President of the University of Bahrain Honors the Accreditation Team at the College of Business Administration: Over 92% of Faculty are Internationally Qualified

The President of the University of Bahrain, Professor Dr. Riyad Yousif Hamzah, honored the team from the College of Business Administration for their efforts in securing international academic accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)—a prestigious global accreditation body for business schools. In April 2016, the college joined an elite group of only 12 accredited colleges in the Middle East.

Professor Hamzah expressed his pride in this achievement, particularly as it came from one of the most respected accreditation institutions in the world for business education. He noted that while this milestone is unprecedented locally, it is not surprising given the college’s legacy of graduating highly qualified professionals who have secured leading roles in management, banking, and various sectors over the past three decades.

The AACSB granted accreditation to the University of Bahrain’s College of Business Administration in April after a thorough evaluation and review process, making the college one of only 5% of business schools worldwide to receive this distinction. While the AACSB has 1,384 member institutions, only 727 have earned accreditation.

Dean of the College of Business Administration, Professor Dr. Manour Mellouh Al-Shammari, presented the efforts of the academic and administrative staff in achieving accreditation. He explained that the fundamental idea behind accreditation is to align all academic, research, and service activities within the college with its mission and goals, using clear standards and performance indicators to guide and regulate efforts.

He added that the college updated its vision and goals in 2010 and developed a strategic plan in 2011 aligned with the university’s broader strategy. The AACSB’s international review panel commended the college’s and university’s strategies in student admissions and resource management, acknowledging the effectiveness and alignment of the plan with global accreditation standards.

The dean emphasized that the college met the AACSB’s international standards for faculty qualifications, with 92.4% of the teaching staff meeting the required criteria—exceeding the global benchmark of 90%. This high qualification rate reflects the university’s and college’s efforts to encourage academic research and scholarly publication.

He also mentioned the reviewers’ praise for the college’s strong student support systems, particularly for those facing academic challenges, and their appreciation for the college’s practical training program, which helps students bridge the gap between academic theory and real-world application.

According to Dr. Hatem Al-Masri, Director of the Quality Assurance Office at the College of Business Administration, the reviewers were impressed by the revised curriculum introduced in 2013. This curriculum allows students to progress gradually through their studies, starting with foundational skills in their first year and progressing through various business disciplines such as accounting, finance, economics, marketing, management, and quantitative decision-making.

Robert Dixon, Head of the AACSB International Review Panel and Dean of the Business School at Durham University in the UK, praised the significant transformation and advancement of the college across all fronts. He highlighted its modern academic programs and success in attracting top-tier academic researchers in their respective fields.

Dean Dixon commended the college’s and university’s dedication to developing faculty performance and noted that several professors had gained international recognition through publications in peer-reviewed journals. He also expressed support for the college’s continued development, applauding its role in organizing major academic events such as the fifth edition of the International Conference held in 2013, which led to the release of numerous scholarly publications.

This recognition affirms the University of Bahrain’s commitment to academic excellence and its steady rise on the global education map.

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