Keeping education top of the agenda, Manama addresses the regional skills gap
MANAMA, 22 September 2008 - The Bahrain Polytechnic opened its doors this past week to 240 male and female students from across Bahrain, making it the only Polytechnic to be established within the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) states.
The Bahrain Polytechnic complements the role of higher education colleges and universities providing an applied and industry-focused vocational education, giving students professional skills aligned with market needs. With a wide selection of programs offered, graduating students will be able to enter the workforce immediately on graduation adding considerably to the skills of the national workforce.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Essa Al-Khalifa, Chief Executive of the Economic Development Board, said: "The Bahrain Polytechnic addresses the pressing skills gap currently in the GCC. Graduates of the facility will be equipped to provide a range of technical skills to support our diverse economy such as Bahrain's booming manufacturing sector. We are proud to host the only Polytechnic in the GCC which shows Bahrain's continued commitment to, and leadership in, education and training."
Programs offered include business studies, accounting, finance, marketing, advertising, management and economics, international business, IT, civil and mechanical engineering, and health sciences. The courses are offered as either a two-year diploma program providing vocational skills directly applicable to the job market, or a four-year bachelor's program providing more advanced professional skills.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Essa Al-Khalifa added: "The opening of Bahrain Polytechnic redresses the balance in further and higher education in Bahrain. Previously, universities in Bahrain have had to cater to a large number of students with greatly varying abilities. Now, with the opening of the only polytechnic in the region, universities can focus on providing academic programs whilst the Polytechnic can focus on providing first class professional and applied education."
Bahrain has traditionally led the Gulf region where educational reform and progress are concerned, and was the first country in the region to provide publicly-funded education for both boys and girls. Education is compulsory and free for the Kingdom's entire population and Bahrain's literacy rate stands at 85%, one of the highest in the region. The establishment of the Bahrain Polytechnic is further evidence of the Kingdom's long-term commitment to develop a modern and highly skilled workforce that is capable of competing with economies across the world.
The introduction of the Polytechnic is part of the National Education Reform Initiative a combined effort by the Bahraini Government, the Private Sector, and the Bahrain Economic Development Board.
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About The Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB)
The Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) is a dynamic public agency with an overall responsibility for formulating and overseeing the economic development strategy of Bahrain, and for creating the right climate to attract direct investment into the Kingdom.
The role of the Bahrain EDB is to provide leadership by uniting all of the Kingdom's shareholders through a unified vision, and to develop key strategies for growth. The Bahrain EDB also acts as a facilitator, helping all of Bahrain 's stakeholders to understand and adopt the changes necessary for progress. In addition, the Bahrain EDB provides sound project management to ensure that all agreed reform initiatives are implemented in an effective and timely manner.
The Bahrain EDB is also responsible for attracting inward investment into Bahrain, and is focusing on six target economic sectors in which the Kingdom offers significant strengths. These are financial services, downstream industries, tourism, business services, logistics, and education and training.
More information on the Bahrain EDB is available on the Bahrain EDB website on www.bahrainedb.com
EDB Mission Statement
Our mission is to grow and diversify Bahrain's economy by developing a strategy that supports the advancement of a modern and liberalized business environment, encourages inward investment and enables us to compete in the global marketplace.
We are dedicated to raising living standards by creating greater opportunities for our citizens and to make Bahrain the Gulf's most welcoming, business friendly location. We will accomplish these goals by working in partnership with the public and private sectors, and by being passionate, professional and innovative in all that we do.
About Polytechnic Schools
Polytechnic schools are descriptions employed in a wide range of learning institutions awarding different types of degrees and often operating at variable levels of the educational system. It may be any institution of higher education or vocational education, specializing in technology or different sorts of technical subjects. The term polytechnic comes from the Greek ???? (polú or polý) meaning "many" and ???????? (tekhnikós) meaning "arts".
For more information, please contact:
Rania Al Shirawi
Bahrain Economic Development Board
Email: rania.alshirawi@bahrainedb.com
EDB Switchboard: +973 17589999
Natasha Sterling
Promoseven Weber Shandwick
Telephone: +973 3 995 6730
Email: Natasha.sterling@promoseven.com
Georgia Dempsey
Weber Shandwick
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7067 0749
Email: gdempsey@webershandwick.com
© Press Release 2008
