The skills, creativity, and research developed through higher education are major factors in any society’s success in creating jobs and advancing prosperity. Universities and colleges play a vital rôle in expanding opportunity and promoting social justice.

The papers in this book reflect the main objective of a conference held in June 2007 at Ahlia University, Kingdom of Bahrain, which was to create a forum for academics, policy makers, senior administrators and industrial professionals to explore, discuss and develop practical approaches to attain strategic success and co-operation, and share ideas about the existing and emerging practices that enhance quality, productivity and innovation. Moreover, the conference was intended to provide a platform by which all private universities in the GCC countries can join together to form a regional association that will be hosted and based in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

The papers address some of the most important challenges and issues relating to higher education in the twenty-first century, including:

- building capacity for higher education and the professional

- development of teachers;

- international education and strategic partnerships;

- quality assurance and academic accreditation;

- research in higher education institutions;

- labour markets in higher education.