by ashokaib | Nov 23, 2025 | Uncategorized
The 21st Meeting of the Deans of Admission and Registration at universities and higher education institutions in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) was launched this Thursday morning, hosted by the Arabian Gulf University (AGU) at the Wyndham Grand Hotel in Manama. The meeting was held in the presence of His Excellency Dr Mohammed bin Mubarak Juma, Minister of Education and Chairman of the Higher Education Council, with the aim of exchanging views on the future of academic cooperation among GCC universities, and witnessed broad participation from deans of admission and registration and representatives of Gulf universities.
In his speech, HE the Minister of Education and Chairman of the Higher Education Council, welcomed the participants in the meeting held at AGU, which he described as one of the achievements of joint GCC cooperation. He commended all efforts exerted to develop admission and registration mechanisms in GCC member states, stressing the commitment of the Higher Education Council and higher education institutions in the Kingdom of Bahrain to benefit from the outcomes of the meeting to ensure alignment with their counterparts across the GCC.
For his part, His Excellency Dr Saad bin Saud Al Fuhaid, President of AGU, affirmed that holding this meeting in the Kingdom of Bahrain, a nation known for hosting GCC initiatives that support the progress of higher education, reflects the deep cooperation and integration among Gulf universities. He added that this provides a renewed opportunity to develop admission and registration systems, and to exchange expertise and best practices that enhance the quality of higher education across the GCC.
Dr Al Fahaid also expressed his appreciation for the patronage of Bahrain’s Minister of Education and his continuous support for initiatives that strengthen joint GCC efforts in the fields of knowledge and innovation. He highlighted the pivotal role of admission and registration deanships in translating university policies into practical procedures that ensure fairness and transparency, strengthen institutional academic reputation by attracting outstanding students, and enhance assessment, evaluation, and academic marketing mechanisms.
Meanwhile, Dr Aseel bint Fuad Al Saleh, Dean of Student Affairs at AGU, stated: “We are honoured at the Arabian Gulf University to host this meeting aimed at exchanging experiences and best practices that reflect the dynamic progress towards developing admission and registration mechanisms in our universities.”
She explained that the working papers and contributions presented during the meeting provided valuable input for specialised academic consultations that universities seek to benefit from, particularly in light of the topics discussed, which addressed shared interests such as strategies for marketing university programmes and the evaluation and assessment standards adopted in university admissions.
During the meeting, the deans discussed several challenges related to admission and registration, reviewed successful experiences in developing admission mechanisms and marketing academic programmes, and explored initiatives and ideas that strengthen cooperation and integration among higher education institutions in GCC countries.
The first session discussed successful practices in marketing university programmes, during which participants reviewed GCC experiences in programme promotion and student recruitment. The second session examined assessment and evaluation standards in university admissions, including a joint working paper on developing these standards, along with a presentation on AGU’s experience in admitting GCC students.
The third session focused on adopting recommendations from previous meetings and formulating new ones that contribute to advancing the future of higher education in GCC universities. It also included a review of unified reference guides aimed at strengthening GCC student exchange and enhancing admission and registration standards in ways that improve universities’ international ranking indicators.
by ashokaib | Nov 23, 2025 | Uncategorized
The Arabian Gulf University (AGU), in collaboration with Al Salam Bank Group, has launched the Al Salam Digital Education Lab under the umbrella of the King Hamad Chair in Digital Education. The initiative comes as part of the implementation of the agreement signed between both parties to support innovative educational activities and projects in the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, and to strengthen the Chair’s role in serving the community.
During a meeting between the Al Salam Bank delegation and AGU’s Vice President for Support Services and Institutional Advancement, Dr Abdulrahman Yousif Ismail, the Vice President expressed his deep appreciation for the support extended by Their Majesties and Highnesses, the leaders of the GCC states, to the university’s mission. He also praised the contributions of the King Hamad Chair in Digital Education, which proudly bears the name of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of the Kingdom of Bahrain, and valued Al Salam Bank’s role in funding and supporting educational and training initiatives built on innovation in digital learning.
For his part, Mr Ehab Abdullatif Ahmed, Deputy Chief Executive for Corporate Affairs at Al Salam Bank, affirmed that the partnership with the Arabian Gulf University, an institution with a distinguished legacy and leading academic reputation, constitutes a strategic step towards expanding future cooperation, particularly in the fields of digital education and artificial intelligence applications, in support of current and future generations across various disciplines.
Similarly, Mr Anwar Mohamed Murad, Group Deputy Chief Executive - Banking at Al Salam Bank, highlighted the Group’s commitment to supporting educational initiatives driven by innovation and modern technologies. He emphasised the Bank’s dedication to strengthening institutional cooperation with AGU and adopting further future initiatives aimed at building a sustainable knowledge-based economy while contributing to the advancement of the educational and research environment and serving the community.
Meanwhile, Professor Waleed Zubari, Dean of the College of Education, Technical and Administrative Sciences , noted that partnerships with the private sector and leading financial institutions represent an investment in building generations equipped with knowledge and expertise. He described the launch of the Al Salam Digital Education Lab as a promising first initiative that will greatly benefit the university’s postgraduate community.
During the visit, the Al Salam Bank delegation was briefed on the objectives of AGU’s academic and research chairs, foremost among them the King Hamad Chair in Digital Education. The delegation also met with faculty members of the Digital Education Programme at the College of Education, Technical and Administrative Sciences, and attended research presentations delivered by postgraduate students from GCC countries enrolled in the Master’s in Digital Education programme. In addition, the delegation toured the Simulation and Medical Skills Centre, which provides an advanced, reality-based training environment equipped with state-of-the-art technologies and high-fidelity medical manikins across various healthcare specialities.
