Fourteen academics from the Applied Science University (ASU), Bahrain, have become Fellows of the Higher Education Academy (HEA). This makes ASU the first Private University in Bahrain, if not in the GCC region, to acquire the Fellowship status.

HEA Fellowship provides international recognition of a commitment to professionalism in teaching and learning in higher education.

The ASU academics all attended an HEA Professional Certificate in Academic Practice programme.  The course was delivered at the University by the HEA’s international instructor in three separate week-long modules.  The programme provided a pathway which supported the ASU academics in their application process for Fellowship.

Professor Ghassan Aouad, the President of ASU said:  “This is absolutely fantastic news for the University from a staff development perspective which will lead to a serious enhancement to the quality of teaching, learning and assessment at the University. Such an international recognition will help the university in its accreditation, programme reviews, launch of new programmes with British Universities, and publicity efforts. Prof Waheeb AlKhaja, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, expressed his delighted with this achievement.”

Professor Hussein Zedan, Assistant Vice-President of Academic Affairs and Development at ASU, said, “It’s great news that 14 members of our teaching staff have achieved HEA Fellowship.  The Certificate in Academic Practice, which is aligned to the Professional Standards Framework, was an important step in achieving Fellowship.  The programme helped to focus staff in the latest thinking around the concepts of teaching, as well as curriculum design and enhancing best practice.

“We have been looking at ways to encourage and recognise professional development in teaching.  HEA Fellowship achieves this and it’s also a big bonus that it’s internationally recognised.

“We are now considering our next steps.  This may include further development of this core group of academics so that in future we are in a position to deliver HEA-accredited CPD in-house.  This will lead to more Fellowships for successful applicants.”

Kathryn Harrington-Graves, Head of International Services at the HEA, said, “Congratulations to all the ASU staff who have become HEA Fellows.  They have been recognised for their great work and commitment to good teaching.  They have also joined a world-wide community of 75,000 Fellows, sharing knowledge and best practice.

“I’m confident that recognising and rewarding good teaching practice is highly motivating for staff.  In turn, that’s good for the students they teach and consequently very positive for the reputation of the institution they work in. We know from independently verified research that there is positive link between professional development programmes for teaching staff aligned to the Professional Standards Framework and strong levels of engagement reported by students.

THE HEA’s work at ASU was led by Dr Adrian Brockett, himself a Senior Fellow of the HEA.  A principal lecturer in international development, Dr Brockett also specialises in Learning, Teaching and Assessment and has expertise in Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies.