforts in achieving its vision to enhance its international standing and achieve leadership in the field of education and scientific research, as well as its role in providing a stimulating and appropriate educational environment for developing skills and knowledge. He pointed out the importance of this achievement in affirming the university’s commitment to continuous development and improvement in various academic fields.
It is worth noting that this is not the first time that the university has attained advanced positions in the QS ranking. It has appeared in an advanced position among Arab universities by being ranked 20th in the Arab world for the year 2024. Additionally, it is considered the only Bahraini university to receive a 5-star rating in the QS Stars University Ratings, among many other achievements at the local, Arab, and global levels.
The University Wins the Entrepreneurship Development Award at the 2nd Edition of “GHEDEX Bahrain 2024”
The University won the Entrepreneurship Development Award during its participation as a golden sponsor in the global higher education exhibition “GHEDEX Bahrain 2024” in its second edition. This achievement reflects the University’s keenness to promote entrepreneurship across all the disciplines it offers, by developing students’ creative skills and innovation and enabling them to launch projects that match their talents and aspirations.
Supporting entrepreneurship constitutes one of the fundamental pillars of the educational process at the University, driven by its belief in the importance of innovation and creativity in promoting entrepreneurship and establishing educational programmes and courses that work on creating a qualified human force to drive the market and contribute to the economic development process.
The University also attaches great importance to entrepreneurship topics, especially after the inauguration of the Business Incubators Center, which provides all the support and services that students need to develop their ideas and turn them into successful projects. In addition to establishing partnerships and cooperation agreements with institutions and companies that support entrepreneurship, in line with efforts to train students on creativity and innovation, support their entrepreneurial ideas, and encourage them to start their entrepreneurial journey.
The University also supports the entrepreneurial ideas and projects of its graduates and students and is keen to organize events that highlight their success, the latest of which was the Entrepreneurial Market event it organized last March with the participation of more than 140 male and female students from the University who own 20 entrepreneurial projects in various fields.
International Conference on the Leadership and Management of Projects in the digital age (IC: LAMP 2022)
Synopsis
This is the third international conference organised by Applied Science University in the Kingdom of Bahrain in association with LSBU, Association of Arab Universities, CIOB and Bahrain Society of Engineers. The first conference covered the topic of sustainable futures and attracted 65 papers from 20 countries. The second conference was on technology, innovation, enterprise and entrepreneurship and attracted 69 papers from 16 countries. This third timely peer refereed conference will cover subjects related to digital transformation and its impact on the leadership and management of projects and organisations.
There is a need to provide an inter-disciplinary forum where the most serious problems affecting current and future opportunities in the areas of the fourth industrial revolution with particular emphasis on digital transformation could be discussed. The conference will provide a common forum for researchers and practitioners specialising in a range of subjects related to the conference themes to present their ideas and research findings.
The International Conference on the leadership and management of projects in the digital age has the following objectives:
- to provide a forum for international researchers and practitioners to discuss, share and exchange their latest research findings in the areas of the conference.
- to develop and promote a network of like-minded people who are passionate about the future of technology and digital transformation and their impact on leadership and management.
Topics covered will include but will not be limited to the following:
- Digital transformation
- Digital skills
- Change management
- Leadership and management during crisis time
- Lean Thinking Project management
- Leadership styles
- Information Management
- Performance management
- Organisational behaviour
- Virtual organisations
- Information modelling
- Digital citizenship
- Fourth industrial revolution
- Leadership in the digital age
- Management in the digital age
- Digital needs
- The digital divide
- Innovation in the digital age
- The digital university
- Blockchain
- Artificial intelligence
- Internet of Things
- Virtual and augmented reality
- Data sciences
- Futurology
- Digitisation techniques
- Information systems
- Technology readiness
- Social media
- Digital libraries
- Legal issues
- Women leadership
- Equality and Diversity
COVID 19 related projects
- Healthcare
Audience:
Decision makers, researchers and practitioners who are interested in the subjects of digital transformation, technology, innovation and leadership Academic institutions, government departments, and private sector organisations will be exposed to state-of-the-art research in these topical and important areas. In addition, graduate students can benefit from this conference.
Why Bahrain
Vibrant place with a clear economic vision 2030 Outstanding Research Strategy developed by the Ministry of Education and the Higher Education Council A cosmopolitan country open to embrace research, innovation and new ideas Centrally located in the Arabian Gulf, a midway between east and west time zones and offers ease of access to the world’s major business markets.
International Conference on the Leadership and Management of Projects in the digital age
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT OF PROJECTS IN THE DIGITAL AGE
- To provide a forum for international researchers and practitioners to discuss, share and exchange their latest research findings in the area of sustainable futures.
- To develop and promote a network of like-minded people who are passionate about the future of technology, innovation and entrepreneurship and its sustainability.
- To empower GCC and oil dependent economy countries by providing them with research findings that help decision makers cope with difficult economic conditions.
