University students on the rise in Bahrain

Manama, Jan. 22 (BNA): Higher Education Council (HEC)’s Secretary-General Dr. Abdulghani Al Shwaik said the HEC’s interest in investing in the higher education has greatly contributed to the growth of the same sector, which is attributed to the opening of multiple private higher education institutions in partnership with prestigious universities, including the British University of Salford and the French Vatel Hospitality School. Dr. Abdulghani noted the HEC’s plan to establish a new higher education institution, American University, which will provide new academic programmes. Dr. Abdulghani noted the increase in the number of Gulf and foreign students in the Bahraini higher education institutions, saying statistics show a rise in the number of students from approximately 5,000 in the academic year 2012/2013 to more than 6,000 in 2017/2018. He highlighted the HEC’s keenness to attract more students by calling on all higher education institutions to obtain the academic accreditation granted in cooperation with the British Accreditation Council, which enhances student's confidence in the performance of the Bahraini academic institutions, consequently increases the demand for joining them to study.