Critical Success Factors as Antecedents of Sustainability in Higher Education Institutions in Emerging Economies: The Case of Bahrain

The current study aims to determine the critical success factors CSFs that support the sustainability of higher education institutions in the Kingdom of Bahrain, by attempting to identify a number of these factors that fit the environmental context in the Bahraini society. Consequently, critical success factors were addressed in higher education institutions in several environmental contexts, and the study ended up with identifying the critical factors that support the academic institutions effectiveness and success sustainability. Through reviewing project management literature, we concluded that there is no fixed CSF prescription that is valid, and suitable for all academic institutions in all times. The reason for this argument is that contextual and situational ramifications are the determinants of validity and suitability of CFSs. Finally, through the self-experience of the authors as they are currently active members in three different academic settings in the Bahraini context (i.e. Public, Private and foreign universities), the general situation of CSFs and the degree of availability for of them were diagnosed. From this investigation we suggest that some of the CSFs are currently found in the Bahraini academic institutions and some sub-factors of CSFs need more improvements to support and maintain the sustainability of these academic institution's success.