
American University of Bahrain awarded 'Compliant with the General Framework Standards' judgement
Manama, Bahrain – The American University of Bahrain (AUBH) has been judged 'Compliant with the General Framework Standards' by the Education & Training Quality Authority (BQA).
This recognition follows a thorough assessment of the university's academic and administrative systems, affirming AUBH's full alignment with the general framework standards that was carried out during the institutional review conducted by the BQA in collaboration with the Higher Education Council (HEC).
In its official report, the BQA commended several areas of excellence at AUBH, notably the institution's rigorous quality assurance framework supporting sustained development, its strategic emphasis on continuous professional growth for faculty and staff, and its holistic approach to student engagement through accredited academic programmes and community-based initiatives designed to cultivate competencies and a strong sense of civic responsibility.
This judgment reflects AUBH's dedication to delivering a high-calibre educational experience within a dynamic and inclusive learning environment. It also marks the successful completion of the institutional review process by the Directorate of Higher Education Reviews (DHR) of the BQA, which took place from 30 September to 3 October 2024.
Commenting on the recognition, Dr. Bradley J. Cook, President of AUBH, expressed his pride in the university's accomplishment, stating, 'This judgement is a testament to AUBH's vision of educational innovation and academic excellence. It also underscores the commitment of our leadership and academic community to upholding the highest standards in higher education.' Dr. Cook further acknowledged the significant role of the Higher Education Council and the BQA in fostering quality outcomes across Bahrain's higher education sector, highlighting their collaborative and developmental approach.
'This achievement reinforces our resolve to further elevate our academic offerings and strengthen AUBH's position as a leading provider of university-level education aligned with global standards. We are focused on the strategic advancement of our academic programmes, campus infrastructure, and digital capabilities to ensure our students benefit from a transformative, future-oriented educational experience,' added Dr. Cook.
Dr. Wafa Almansoori, Vice President of Institutional Effectiveness and Accreditation at AUBH, also extended her appreciation to the university's Board of Directors and Board of Trustees for their support and guidance, and expressed gratitude to the university's staff, faculty, students, and the university stakeholders, emphasising that this milestone would not have been possible without the collective efforts of AUBH's academic and administrative teams working in unison. She also expressed her appreciation for the collegiality of both BQA staff and the review panel members and the developmental approach of the review process that the general framework.
'This certification is the outcome of our ongoing efforts to enrich the academic environment and elevate research initiatives,' Dr. Almansoori said. 'It marks a major milestone in AUBH's ongoing pursuit of academic distinction in Bahrain and the broader region and underscores the strength and effectiveness of the University's educational model—one that integrates quality, inclusivity, and forward-thinking development across teaching and strategic academic collaborations.'

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The National
02-05-2025
- The National
Apple moves iPhone production to India amid US-China trade war
Apple's plans to move iPhone production from China and to India comes as the company begins to feel the effects of the tariff row between the US and Beijing. The world's most valuable company on Thursday reported 5 per cent growth in net profit and revenue for its fiscal second quarter, rising to nearly $24.8 billion and $95.4 billion, respectively, beating estimates. But it also warned of a $900 million hit in its next three fiscal months due to the trade war caused by tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump. The financial hit is a "clear sign that Mr Trump's tariff turmoil is hitting the iPhone maker hard", said Josh Gilbert, a market analyst at brokerage eToro. "For Apple investors, patience may be beginning to wear thin," he said. "After a tumultuous 2024, many were hoping 2025 would provide more optimism, but Trump's tariffs may have squandered that expectation." The US hit China with tariffs of up to 145 per cent. Beijing hit back with up to 125 per cent in levies. While iPhones are, for now, exempt from US tariffs, the components used for their production are not. Apple chief executive Tim Cook made it clear the company's cost-hit projections are based on the assumption the situation will not change, indicating it could get higher or lower, depending on whether the US-China trade war escalates or diffuses. The potential hit is not massive – barely 0.03 per cent of Apple's market capitalisation of $3.2 trillion – but it highlights the effects the trade uncertainty is having on companies. About nine out of every 10 iPhones are made in China, which also comprises 80 per cent of Apple's entire production capacity, data from New York-based research firm Evercore ISI shows. That highlights the country's key role in Apple's supply and logistical chains, with most products and boxes coming with the "Designed by Apple in California, Assembled in China" tag. Cheaper labour has also been a key part of China's appeal. That has attracted several American companies, which have made a variety of products, from Levi's jeans and Major League Baseball equipment, to Harley Davidsons and General Motors vehicles, in China. Mr Cook confirmed that the majority of iPhones to be sold in the US market in the coming months will come from India, significantly boosting its presence in the market, where it has been for about eight years. Apple began manufacturing iPhones in India in 2017 with the original iPhone SE (now the 16e). Production accelerated further when the company announced in 2022 that it would make iPhone 14 models in the country. The announcement is also a boost for India. Apple's shift reinforces Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Make in India programme, with the company having opened its first stores in the country in 2023. Apple will also shift production of its other hardware to Vietnam, including for iPads and Apple Watches, Mr Cook added. Vietnam already manufactures about a 20 per cent of iPads and 90 per cent of wearables, according to Evercore ISI. Other countries and territories in which Apple has production interests include Malaysia, which has factories for Macs, as well as Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and the US, where the company gets components. In February, Apple announced it will invest more than $500 billion into an artificial intelligence-focused facility in Texas.


