Private universities in Bahrain were urged to abide by rules and regulations set by the Higher Education Council.

Under new procedures, regular BA and diploma courses will be for two days per week, said a report in our sister publication, the Gulf Daily News.

The daily sessions shall not exceed six hours of effective teaching, Education Minister Dr Majid Al Nuaimi announced.

He was speaking as he chaired the 12th HEC meeting to discuss enforcing the new procedures.

The private universities were also ordered to suspend their month-long intensive courses.

Students enrolled in the fast-tracked scheme have been allowed to continue until the end of the 2008-09 first term.

Private universities will be banned from enrolling new students for the next academic year, starting September 2009 if they fail to recruit the required teaching staff by December 31.

Under the new measures, three PhD holders should be recruited at least, including a professor.

Universities will have to bear the legal and financial costs arising from suspension of any academic programmes which fail to fulfill the new criteria by the second term of 2008-10.

The Arab Open University has also been allowed to raise fees from the 2008-09 academic year. The names of universities which violate the rules would be published in the newspapers. - TradeArabia News service