Applied Science University (ASU) has become the first private provider of higher education in Bahrain to be accredited by Advance HE. Following successful completion of the Advance HE accredited programme, ASU staff are now awarded Fellowship, a global recognition of commitment to teaching and learning in higher education.
Advance HE has been working with ASU since 2015, and ASU staff have taken part in the Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education Programme, which Advance HE trainers delivered to two cohorts in 2015 and 2017. As part of the programme, Advance HE supported a group of ASU staff to become trainers and gain a Certificate in Learning and Teaching in order to build capacity to develop staff internally. By mentoring from the Advance HE team, in 2017/18 ASU developed its own scheme -ASUrise- to support staff towards gaining fellowship recognition, and the scheme was accredited by Advance HE in September 2018.
Accreditation is the process used by Advance HE to confirm that opportunities for professional development offered by institutions are aligned with the Professional Standards Framework. Accreditation is considered a ‘badge of quality’, requiring institutions to embed the Professional Standards Framework within policy and strategy indicating a clear commitment to the enhancement of teaching and learning. The impact of the programme of work at ASU has meant that nearly 50 members of staff have achieved a category of HEA Fellowship, including 13 staff achieving HEA Senior Fellowship.
Professor Ghassan Fouad Aouad, President of Applied Science University, Bahrain, said
“At ASU we’ve created a culture of developing and recognising our staff. Our work with Advance HE demonstrates the value we place on supporting practical and accessible learning.”
Ian Hall, Advance HE Head of International Membership, said
“It’s been fantastic to see the work being carried out at ASU and the accomplishment of the staff achieving Fellowship and Senior Fellowship cannot be overstated. I’m also very appreciative of the enthusiasm of the staff involved in establishing ASU’s own fellowship scheme.”
Advance HE works to improve higher education for all using expertise and by sharing best practice. Find out more about Advance HE’s support for higher education providers outside the UK.