ICLAMP 2022 Conference
https://www.asu.edu.bh/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/PND-V8-Issue06-04-December-22.pdf
On the 27th and 28th of November the International Conference on the Leadership and Management of Projects in the digital age (IC:LAMP 2022) took place under the patronage of HE Dr Shaikha Rana bint Isa bin Duaij Al Khalifa, Secretary General of the Higher Education Council, Deputy Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Higher Education Council and in the presence of HE Professor Amr Ezzat Salama, Secretary General of the Association of Arab Universities. The keynote speaker was Dr Ashwin Fernandes. I am grateful to Dr Amina Bouallay of the HEC for her great support and help. This conference covered a very important topic with 53 papers from 16 countries presented over 2 days. Digital transformation, digital marketing, Education, innovation and digital construction were the main themes of this conference. I am grateful to our co-organiser LSBU. This is the third major conference we are organising with them. Our partners were the Chartered Institute of Building, the Association of Arab Universities, Bahrain Society of Engineers, and Advance HE. 2 best papers to the value of 250 pounds Stirling each were awarded by the CIOB and one paper by Advance HE. The CIOB has also provided partial sponsorship to the conference proceedings. Many thanks for a fantastic conference over 2 days, I personally think it was extremely successful. I am grateful to colleagues who attended, presented, and helped in the organisation of this conference and chaired sessions. Special thanks should go to some individuals who worked day and night for the success of this conference including Mr Abdulla, Ms Ruqaya, Ms Mariam Ali, Mr Mohamed Nassar, Mr Noel, Mr Hatem, Mr Yasser, Mr Muath, Mr Yusuf, Mr Bahaa, Mr Hameed, Ms Diana, Ms Hessa, Ms Ayat, Ms Jomana, Mr Mohamed Najjar, Ms Rawan, Ms Mariam Turk, Mr Rifat, Ms Safaa, Ms Hanan, Ms Zuhoor, Ms Maheera, Mr Jason, Mr Fernando, Mr Mohamed our photographer, our security people, and our students. Ms Mariam Ali has put exceptional efforts in compiling a state of the art conference proceedings and I am really grateful for this. Finally, I am grateful to Professor Waheeb for his strong presence and his great support throughout the conference.
International Conference on Innovation, Technology, Enterprise and Entrepreneurship ICITEE 2019
https://www.asu.edu.bh/icitee-2019-proceedings/
Preface
The complex challenges of the 21st century require complex solutions. This indicates a need to provide an inter-disciplinary forum where the most serious problems affecting current and future opportunities in the areas of technology, innovation and entrepreneurship can be discussed. The International Conference on Innovation, Technology, Enterprise and Entrepreneurship (ICITEE) jointly organised by Applied Science University and London South Bank University (LSBU) is timely as it covers topics related to pressing issues affecting productivity and performance through innovation and the use of technological advances. The proceedings of the conference include 69 papers from researchers from 16 countries (Bahrain, UK, Turkey, Canada, Spain, Italy, Australia, UAE, KSA, Lebanon, Kuwait, Jordan, Indonesia, South Africa, Nigeria, Kazakhstan). The ICITEE conference will provide a common forum for researchers and practitioners specialising in a range of subjects related to the conference themes to present their ideas, best practices, and research findings.
Acknowledgements
The authors wish to express their sincere gratitude to His Excellency, Dr. Majid bin Ali Al Nuaimi, Minister of Education and Chairman of the Higher Education Council in the Kingdom of Bahrain for his vision and tireless efforts in transforming and developing the educational sector in the Kingdom, and Dr Abdul Ghani Al Shuwaikh, Secretary General of the Higher Education Council in the Kingdom of Bahrain, Dr Mona Al Balooshi, Assistant Secretary General of Accreditation and Evaluation at the Higher Education Council in the Kingdom of Bahrain for their support, and Mr. Sameer Nass, Chair of the Board of Directors of ASU. In addition, we would like to convey our thanks to the honorary chairs of the Conference, Professor Waheeb Al Khaja, Chair of the Board of Trustees of ASU and Professor David Phoenix, Vice Chancellor of London South Bank University (LSBU) their vision and leadership.
The authors also wish to extend their appreciation to the Conference sponsors: The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), Nass Group, and the Association of Arab Universities Moreover, profound acknowledgment is extended to the Scientific Committee (chaired by Professor Yazeed Al-Sbou) and its members and to all the contributing authors and presenters and to the Organising Committee chaired by Mr Abdulla Al Khaja, and co-chaired by Ms Linsey Cole of LSBU and members of the committee. Last but not least, we wish to express appreciation to our keynote speakers, Professor David Phoenix, Vice Chancellor of London South Bank University (LSBU) and Professor Paul Ivey, Deputy Vice Chancellor at LSBU. Special thanks should go to Dr. Manar Zaid, Chief of Scientific and Technological Research at the Higher Education Council in the Kingdom of Bahrain for reviewing all the papers included in this proceedings.
2022 ASU International Conference in Emerging Technologies for Sustainability and Intelligent Systems (ICETSIS)
https://www.aconf.org/conf_182029/program.html
The 2022 ASU International Conference in Emerging Technologies for Sustainability and Intelligent Systems (ICETSIS) aims at providing a premier interdisciplinary forum to share knowledge and discuss the most recent innovations, trends, and sustainable development. More specifically, to discuss solutions in the broad fields of Artificial Intelligence, Communication Technologies and Networking, e-Learning, Data Analysis, Financial Technology, Sustainability and Innovation in Architectural Engineering and Sustainability and Innovation in Civil Engineering.
Submission Topics
The conference organizing committee welcomes research papers in Artificial Intelligence, Communication Technologies and Networking, e-Learning, Data Analysis, Financial Technology, Sustainability and Innovation in Architectural Engineering and Sustainability and Innovation in Civil Engineering to be discussed in the conference.
