Areas of Expertise
Process Modeling, Simulation and Control. Quality Assurance in Higher Education. Chemical Engineering, Process Instrumentation and Control Engineering.
Education
- 2006 – PhD in Process Systems Engineering, Chemical Engineering
- 2006–2007 – Professional Practitioner Certificate; Member of the Higher Education Academy (HEA), UK
- 2006 – Diploma in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), Canadian Training Centre of Human Development
- 2002–2005 – PhD in Chemical Engineering (Process Instrumentation and Control Engineering) – with Distinction
- 2000–2001 – MSc in Instrumentation and Analytical Science – with Distinction
- Awarded: DIAS MSc Prize
- 1999–2000 – BSc in Chemical Engineering – with Distinction
- 1995–2025 – Certified Professional Family Counsellor
Biography
Quality Assurance and Higher Education Consultant | International Evaluator | Former Director, QAAC – University of Bahrain
Dr. Bassam Alhamad is a seasoned expert in quality assurance and accreditation with over two decades of experience across more than 15 countries. As the former Director of the Quality Assurance & Accreditation Center at the University of Bahrain, he led institutional and program-level QA initiatives, securing national and international accreditations including ABET, NAAB, ASIIN, and CAEP. He is currently engaged in advisory and review roles with PNQAHE, IUU, AIFED, and various private universities, and has contributed to the development of accreditation manuals across disciplines and regions.
A long-standing member and contributor to INQAAHE, ANQAHE, APQN, and PNQAHE, Dr. Alhamad has served as a keynote speaker, author, and consultant, notably co-authoring INQAAHE’s scoping study on QA in the Arab region. His extensive international work includes collaboration with agencies such as UNESCO, ADEK, AACSB, FIBAA, CAEP, NAAB, ABA, and NCEQE, and reviews in the US, Europe, MENA, and South Asia. He has served as an ABET Program Evaluator for nearly a decade and is an ISO-certified expert in 9001:2008, 10015, and 17025 standards.
Dr. Alhamad brings proven leadership in policy, governance, benchmarking, and systems integration. Appointed by the Prime Minister to Bahrain’s NQF Advisory Council, he has shaped national frameworks on assessment, curriculum, and strategic planning. His work with over 20 government ministries and institutions has driven reforms in value-based management, change leadership, and institutional competitiveness.
His review philosophy is grounded in impartiality, evidence-based decision-making, and confidentiality. A staunch advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, Dr. Alhamad has delivered capacity-building workshops to over 10,000 professionals, supporting underrepresented institutions and communities.
Achievements
- Led the University of Bahrain's Quality Assurance & Accreditation Center for over a decade, achieving multiple national and international accreditations (ABET, ASIIN, NAAB, CAEP).
- Served as ABET Program Evaluator (2014–2023), reviewing programs in the US, KSA, UAE, and the Philippines.
- Member of INQAAHE, ANQAHE, APQN, PNQAHE and co-author of the INQAAHE Scoping Study on QA in the Arab Region.
- Delivered 350+ training programs and workshops to more than 10,000 participants.
- Reviewed over 100 academic programs across 30+ colleges in 15+ countries.
- Served as advisor or consultant to over 20 government ministries and universities.
- Participated in drafting and publishing multiple QA and accreditation manuals across various disciplines (Engineering, Business, IT, Education, etc.).
- Appointed by the Prime Minister of Bahrain to the NQF Advisory Council.
- Published with UNESCO, Springer, Emerald, and contributed to over 10 policy frameworks and handbooks.
- Recognized keynote speaker at major QA conferences (UNESCO, PNQAHE, ANQAHE).
Affiliations
University of Bahrain
Grants & Contracts Awarded
Education Tourism Strategic Study (2020):
- Worked with Bahrain Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BCCI) to manage and develop Bahrain’s national strategy for educational tourism, in collaboration with KPMG.
- UNESCO – IIEP Publications & Projects (2017–2020):
Contributed as author and case study lead for various publications on Internal Quality Assurance, funded by UNESCO-IIEP.
- Development of Program Accreditation Manuals (2023–2024):
Led and co-authored 10+ accreditation manuals (engineering, business, IT, veterinary, hospitality, education, etc.) under regional QA bodies (e.g., PNQAHE, IUU), supported by international collaborations.
- Government Excellence Program (Bahrain) (2009–2016):
Worked with the Prime Minister’s Office to conduct assessments and quality enhancement initiatives across 20+ ministries and public authorities.
- Curriculum Reform Projects (2018–2025):
Awarded contracts to develop academic and vocational curricula in partnership with the Ministry of Labour, BCCI, and private universities.
- Quality Assurance Framework Development (2015–2025):
Commissioned by QA agencies and higher education institutions to develop and implement institutional review frameworks, NQF mapping, and strategic QA systems.
Publications & Presentations
Publications:
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- Book Author – From Externally to Internally Driven Quality Assurance, UNESCO-IIEP (2017).
- Co-Author – Scoping Study on QA in the Arab Region, INQAAHE (2019).
- Book Chapter Author – Balancing Centralization and Decentralization, in Quality Assurance in Education, Emerald (2019).
- Chapter Author – Internal Quality Assurance – Enhancing HE Quality & Employability, UNESCO-IIEP (2018).
- Co-Author – Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Foreign Language Education, Springer (2019).
- Author – Over 10 program accreditation manuals (Engineering, Business, Education, Veterinary, IT, etc.) published in 2024 with international QA experts.
Recent Journals (2025):
- Emotional Intelligence in AI & Machine Learning, Journal of Data Management & AI.
- Fault Detection in MPC Systems, Undergraduate Research Conference, Bahrain.
- Sustainability in TVET, Journal of Business and Socio-economic Development.
Key Presentations
- Keynote Speaker, PNQAHE International Conferences (2019, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025).
- UNESCO Policy Forum Presenter, Xiamen University, China.
- Speaker, ANQAHE Conference – Enhancing Employability & Decentralization in QA.
- Presenter, INQAAHE Biennial Conference, Sri Lanka (2019).
- Presenter, QS-MAPLE, Dubai – Language Barriers in Research Culture (2019).
- Invited Speaker, Khyber Medical University (Pakistan), Bandirma University (Turkey).