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• Keeping education top of the agenda, Manama addresses the regional skills gap

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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