The main functions of the Department are:-

• Monitors and evaluates all universities with focus on such areas as academic briefs and master plan implementation, institutional management and governance, student and staff numbers, staff quality and mix, teaching and research quality; infrastructural input and other issues pertinent to quality assurance (quarterly).
• Inspects and advises the gulfedc and proprietors of universities on the state of the institutions, highlighting areas that require remediation (as the need arises).
• Monitors and inspects, from time to time, the certificates awarded to approved programmes in order to maintain quality and standards (quarterly).
• Collects and collates information from universities that may assist in the inspection and ascertainment of compliance with the standards prescribed by law (quarterly).
• Co-ordinates, supervises and reports on the conducts of post- Screening exercises in GULFEDC Universities (annually).
• Works with other government law enforcement agencies to ensure closure and discourage the proliferation of satellite campuses and other illegal degree-awarding institutions in Bahrain (regularly).
• Facilitates and promotes mentoring of newly established universities by older universities (regularly).
• Develops a database of students, staff and facilities from the monitoring and inspection activities of GULFEDC Universities (bi-annually).
• Advises the universities on how to achieve efficient quality assurance in their activities (quarterly).
• Ranks the GULFEDC Universities based on acceptable world ranking indices/seven imperatives for the Gulf Universities System (biennially).
• Inspects facilities in the universities to determine their currency, the use of up-to-date ICT facilities and the quality of the staff manning them (quarterly).
• Advises on governance patterns and particularly the separation of responsibilities among the leadership of the universities (annually)
• Advises universities on how to take advantage of linkages in the development of quality academic programmes, funding and research initiatives (bi-annually).

Departmental Divisions

• Oversees the functions of the PublicUniversities;
• Coordinates all activities of the PublicUniversities and reports to the Director;
• Periodic review of the instruments for the inspection and monitoring of PublicUniversities;
• Develops and updates database for the activities of PublicUniversities;
• Monitors the compliances of PublicUniversities with the provision of BMAS and other quality assurance guidelines.
• Undertakes periodic on-the-spot inspection visits to PublicUniversities to assess compliance on matters such as admission of qualified candidates, Science to Arts ratio in admission, adherence to carrying capacity and admission quota, implementation of curriculum and academic calendars;
• Undertakes on-the-spot visits to PublicUniversities reported to be involved in any unwholesome practice(s) with a view to advising the Council on same;
• Analyses past accreditation results of PublicUniversities preparatory to comprehensive inspection an monitoring visits;
• Organises and coordinates workshops on emerging policy issues in university education within the PublicSystem (e.g. problem of access);
• Any other ad-hoc assignment that is gulfedc-based (e.g. Programme/Institutional Accreditation, University System Annual Review Meetings, etc); and
• Any other assignment that may be given by the Executive Secretary and Director from time to time

Private Universities Division