Guidelines
The camera-ready version for an accepted paper cannot exceed 8 pages and must be at minimum 3 pages in length.
Copyright Submission: Login to your EDAS page, click on the +sign at the right of Copyright form, then click on IEEE Copyright Submission (red circles), and complete by answering few questions.
Presentation Submission: Talks will be pre-recorded and submitted via EDAS as video files before June 10, 2022 to be replayed during the conference. Please note that the final manuscripts must be uploaded prior to uploading the pre-recorded presentation. During the presentation, authors will need to be available online after their videos are played to answer Q&A from conference participants moderated by the respective Session Chairs. Please observe the following guidelines when preparing video files of your talks.
Participating in Zakat and Comprehensive Development International Conference
https://www.asu.edu.bh/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/booklet-Final.pdf
Dr Ammar Al-Samarrai and Dr Nadia Al-Sharidah participated in the International Conference (Zakat and Comprehensive Development – Towards Activating the Civilised Role of the Zakat Law in the Reality of Contemporary Societies), which was held under the patronage of His Excellency Shaikh Khalid bin Ali Al Khalifa, Minister of Justice and Islamic Affairs.
Signing of an Agreement for Joint Cooperation with Bahrain Institute for Political Development
https://www.asu.edu.bh/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/booklet-Final.pdf
The Bahrain Institute for Political Development and Applied Science University signed a joint cooperation agreement aimed at exchanging information, experiences, studies and research between the two parties in the service of the public interest, in addition to implementing a variety of training courses, specialised workshops, lectures and seminars in various common areas, especially since ASU considers the only University in the Kingdom that offers a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science, which constitutes an opportunity to enhance cooperation between the two parties and exchange common experiences. The Institute was represented in the signing of the Executive Director’s Agreement, Iman Faisal Janahi, and ASU, presented by Prof Ghassan Aouad, the University President.
Signing a Memorandum of Understanding between the University and the Secretary-General of Shura Council
https://www.asu.edu.bh/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/CE-Booklet2020-2021.pdf
The Shura Council, represented by Councilor Osama Ahmed Al Asfour, the Secretary-General of Shura Council, and Applied Science University, represented by Prof Ghassan Fouad Aouad, President of the University, signed a Memorandum of Understanding on December 29th, 2020. The MOU aims to organise and hold training programmes and workshops for employees of the Secretary-General of Shura Council, along with providing Advisory Engagements and achieving mutual scientific collaboration and knowledge between the two parties. The signing was attended by Dr Mohammad Youssif Ahmed, Vice President of Administration, Finance and Community Engagement, Mrs Ruqayya Mohsen, Director of Marketing and Public Relations, Mr Abdullah Al Khaja, Director of Administrative and Financial Affairs, and Dr Mohammad Al Hammami, Office Manager of Community Engagement.
International Conference Sustainable Future ICSF
https://www.asu.edu.bh/2017/11/international-conference-sustainable-futures-icsf/
Conference was held under the patronage of HE the Minister of Education, Dr Majid bin Ali Al-Nuaimi and in association with London South Bank University with sponsorships from the Chartered Institute of Building (partial sponsoring of the conference proceedings and best paper on innovation), Nass Group (sponsoring the Gala Dinner), the Higher Education Academy in the UK (sponsoring 2 best papers on sustainable futures), LSBU (partial sponsoring of the proceedings and best paper on research methodology) and many other sponsors.
On the first day, the Conference started with opening remarks from the President of the University and Conference Chair who provided the context for the conference and the rationale for organizing it and provided some research results about the status of competitiveness of Bahrain in relation to other Arab nations and trends over the last 5 years.
A welcome speech was then delivered by Dr Abdul Ghani Al Shuwaikh, Secretary General of the Higher Education Council, on behalf of HE the Minister of Education who spoke at length about the importance of the topic in light of the National Research Strategy developed by the HEC.
Prof Waheeb Alkhaja, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of ASU and Honorary Chair of the Conference, then delivered a speech about the importance of sustainability from Universities’ perspective and how our University is keen to embrace a sustainable approach.
In his speech, Prof Waheeb said “As Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Applied Science University it gives me a great pleasure to welcome our distinguished guests and scholars and researchers and practitioners who have come all the way to Bahrain from as far as Australia, United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa, Nigeria, and Turkey and many other countries”.
Prof Waheeb added that “this topical conference organized by Applied Science University in association with London South Bank University and with great support from the Chartered Institute of Building, the Association of Arab Universities and the Higher Education Academy in the UK covers important topics related to our globe and its future sustainability.
It is pleasing to see the Chief Executive of the Chartered Institute of Building, Mr Chris Blythe, amongst our distinguished guests. This conference will undoubtedly contribute to HM the king’s vision 2030 to make the Kingdom of Bahrain a truly international knowledge hub. The wise leadership of our Kingdom is enabling us to generate knowledge and conduct research that is relevant to our society and communities”. He then thanked HE, the Minister of Education in Bahrain, Dr Majed bin Ali Alnuaimi for his continuous support and for the patronage of this conference and added that our Ministry, the Higher Education Council, and the Bahrain Quality Assurance Authority are doing a great job in transforming Education and Higher Education in the Kingdom, and we are all committed to their vision
and state of the art guiding strategies.