This partnership reflects AGU’s commitment to strengthening its collaboration with private-sector and banking institutions to build strategic alliances that contribute to achieving sustainable development goals, particularly in innovation, digital transformation, and emerging technologies, enhancing the university’s role in community service.
The King Hamad Academic Chair in Digital Education works to provide scientific insights supporting digital transformation, developing modern education policies, and preparing national competencies capable of leading digital education initiatives and advancing technological infrastructure in schools and organisations. The Chair also fosters research and innovation in e-learning and the development of digital education applications across learning ecosystems, under the supervision of Prof. Alajab Mohammed Alajab, Professor of Educational Technology and Distance Learning at the College of Education, Technical and Administrative Sciences at AGU.
by ashokaib | Nov 23, 2025 | Uncategorized
Students from the Sultanate of Oman at Arabian Gulf University (AGU) celebrated Omani National Day in an atmosphere filled with the spirit of Gulf fraternity, joining their peers from other GCC countries. The event was attended by His Excellency Mr Faisal bin Harib Al Busaidi, Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to the Kingdom of Bahrain, besides a distinguished gathering of faculty, administrative staff, and students.
In his speech, the Omani Ambassador expressed pride in the Sultanate's achievements under the wise leadership of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq. He stated his appreciation of the students' participation in this national celebration and expressed pride in the academic excellence demonstrated by Omani students at AGU. He also commended the university's contributions of over four decades in preparing qualified professionals who serve the development of the region.
His Excellency praised the efforts of the university administration and its president in fostering a stimulating learning environment that encourages innovation and creativity. He reaffirmed that the Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman provides full support for its students, and described the university as a distinguished academic institution instrumental in preparing Gulf capacities who represent the hope upon which future aspirations are built.
For his part, His Excellency Dr Saad bin Saud Al Fuhaid, President of AGU, asserted that celebrating Oman's National Day embodies the values of Gulf unity and honours Oman's proud history. He commended the leadership of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq and the efforts of the Omani people in achieving ongoing progress and prosperity.
Dr Al Fuhaid noted that this occasion strengthens the bonds of cooperation among GCC countries under wise leadership committed to fostering solidarity. He stressed the importance of continued collaboration in education and scientific research, while praising the efforts of Omani students in their academic pursuits and the graduates who occupy leading roles across various sectors.
Recalling a historic moment, Dr Al Fuhaid mentioned the generous grant provided by the late Sultan Qaboos bin Said in 1994 to support desert agriculture. He underscored its significant impact on advancing scientific research and fostering Gulf academic cooperation, highlighting the achievements of the Sultan Qaboos Chair for Desert Agriculture, which established a specialised research centre to developing modern agricultural technologies, particularly soilless farming, rooted in His Majesty’s vision of preserving and sustainably managing natural resources for future generations.
The celebration featured an exhibition organised by Omani students, showcasing Omani heritage and identity within an atmosphere of pride, national belonging, and Gulf unity.
by ashokaib | Nov 23, 2025 | Uncategorized
The Quality Assurance and Strategic Planning Centre at the Arabian Gulf University (AGU) held a series of faculty development workshops titled "How to Complete Updated Course, Programme, and Report Specification Forms."
The sessions aimed to clarify the requirements for completing course and programme specifications and reports for faculty members, as part of the University’s framework for the institutional accreditation process.
Commenting on this, Dr Ghazi Al Otaibi, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Scientific Research at AGU, stated: "These workshops represent a significant step toward upgrading the quality of education at the University. By empowering faculty members to practically understand and apply academic accreditation requirements, we are contributing to the improvement of the educational process and delivering academic programmes that meet international standards. This reflects our unwavering commitment to achieving academic excellence."
The workshops aim to elevate faculty members' understanding and support their participation in completing course, programme, and report specifications, in alignment with the standards of the National Centre for Academic Accreditation and Evaluation (NCAAA) and best practices in quality assurance.
This initiative reflects the University’s ongoing commitment to sustainable academic improvement and excellence, while empowering faculty members to prepare and deliver high-quality academic programmes that support the accreditation process and programme development.
Additionally, the workshops feature interactive discussions and practical sessions designed to enable programme coordinators to exchange experiences, standardise practices, and improve the overall quality of academic reporting.
by ashokaib | Nov 19, 2025 | Uncategorized
The Arabian Gulf University (AGU) convened its first Scientific Council meeting for the 2025-2026 academic year. The session was chaired by His Excellency Dr Ghazi Alotaibi, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Scientific Research, and attended by distinguished council members representing various colleges and academic centres, along with several external representatives.
The Council addressed a range of strategic topics, notably the development of academic programmes, support for clinical and elective training, and proposals for introducing new courses. It reviewed proposals on enhancing academic innovation and research collaborations. Furthermore, the Council discussed mechanisms for annual faculty performance evaluations, and revised regulations related to scholarships and training. Several scholarship applications were considered, in addition.
Dr Ghazi Alotaibi stated, “This meeting marks a starting point towards advancing AGU’s progress in higher education and scientific research. We are committed to developing academic programmes aligned with the needs of the labour market while supporting academic excellence.” He explained that strengthening research collaborations across colleges and academic centres will contribute to the achievement of leadership in regional and international research and scientific fields.
The meeting featured the presentation of innovative ideas and development initiatives that serve institutional excellence as well as scientific leadership. The Scientific Council is expected to hold regular meetings throughout the current academic year to monitor progress, review proposals, and support the university’s academic and research endeavours.
