His Excellency Dr. Mohammed bin Mubarak Juma, Minister of Education and Chairman of the Higher Education Council’s Board of Trustees, presented Sheikh Khaled bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, General Director of Vatel Bahrain, with the College’s institutional accreditation certificate in the presence of Her Excellency Dr. Diana Abdulkarim Al Jahrami, Secretary General of the Higher Education Council. The five-year accreditation was granted by a decision of the Higher Education Council’s Board of Trustees, reflecting the College’s commitment to the academic quality and governance standards adopted in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
The accreditation certificate was presented during the launch ceremony of the National Higher Education and Scientific Research Strategy 2026–2036, which aims to advance the quality of educational outcomes and student services, strengthen the role of higher education institutions in aligning their programmes with labour market requirements, and support the Kingdom’s development.
Her Excellency Dr. Diana Abdulkarim Al Jahrami, Secretary General of the Higher Education Council, said: “Vatel Bahrain’s institutional accreditation reflects comprehensive institutional efforts encompassing governance, academic management, programme quality, faculty competence and student services, supported by systems and procedures that ensure sustained performance and continuous improvement.”
Her Excellency Mrs. Sara Ahmed Buhiji, Chief Executive Officer of the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority, said: “This accreditation marks a further step in Vatel Bahrain’s institutional development and reaffirms its important role in preparing qualified Bahraini professionals for careers in tourism and hospitality. Investment in specialised education and hands-on training is essential to building the skilled workforce needed to sustain the sector’s growth and raise the standard of tourism services and visitor experiences across the Kingdom. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with the College on initiatives that strengthen human capital in this vital sector.”
Sheikh Khaled bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, General Director of Vatel Bahrain, said: “We are proud to receive this institutional accreditation, which represents an important achievement in the College’s journey and recognises the collective efforts of our entire team and their commitment to academic and institutional quality standards. The accreditation affirms the College’s ability to deliver specialised education aligned with the needs of the tourism and hospitality sectors and reinforces our determination to further develop our academic programmes and learning environment while strengthening the integration of academic learning and hands-on training. These efforts help prepare Bahraini professionals with the knowledge and experience needed to succeed in the labour market and contribute to the development of the hospitality sector in the Kingdom of Bahrain and beyond.”
Sheikh Khaled added: “We extend our sincere appreciation to His Excellency the Minister of Education, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Higher Education Council, for his continued support of higher education institutions and his commitment to fostering an academic environment that encourages excellence and continuous development. We also value the Higher Education Council’s role in establishing the frameworks and policies governing the sector and advancing the higher education system, thereby strengthening the contribution of its institutions to national development.”