Prof Waheeb added, “ASU has signed a strategic partnership with LSBU and we launched the College of Engineering last September and we are jointly organizing this conference and soon we will be announcing a joint venture to support research, innovation and enterprise.
It is pleasing to see Prof David Phoenix, Vice Chancellor and President of LSBU and many colleagues from LSBU attending this conference. We have also signed a memorandum of collaboration with Cardiff Met and we launched 2 programs in Management and Business Studies and Accounting and Finance last September”.
He concluded by stating, “Building a sustainable future is an important priority for many universities in the Kingdom of Bahrain and beyond. The future leaders of tomorrow need to preach what they learnt about sustainability and undoubtedly Universities can play a major role in producing these future leaders. It is important to address the issue of sustainability by covering the three pillars of Environment, Technology and Economics. Applied Science University (ASU) in Bahrain and since its establishment has operated to be environmentally friendly within the sustainable buildings and campuses context, particularly in terms of the efficient use of energy and resources, especially the use of wastewater” and concluded by once again thanking HE, Dr Majed bin Ali Alnuaimi for his patronage and by wishing participants a successful conference and a pleasant stay in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Following Prof Waheeb’s talk speeches were made by HE Mr Simon Martin, the British Ambassador to Bahrain, about the importance of joint collaboration between Bahraini and British Universities, Prof David Phoenix, Vice Chancellor of LSBU who spoke about the value of linking research and innovation, and finally Mr Chris Blythe, Chief Executive of the Chartered Institute of Building about the role of professional bodies in supporting sustainable futures. The opening ceremony, which was attended by around 200 people, concluded with awarding the speakers and a group photograph. It was pleasing to see Mr Sameer Nass, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Honorary Chair of the Conference,
attending the opening ceremony.
Following the opening ceremony, keynote speeches were made by Dr Farzana Al Maraghi from the Higher Education Council in Bahrain about the status of research in Bahrain and internationally and gave a detailed description of the Bahrain’s National Research Strategy, and Prof Charles Egbu, Dean of the School of Built Environment and Architecture and CoChair of the Conference who spoke about the link between innovation and sustainability.
Then, three parallel sessions started with 24 presentations on various topics such as construction, sustainable futures, finance, economy, education amongst many others. The first day of the conference was concluded with a panel discussed chaired by Mr Chris Blythe, Chief Executive of the CIOB, with members from Different backgrounds sharing their views on the latest trends in sustainable futures relevant to their respective fields. The panelists were Ms Paula Boast, Mr Christopher Core, Ms Emilia Mateva and Dr Jassim Haji. The guest speaker at the Gala Dinner was Prof Riyadh Hamzah who delivered an interesting speech about the future of sustainability.
The second day of the Conference started with keynote speeches by Dr Roy Blatchford from the Office of the First Deputy Prime Minister about the importance of education in creating sustainable futures, and Prof Mustafa Alshawi from Unisearch UK who spoke about Building Information Modelling. Then, another 3 parallel sessions started with 36 presentations presented throughout the day on topics related to culture, HR, Advanced IT in support of sustainability amongst many others.
The Conference concluded with a successful closing ceremony where speakers, members of the organizing committee and volunteering students were awarded certificates of appreciation. Speakers presented a total of 60 papers from 20 countries from all over the globe. A total of 65 papers were published in the 730 pages Conference proceedings, which was printed in a hard cover with an ISBN number.
The academic outputs from colleagues of the University who made contributions to the conference are listed below:
- Ghassan Aouad, Assem Al-Hajj and Charles Egbu, Proceedings of the International Conference on Sustainable Futures, ISBN 978-99958-90-36-0, Applied Science University, Bahrain
- Assem Al-Hajj and Essam El Chayeb, Effects of green school environment on users’ wellbeing and productivity, Proceedings of the International Conference on Sustainable Futures, ISBN 978-99958-90-36-0, Applied Science University, 26 – 27 November, 2017.
- Islam Abohela, The fictional story of renewables: A proposition for sustainable future, Proceedings of the International Conference on Sustainable Futures, ISBN 978-99958-90-36-0, Applied Science University, 26 – 27 November, 2017.
- Adel Al-Samman and Faiza Zitouni, Core competencies of academics from students’ perspective, Proceedings of the International Conference on Sustainable Futures, ISBN 978-99958-90-36-0, Applied Science University, 26 – 27 November, 2017.
- Camelia Camal, Public private partnership and sustainable development in Bahrain, Proceedings of the International Conference on Sustainable Futures, ISBN 978-99958-90-36-0, Applied Science University, 26 – 27 November, 2017
- Saad Darwish, The role of insurance sector in protecting the GCC economies through risk management practices: Impact of climate change, Proceedings of the International Conference on Sustainable Futures, ISBN 978-99958-90-36-0 Applied Science University, 26 – 27 November, 2017
- Hussein Khasharmeh, Perceptions of determinants of auditors fees in Bahraini listed companies – An empirical study, Proceedings of the International Conference on Sustainable Futures, ISBN 978-99958-9036-0, Applied Science University, 26 – 27 November, 2017.
- Ragab Ismail, The importance of the agricultural sector in achieving relative food security in the Kingdome of Bahrain, Proceedings of the International Conference on Sustainable Futures, ISBN 978-99958-90-36-0, Applied Science University, 26 – 27 November, 2017
- Ashraf Abazeed and Moaiad Khder, Mining association rules from XML data techniques, Proceedings of the International Conference on Sustainable Futures, ISBN 978-99958-90-36-0, Applied Science University, 26 – 27 November, 2017
- Moaiad Khder, Malik Al Zaqebah, Ashraf Abazeed, and Mohammad Saifi, Smart shoes foe visually impaired/blind people, Proceedings of the International Conference on Sustainable Futures, ISBN 97899958-90-36-0, Applied Science University, 26 – 27 November, 2017
- Mohammed Yousif Abu Keir, Staff perceptions of the link between HR practices and organizational performance: A study of Bahraini private universities, Proceedings of the International Conference on Sustainable Futures, ISBN 978-99958-90-36-0, Applied Science University, 26 – 27 November, 2017.
- Saad Darwish, Horiya Aldeeb, Atheela Alazzawi, and Atheer Al Rashid, Critical success elements for small and medium enterprises: Perceptions of entrepreneurs in Bahrain, Proceedings of the International Conference on Sustainable Futures, ISBN 978-99958-90-36-0, Applied Science University, 26 – 27 November, 2017
- Ahlam Al-Ethawi, Faiza Zitouni and Diana El Hageova, The role of business incubators in supporting sustainable entrepreneurship for women in the Kingdom of Bahrain, Proceedings of the International Conference on Sustainable Futures, ISBN 978-99958-90-36-0, Applied Science University, 26 – 27 November, 2017.
- Mohammed Assiadi, Structural settlement monitoring using single-epoch relative GPS positioning, Proceedings of the International Conference on Sustainable Futures, ISBN 978-99958-90-36-0, Applied Science University, 26 – 27 November, 2017.
- Raad Kadhum. Use of LDPE and Steel Slag in Hot Mix Asphalt Concrete as Sustainable Construction Material, Proceedings of the International Conference on Sustainable Futures, ISBN 978-99958-90-36-0, Applied Science University, 26 – 27 November, 2017.
- Khairi Mohamed Omar, Abdullah Hj Abdul Ghanib, The Effects of Human Resources Practices in Libyan Banks Sector on Client Behavior Intention to Subscribe In Islamic Finance System, Proceedings of the International Conference on Sustainable Futures, ISBN 978-99958-90-36-0, Applied Science University, 26 – 27 November, 2017.
- Mahmoud Mawed, Ihab Al Bairam, Assem Al-Hajj, Linking Between Sustainable Development and Facilities Management Strategies: An Integrated Approach for Evaluating the Sustainability of Existing Building in the UAE, Proceedings of the International Conference on Sustainable Futures, ISBN 978-99958-90-36-0, Applied Science University, 26 – 27 November, 2017
I strongly believe that we have run a truly international peer refereed research conference of the highest quality. The feedback we received from participants was overwhelming and very supportive. This wouldn’t have happened without a true team effort. I would like to start by thanking Prof Waheeb for his great support and as a token of appreciation the Conference Proceedings was dedicated to him for his vision and tireless efforts in transforming the University and making it truly international.
I would also like to thank Dr Assem for chairing the scientific committee and dealing with all research and academic matters (and a big thank you to our colleagues from the University who were part of the scientific committee and helped with the paper reviewing process) and Dr Faiza for chairing the organizing committee and dealing with all logistical and organizational issues through a detailed project plan and for doing a lot of the running during the 2 days of the conference.
Many thanks are also due to Dr Mohamed Yousif for his continuous support and extra help provided. This conference wouldn’t have happened without the great efforts from too many colleagues including Ms Tania, the Conference Coordinator, who helped immensely with the website and publicity materials and VIPs invitations and for the coverage in the English press, Mr Abdulla for dealing with many administrative issues especially the difficult issue of securing visas for all participants and handling all financial issues, Ms Ruqaya for being the best MC any organization can dream to have and for her interactions with the media and press and for arranging the conference gifts and dealing with participants’ accommodation and flights and for organizing the social day, Ms Mariam for dealing with the proceedings of the conference and acting as a single contact during the 2 days conference and by being a true professional throughout the conference, Ms Diana who worked so hard communicating with participants, chasing paper reviews, and producing a draft copy of the conference program and keeping all participants and authors informed about the status of the conference, and Mr Moath who worked really hard on keeping the website up-to-date and some of the technical issues. The aforementioned colleagues were part of the organizing committee and made exceptional efforts to make the conference a great success and they were present throughout the conference, day and night.
Other colleagues who have helped included Mr Rifat, Ms Shadia (especially with the competitiveness trends presentation delivered by the President), Mr Shakir, Mr Fernando, and Mr Francisco from ICT who provide exceptional help, Mr Mohamed Nassar (who represented Mr Abdulla in some meetings), Mr Ashraf, Mr Arafat, Mr Majed, Mr Maan, Mr Yasser, Mr Mohamed, Mr Ibrahim, Mr Goodwin, Mr Ahmad, Mr Absar, Mr Abdulla, Mr Hassan (our security and drivers) from admin and finance, Ms Catherine Hogan for checking some of our English material, Mr Bahaa and Mr Hameed from Marketing and Public Affairs, Ms Ayat for sending the invitations for the opening ceremony, Dr Mohammed AlHamami, Mr Mohamed Najjar and Students Council and anybody else who contributed to the conference.
