Gulf University receives global quality accreditation

Gulf University in the Kingdom of Bahrain has successfully completed its International Quality Review (IQR) and been awarded global quality accreditation by QAA.

IQR is a rigorous process which benchmarks global higher education institutions against international quality assurance standards set out in Part 1 of the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG).

The review visit was conducted on 9-11 July 2024 by three independent reviewers appointed by QAA. In making their conclusions, the review team confirmed that the University meets all 10 of the internal quality assurance standards in the ESG.

Established in 2001, Gulf University is a private university on one campus located in Manama, Bahrain. It has 40 full-time academic staff and approximately 1,150 students who study across four colleges: the College of Engineering; the College of Administrative and Financial Science; the College of Communication and Media Technologies; and the College of Law.

The review team found two examples of good practice and was able to make 17 recommendations for enhancement. These recommendations are of a desirable rather than essential nature and are proposed to enable the institution to build on existing practice which is operating satisfactorily but which could be improved or enhanced. The team did not set any conditions. 

Overall, the team concluded that Gulf University meets all standards for International Quality Review. 

QAA's review team identified the following areas of good practice at Gulf University:

• the practice of conducting advisory interviews, intervening early in supporting students through their university experience
• engagement with industry representatives for programme review and curriculum updates. 

President of Gulf University, Professor Mohanad Al Firas said: 'We believe that the QAA international quality review visit is not only a validation of our efforts but also a catalyst for future growth. Their valuable recommendations will serve as a roadmap for our continued development, ensuring that Gulf University remains at the forefront of higher education innovation and excellence.'

Chris Bland, QAA’s Head of Accreditation and Consultancy, added: 'QAA is pleased to congratulate Gulf University on its successful completion of our International Quality Review. We have very much enjoyed working with our colleagues in Bahrain, and we look forward to collaborating with them in the future.'

This IQR accreditation will be valid for five years, subject to a satisfactory mid-cycle review. Gulf University can now display QAA’s IQR Accreditation Badge, showing that their quality assurance processes are comparable with international best practice.

By securing IQR accreditation from QAA, international institutions can clearly spotlight their quality standards internationally, and more easily start dialogues with institutions outside their own country.

You can read Gulf University's IQR report on our website, where you can also find out more about the IQR process and QAA International Membership. If you are interested in your institution seeking accreditation or international membership, and wish to discuss this further, please contact the QAA Global team at accreditation@qaa.ac.uk