Manama, Sep. 11 (BNA): The Higher Education Council, chaired by Dr. Mohammed bin Mubarak Juma, Minister of Education and Chairman of the Higher Education Council, held its regular meeting with members and invitees.

The council reviewed the implementation of previous decisions, discussed requests from higher education institutions, and approved the following:

1. Academic Program Requests

- Approved the Royal University for Women’s request to establish a Bachelor’s in Business Administration with Accounting.

- Approved Gulf University’s request to start a Bachelor’s in Business Intelligence and Analytics and a Master’s in Law.

- Approved Bahrain Polytechnic’s request for a Master of Science in Information Technology (Cybersecurity).

- Approved British University’s hosting of the International Foundation Year programme to replace the current preparatory certificate.

2. Cooperation Agreements

- Approved Applied Science University’s memorandum of understanding (MoU) with ISC Institut Superieur de Commerce in France and an agreement with ETS exams.

- Approved Gulf University’s MoUs with Westcliff University (USA).

- Approved Gulf University’s MoUs with the Islamic University of Al Madinah (UAE).

- Approved Gulf University’s MoUs with University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli (Italy).

- Approved Gulf University’s MoUs with Canadian International College (Egypt).

- Approved Gulf University’s MoUs with Jakarta Global University (Indonesia).

- Approved Gulf University’s MoUs with MGIMO University (Russia).

- Approved Royal University for Women’s MoU with University of Liverpool (UK) for a Master’s in International Business Law.

- Approved Vatel Bahrain’s MoU with Nepal Academy of Tourism and Hotel Management (NATHM).

- Approved the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland’s (RCSI Medical University of Bahrain) MoUs with Ankara University (Turkey).

- Approved the RCSI Medical University of Bahrain’s MoUs with AMBOSS (Germany).

- Approved the RCSI Medical University of Bahrain’s MoUs with Iowa State University (USA).

- Approved the RCSI Medical University of Bahrain’s MoUs with the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP).

3. Board of Trustees Changes

- Approved reformation of University of Strathclyde, Bahrain Board, chaired by Khalid Mohammed Jasim Al Hammadi.

- Approved removal of Mohammed Ali Abdullah Ghuloom from Applied Science University Board.

- Approved appointment of Scott John Macgregor as Strathclyde University President.

- Approved appointment of Ibrahim Alkhadra as Vice-President of Strathclyde University.

The council also agreed that private higher education institutions hosting programmes must follow the same curricula as the main universities, including compulsory field training courses. It noted progress on launching the Council’s website and the "Study in Bahrain" platform.

A.S, Z.I