Dr. Maryam Hasan Mustafa, Chief Executive of the Education and Training Quality Authority (BQA), emphasised that the Bahrain’s education sector receives significant attention and support from His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the King of the Kingdom of Bahrain, and vigorous follow-up from His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister. She pointed out that the Kingdom of Bahrain continues its efforts to assure the quality of academic and vocational programmes and qualifications, while fostering competitiveness among higher education and vocational training institutions to offer high-quality programmes and qualifications that contribute to delivering learning outcomes at the highest levels of quality and meeting the labour market requirements.
This statement was made during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Education and Training Quality Authority (BQA) and the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ), to enhance the quality review processes of academic and vocational programmes and support qualifications frameworks.
In this context, the Chief Executive of the Education and Training Quality Authority stated that signing the Memorandum of Understanding with the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications is a strategic step to establish foundations for bilateral cooperation and exchange expertise between the two parties. This collaboration aims to improve programmes and qualifications, enhance the efficiency of education and training institutions in line with global quality standards, and positively contribute to advancing learning outcomes and promoting excellence.
Mr. H. B. Chao of the Hong Kong, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications, stated that the MoU with the Education and Training Quality Authority – Kingdom of Bahrain marks a significant step toward strengthening bilateral cooperation in education and training quality assurance and supporting qualifications frameworks. ‘This partnership will facilitate the exchange of expertise and best practices, enhance accreditation and quality assurance systems, and support international recognition of qualifications, positively reflecting on the higher education and vocational training sectors,’ he added.
The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding paves the way for sharing information and expertise between the two sides, contributing to assuring the quality of higher education and vocational training institutions and advancing the academic and vocational programme offerings in the Kingdom of Bahrain to align with labour market needs. Additionally, the MoU promotes mutual recognition of qualifications between the two sides, contributing to the international recognition of Bahrain’s National Qualifications Framework (NQF). Furthermore, it fosters knowledge-sharing on flexible learning pathways and recognition of prior learning, thereby expanding further opportunities for students in education and training areas.