Special thanks must also go to the chair of sessions at the conference: Dr Assem, Dr Faiza, Prof Mahmoud, Prof Saad, Prof Hilal, Dr Ramzi, Dr Ashraf, Dr Islam, Dr Khairi, Dr Marwan, Dr Adel, and Dr Farzana.
Most importantly, I would like to thank our volunteering students who were our best ambassadors at the conference. The exhibition for Art and Science students organized by Dr Belal and Dr Oday with great help from Dr Faiza and Mr Abdulla was well received by participants. I would like to conclude by thanking our colleague speakers (and others who attended to learn) and congratulating them for presenting some real research generated by the University and to say well done to Dr Islam for winning the best paper on innovation awarded by the CIOB, the Chartered Institute of Building.
Organizing an international conference of the highest quality is not as easy task. However, proper planning and commitment and determination can make a big conference. I am confident that the conference will have a positive impact on students’ recruitment and the raising of the University’s profile and reputation in the region and internationally.
ASU Participates in the Higher Education Jobs fair
The Applied Science University (ASU) participated in the Higher Education and Career Fair 2022 (HECF), which was held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from 25-26 March 2022, with the participation of a large number of Arab universities. ASU was represented by Mrs. Ruqaya Mohsen, Director of Marketing & PR, Mr. Noel Lavin, Director of Foundation and English Delivery Services and Acting Office Manager of International Partnerships, and Mr. Kumail Al Lawati, an academic staff member in the Department of Computer Science.
The University booth enjoyed a massive turnout by visitors interested in learning about the University, its programmes, the scholarships and discounts it offers to students, and how its offerings meet the demand of the job market locally and internationally, namely thanks to itacademic partnership with British universities to offer distinguished academic programs.
The University representatives were present at the booth to give the visitors more details about the various programs offered by ASU and the financial aid and payment facilities at their disposal, in addition to the remarkable student experience they can expect at the state of-the-art campus equipped with the latest technologies and facilities to provide a unique educational experience for the students.
The attendees who visited ASU’s pavilion also had the chance to learn about the University’s achievements at local, Arab and international levels, especially with regard to international rankings of universities, as ASU has been ranking consistently high among both Arab and International universities, which confirms its academic rigor and the quality of its educational offerings and standards.
In this context, Mrs. Ruqaya Mohsen, Director of Marketing and Public Relations, explained that the University is keen to participate in exhibitions inside and outside the Kingdom of Bahrain to inform the public about the programs and specializations it offers, and the participation in the Higher Education and Career Fair 2022 (HECF) confirms the University’s commitment to helping school students make informed decisions about their future studies and careers.
She also noted that the exhibition provided visitors with the chance to learn more about the University’s activities, events and community engagement contributions, stressing the fact that ASU is always keen to participate in local and international exhibitions to meet with potential students and stakeholders and explain to highlight the bright image and great progress of higher education in the Kingdom of Bahrain under its wise and inspired leadership. She concluded by stating that ASU has been consistently growing and evolving in the past few years to quickly become one the top private universities in Bahrain and the region and she can’t wait to see more students from Saudi Arabia and other countries join the University.
ASU Participates in the conference in Alexandria
The President Prof. Ghassan Aouad and the Director of Administration and Finance and President Advisor for Follow Up Affairs Mr Abdulla Al Khaja attended a conference in Alexandria on The Role of Higher Education in Providing the Relevant Skills Needed for the Digital Age (Life Skills, Digital Skills, & Leadership Skills) Which was organised by the Arab Academy for Science,Technology and Maritime Transport in Association with Arab European Leadership Network in Higher Education – ARELEN. and the Association of Arab Universities. Prof.Amr Ezzat Salama the Secretary General of the Association of Arab Universities made the opening speech. The President delivered a key note speech on the leadership and managerial skills needed to enhance staff performance in the higher education sector in the digital era.
He addressed the issue of digital transformation and its impact on staff performance, looking at technological, cultural and financial aspects among others. The conference has also included presenters from Egypt (former minister of Information and Technology , President of Alexandria University, Dean of Arab Institute for Leadership Development). It also included presenters from the UK ( Prof.Mohammed Loutfi from Coventry University and Mr.David Lock from Observatory Magna Charta Universitatum) and from Lebanon( VP for Research and innovation of MUBS).
4th year in a row on the rankings with continuous year-over-year improvement
Applied Science University (ASU) continued its success on the QS Ranking for international and Arab Universities as it has just climbed to the 22nd spot in the QS Arab Region University Rankings 2022 which makes it the best University in Bahrain according to this ranking, and it’s the only University in Bahrain to enter this ranking for four consecutive years and keeps progressing year after year.
By achieving this ranking, the University has imposed itself on the map of distinguished universities, not only at the local level, but at the Arab and international levels. In the QS World University Rankings for 2022, ASU was ranked 591-600, in addition to being ranked among the top 150 universities under 50 years old in the world for the year 2021, and it is the only university in the Kingdom of Bahrain to have Four Stars in the QS Stars Ratings, and was also ranked among the top 550 universities in the world in the QS Graduate Employability Rankings for the year 2022, in addition to obtaining a 401+ ranking in the Times Higher Education Impact Ranking for Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, and 37th in the Arab world in the Green Metric Ranking of Green and Environmentally
Friendly Universities.