Al Etihad
02-05-2025
- Al Etihad
Apple says Trump tariffs to add $900 million in costs this quarter
2 May 2025 08:29 SAN JOSE (DPA)Apple expects about $900 million in additional costs in the current quarter due to US President Donald Trump's new import tariff policy, chief executive Tim Cook said on Thursday after releasing second-quarter results. Cook declined to give guidance beyond the current quarter, telling analysts on an earnings call, "I'm not sure what will happen with the tariffs."To limit the impact, Apple is redirecting shipments and accelerating efforts to source devices from outside China, as US tariffs of up to 145% apply to goods imported from there. About half of the iPhones sold in the United States are already made in India and, according to Cook, the majority will soon come from there. The company also plans to supply nearly all iPads, Mac computers and Apple Watches sold in the US from has been gradually expanding production in countries like India and Vietnam after Covid-19 lockdowns exposed vulnerabilities in its supply chain. However, most Apple devices are still assembled in massive factories in asked whether tariffs might lead to higher consumer prices, Cook said Apple would continue to optimize its supply chain and inventory as much as it company reported better-than-expected sales for its second quarter, as iPhone sales rose despite uncertainty sparked by the tariff threats. Cook: No panic buying ahead of possible price hikes Revenue from the iPhone, Apple's flagship product, climbed to $46.8 billion from about $46 billion a year earlier, beating analysts' forecasts by around $1 billion. Cook told broadcaster CNBC that the company had not seen signs of US consumers rushing purchases ahead of possible price hikes in connection with Trump's tariffs, as feared by some industry experts. Total revenue rose 5% to $95.4 billion, also exceeding expectations. Net income rose to $24.8 billion from $23.6 billion a year ago. Apple slightly missed market estimates for its services segment, which includes app sales and subscriptions and its stock slipped as much as 2.5% in after-hours trading.


Zawya
02-05-2025
- Zawya
Apple girds for more trade war pain, trims buyback
SAN FRANCISCO - Apple on Thursday trimmed its share buyback program by $10 billion, with CEO Tim Cook telling analysts that tariffs could add about $900 million in costs this quarter as the iPhone maker shifts its vast supply chain to minimize the impact of President Donald Trump's trade war. Cook also said Apple's planned $500 billion in spending to expand its U.S. footprint would involve both capital outlays and increased operational expenses as it builds out server and chip factories with its manufacturing partners. In addition, he outlined how Apple has started to build up a stockpile of products so that the majority of its devices sold in the U.S. this quarter will not come from China. Taken together, analysts said the moves showed one of the most profitable companies in the history of business battening its hatches as it moves into uncharted waters. "We were expecting to see more buybacks. Knowing the company, this indicates that Tim Cook is hoarding cash for difficult times," said Thomas Monteiro, senior analyst at "While that's not exactly a problem in itself, it certainly suggests that the company is not as certain about its near-term future as it was in previous quarters." Apple shares were down 4.3% after the company released quarterly results. So far, the trade war has not been a problem for Apple's sales, with Cook saying the company did not see consumers rushing to stock up on Apple items. The Cupertino, California-based company said sales and profit for the fiscal second quarter ended March 29 were $95.36 billion and $1.65 per share, respectively, compared with analyst estimates of $94.68 billion and $1.63 per share, according to LSEG data. Sales of iPhones were $46.84 billion, compared with estimates of $46.17 billion, according to LSEG data. For the current fiscal third quarter, Apple executives said the company expects low-to-mid single-digit revenue growth, which is in line with analyst expectations of 4.28% growth to $89.45 billion, according to LSEG data. But Apple predicted a hit to gross margins, which it said will be 45.5% to 46.5% in its fiscal third quarter, which is below analyst estimates of 46.58%, according to LSEG data. Cook said that for the quarter ending in June, "assuming the current global tariff rates, policies and applications do not change for the balance of the quarter and no new tariffs are added, we estimate the impact to add $900 million to our cost.". He said the majority of iPhones sold in the U.S. in the current quarter will come from India, and that most iPads, Macs and Apple Watches will come from Vietnam. Cook said that the vast majority of Apple products for markets outside the U.S. will continue to come from China. "We have a complex supply chain. There's always risk in the supply chain," he said. "What we learned some time ago was that having everything in one location had too much risk with it." Cook also signalled that Apple's efforts to spend more in the U.S. will come with real costs to Apple's balance sheet. He said the company already sources 19 billion chips from a dozen U.S. states and will be expanding its own facilities. "As we expand facilities in the different states - from Michigan to Texas to California and Arizona and Nevada and Iowa and Oregon and North Carolina and Washington - there will be (capital expenditures) involved in that," Cook said. For Apple's second quarter, sales in its services business were $26.65 billion, compared with estimates of $26.69 billion, according to LSEG data. Apple said sales in its Greater China segment fell to $16 billion, better than analyst expectations of $15.9 billion, according to data from Visible Alpha. In Apple's accessories and wearables segment, which includes products such as AirPods, revenue was $7.52 billion, compared with estimates of $7.85 billion, according to LSEG. Sales of iPads and Macs were $6.40 billion and $7.95 billion, respectively, compared with analyst expectations of $6.07 billion and $7.92 billion. Cook said that entry-level iPads performed the best during the quarter. Apple also said it will increase its cash dividend by 4% to 26 cents per share and that its board has authorized an additional $100 billion for its stock buyback program, down $10 billion from the same time last year. (Reporting by Stephen Nellis in San Francisco and Akash Sriram in Bengaluru; Editing by Kenneth Li and Matthew Lewis)