QAA and the Education and Training Quality Authority (Bahrain) explore further opportunities for collaboration

QAA recently welcomed its partner agency in the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Education and Training Quality Authority (BQA), to discuss the next steps in strategic engagement between the two organisations.

The meeting was held on 20 September 2023 and was attended by HE Mr Hamad Al Malki (Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Chairman of BQA Board), Dr Maryam Hasan Mustafa (Chief Executive BQA) and Ms Esmat Jaffar (Acting General Director for National Qualifications Framework and National Examinations). Topics of focus included the education quality landscape in Bahrain, opportunities for further engagement between the two organisations, and renewing our commitment to working together to build capacity in Bahrain’s quality assurance system. 

This marks one year since a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between QAA and BQA, committing to collaboration in several key areas. The key areas included sharing experience in quality assurance and accreditation of higher education institutions, consulting on the improvement of standards, exchanging reviewers, observing each other’s quality assurance processes, and supporting the development of transnational education in Bahrain.

Vicki Stott, QAA’s CEO, said: ‘QAA was delighted to welcome HE Mr Hamad Al Malki and colleagues from BQA to London last week. This meeting marks an important step in our partnership and we look forward to working together, sharing best practice and exploring opportunities to expand our collaboration.’

Hamad Al Malki, Chairman of BQA said: ‘We were delighted to meet with colleagues at QAA, to share learning and continue our established partnership. We look forward to extending our joint work in the years ahead.’