Sustaining Knowledge Sharing Practices in Private Higher Education Institutions in the Kingdom of Bahrain

The purpose of this research is to examine the sustainable knowledge sharing practices among academics in the private Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the Kingdom of Bahrain and the role of organizational-related factors, and individual-related factors in enhancing knowledge sharing practices among academics. A questionnaire-based survey was distributed and filled out by 240 academics. The results showed that academics in private HEIs recognize the importance of knowledge sharing and that the organizational-related factors (such as culture, leadership, technology, and organizational structure) and individual-related factors (such as recognition, self-fulfillment, and career enhancement) have a vital role in enhancing knowledge sharing practices among academics in private HEIs. The tremendous shift in recent years to advanced technology and data-driven decision-making using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) can influence transformation and knowledge sharing in higher education. This research contributes to the existing body of knowledge in this area, which in general has not received enough attention in literature, especially in the MENA region. The findings of the research can be useful for institutions in other countries in the region that share common characteristics and can explore the role of these factors in their own specific culture. Being knowledge-intensive institutions, leaders of HEIs need to exert efforts to promote the importance of knowledge sharing as an integrated part of the wider knowledge management concept leading to a knowledge-based economy.