At the local level, the university succeeded in passing the Institutional Review by the Education and Training Quality Authority, where the official report of the authority showed that the university met all the required standards and indicators. Prior to that, the University has also achieved the Institutional Accreditation from the Higher Education Council.
The University also achieved the ISO 9001:2015 certification for its administrative support services and has achieved the ISO 21001:2018 certification for its educational delivery, making it the first university in Bahrain and the Arab Gulf to achieve this double certification. In addition, ASU collaborated with the British Higher Education Academy to qualify its faculty members to obtain a fellowship certificate from the Academy. The latter chose the University to become an accredited training center, and as a result a large number of the University staff members obtained fellowship of the academy. As for research, the University succeeded in publishing 181 scientific research papers in
international refereed scientific journals during the past year.
On this occasion, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Professor Waheeb Al Khaja, stated that the University’s progress in the international rankings of universities confirms the prestigious position it has reached at the local, Arab and international levels, which constitutes an incentive to work even harder in the coming years to deliver excellence and enhance the quality of education it provides. He extended his thanks and appreciation to the Minister of Education, H.E. Dr. Majid bin Ali Al Nuaimi, members of the Higher Education Council, the General Secretariat of the Higher Education Council and its Secretary General, H.E. Dr. Sheikha Rana bint Isa bin Daij Al Khalifa, for their tireless efforts to develop education in Bahrain and their constant support for its educational system.
For his part, the President of the University, Professor Ghassan Aouad, explained that achieving this success came thanks to the efforts of the University as one-cohesive team, composed of its senior management and all of its academic and administrative staff. He congratulated the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Mr. Samir Nass, and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Professor Waheeb Al Khaja, and all members of the Boards of Directors and Trustees for this achievement and reiterated the University’s commitment to achieve its strategic objectives and become one of the leading universities worldwide.
In turn, Dr. Mohammed Yousef Ahmed, Vice President for Administration, Finance and Community Engagement, expressed his pride and joy seeing the University rankled 22nd at the Arab level, noting that this achievement comes within the University’s vision to achieve leadership in higher education and as part of the University’s continuous efforts to enhance its position among Arab and international universities. He further explains that the chief objective remains to create an academically qualified student and yield competent graduates as per the international standards of quality assurance for education, and in line with the Higher Education Strategy of the Higher Education Council in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
The University had received the Rankings Certificate from the Secretary General of the association of Arab Universities, Professor Amr Ezzat Salama, at the ceremony held in the Emirate of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and attended by Professor Ghassan Aouad, President of the University, Dr. Mohammed Yousef Ahmed, Vice President for Administration, Finance and Community Engagement, and Mr. Abdullah Al Khaja, Director of Administration and Finance.
Advancing to 591-600 in the QS World University Rankings 2022…
The Applied Science University has achieved a new global accomplishment in addition to its illustrious record full of academic and administrative achievements locally, regionally and internationally, as it just advanced in the new rankings of the QS World University Rankings 2022, and ranked 591-600 among the top universities in the world, which makes it among the top 18 Arab universities in this ranking and among the very best universities in the Kingdom of Bahrain. ASU is also the only private university to enter this ranking for two consecutive years and achieve such advanced positions, thus competing with prestigious Arab and international universities.
With this new achievement, ASU crowns an impressive decade of excellence in various scientific and academic fields. In the QS World University Rankings for the year 2021, it was ranked 651-700, in addition to being ranked among the top 150 emerging universities under the age of 50 in the world. It is also the only university in the Kingdom of Bahrain to have a four-star rating in the QS Stars International Rating System, in addition to ranking 29th in the QS World University Rankings for the Arab Region 2021, 401+ in the Times Higher Education Impact Ranking 2021, and 37th in the Arab world in the UI GreenMetric World University Rankings for most sustainable universities.
At the local level, ASU succeeded in passing the Institutional Review by the Education and Training Quality Authority (BQA) by meeting all the requirements of all the standards and indicators in the Authority’s Institutional Review Handbook, in addition to obtaining he Institutional Accreditation from the Higher Education Council (HEC), and it is the first university in Bahrain and the Gulf to obtain the ISO certificate for Educational Institutions’ Management Systems ISO 21001:2018.
On this occasion, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Professor Waheeb Al-Khaja, congratulated the President of the University, Professor Ghassan Aouad, and all the University’s employees on this achievement, pointing out that maintaining these high rankings at the Arab and international levels was no coincidence, but rather the result of the hard and diligent work of all ASU staff members towards taking the University to the level of international universities. He also extended his thanks and appreciation to His Excellency Dr. Majid bin Ali Al-Nuaimi, Minister of Education, and all the members of the HigherEducation Council and the General Secretariat of the Higher Education Council for their tireless efforts to develop education in Bahrain and their constant support for the
educational system in general.
For his part, the President of the University, Professor Ghassan Aouad, stated that this achievement comes as part of the University’s vision to achieve leadership in higher education and within the University’s strategic direction to enhance its positioning among Arab and international universities by focusing on graduating academically qualified students as per the highest educational quality standards and in line with the strategy of the Higher Education Council in the Kingdom of Bahrain. He also took the opportunity to congratulate the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Mr. Samir Nass, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Professor Waheeb Al-Khaja, and all the members of the two Boards on this great achievement that is the fruit of their ongoing support and close follow-up.
As for Dr. Mohammed Yousif Ahmad, the Vice President for Administration, Finance and Community Engagement, he explained that the University, since its establishment, has been focusing on the quality and diversity of its programs, and took it upon itself to be a studentcentric institution by developing curricula that make the students at the heart of the educational process and by providing them with all the facilities and learning resources they need to succeed and to keep them abreast of the latest changes and developments in the various technological and academic fields.
Both Professor Ghassan Aouad, President of the University, and Dr. Mohammed Yousif Ahmad, Vice President for Administration, Finance and Community Engagement, represented ASU by attending the QS event that was held in Dubai, UAE, to announce the results of the QS World University Rankings 2022.
Memorandum of Understanding with JAFCON
The University, represented by Professor Ghassan Aouad, President of the University, signed a memorandum of understanding with “JAFCON Consultants for Productivity Improvement” represented by Dr. Akbar Jaffari, CEO, to provide a training program for the University students to enhance their practical skills and help them get suitable jobs in the labor market.
The agreement aims to enroll ASU students and graduates in the “Eqtidar (Ability) Program for productivity improvement”, supported by TAMKEEN, to raise their skills and practical abilities in their fields of study in a way that enhances their chances of getting suitable jobs through a series of training programs and workshops focused on enhancing the practical abilities of the participants. In addition, the program opens up the channels of communication between the University students and the reputable consultancy firm so that they can benefit from its long-standing expertise in productivity and performance enhancement to enable them to excel at their future work after graduation.
On this agreement, the President of the University, Professor Ghassan Aouad, stressed that the University is very keen to provide career opportunities for its students and graduates and facilitate their integration into the labor market by introducing training programs that keep up with the evolving requirements and latest trends of the job market, pointing out that the increasing competitiveness over the available jobs has prompted the University to work even harder on equipping its students with the skills that will make them stand out and match them with the right job opportunities.
Professor Ghassan also explained that, since its inception, the University has been keen to provide the Bahraini and Gulf labor market with distinguished graduates in various fields, by providing its students with suitable internships and practical training as part of the completion of their graduation requirements, which helps them to easily integrate the labor market and contributes to gaining sufficient experience to commence work successfully and confidently.
The President of the University pointed out that the goal of this agreement is to help students obtain a practical training during their academic studies as a key step towards obtaining the job that corresponds to their scientific qualifications after graduation, by giving them the opportunity to apply the theoretical knowledge they gained during their studies in a practical real-life setting, and to learn more about the nature of the labor market and its needs, in addition to giving the student a first impression of the field he/she will be working in and the people he/she will be interacting with after graduating from the University.
The President concluded by emphasizing that the University considers the internships that it offers to its students as one of the most important components of building the student’s personality and academic and practical experience. Thus, it strives to give its students the opportunity to apply what they have learned on the ground, learn more about the issues of their respective sectors, and benefit from the theoretical concepts they gained during their studies to find practical solutions to real-life problems.
It achieved the first place at the level of local private universities and the 37th among Arab Universities
The University has achieved an advanced ranking in the global Green Metric Rankings for Green Universities for the year 2020, (UI GreenMetric World University Rankings), by ranking first at the level of private universities locally for the third year in a row, and advancing it to the thirty-seventh place in the Arab world, and the 484th rank globally, after the report showed the University made huge progress and advanced it position among the 911 international universities included in the rankings.
Achieving this remarkable ranking demonstrates the University’s commitment to achieving sustainable development in all its economic, social and environmental aspects, and its interest in the standards related to green environment, as the University campus takes into account in its design a set of environment-friendly principles and considerations through the materials used in construction, promoting sustainability for the University.
Regarding this progress achieved by the university for the third year in a row, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Prof. Waheeb Alkhaja, noted that the honorable appearance of the University in various trusted and internationally recognized international rankings constitutes an important addition to the University’s bright record in many fields including global rankings, thus adding a bright spot to its scientific and academic journey, which is full of distinction and achievements.
The Chairman of the Board of Trustees also indicated that this achievement is the result of the hard work of the President of the University and the efforts of the academic and administrative staff members to achieve an important strategic objective of the University which internationalization.
For his part, the President of the University, Prof. Ghassan Aouad explained that the Green Metric Rankings for Green Universities aims to promote a culture of green and environment-friendly architecture to help combat global climate change, indicating that this achievement constitutes an impetus for the university to move forward towards more development and modernization in order to enhance its reputation and scientific progress in various fields, based on its role in spreading the culture of excellence and consolidating the concept of sustainability and green architecture.
The President also congratulated the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Mr. Samir Nass, and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Prof. Waheeb Alkhaja, and all the members of the Boards of Directors and Trustees on this achievement, expressing his pride in the efforts made by the academic and administrative staff members to meet international standards and help the University shine on global rankings.
Prof. Ghassan Aouad explained that the University collected 5150 points within the ranking criteria which includes: location and infrastructure, energy and climate change, waste, water, transportation, and finally education and scientific research, noting the importance of the role of technology in bringing about sustainable economic, social and environmental development.
It is noteworthy that the Green Metric Rankings ranks universities in terms of the sustainability of their operations and the extent of their commitment to clean environment standards, and its report is issued based on several criteria related to the environment and sustainability on campus in terms of infrastructure, efficiency in energy use and reducing gas emissions, and the extent of application of the principles of integrated solid and liquid waste management, means of transportation and the level of educational and research operations.