The University Organised a “Business Day” to Bridge the Gap Between Education and the Job Market.

The University Organised a “Business Day” to Bridge the Gap Between Education and the Job Market.

The College of Administrative Sciences hosted the event, gathering groups of academics and industry experts within the banking and technology sectors to discuss the sectoral challenges and opportunities, with a primary aim of strengthening the integration between the University and the job market. Professor Waheb Al Khaja, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Mr Adnan Yousif, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bahrain Association of Banks, Professor Hatem Masry, the University President, as well as representatives from the London South Bank University (LSBU), were all present for the event. The event featured an informative tour of an exhibition demonstrating student projects from the College of Administrative Sciences programmes. Guests had the opportunity to hear and learn about the students’ entrepreneurial venture projects and their visions for innovation and development.

Mr Adnan, delivered a keynote speech titled “The Future of the Banking Sector: Innovation, Challenges, and Opportunities in the Digital Age”, where he underscored how the technological developments in the banking sector play a vital role in embracing innovation to drive sustainability and growth. A panel discussion followed, titled “Bridging the Gap between Academic Education and the Job Market: What Employers are Looking For”, featuring a range of industry experts, including Mr Dheya Al Shaebani, HR & Admin Affairs Manager at Al Zayani Investments Group, Dr Mazen Ali, President of ISACA Bahrain Chapter, Mr Ali Maki, Vice Chairman at Protection Insurance Services W.l.l, and Ms Hajer Krichene, Head of Technical Solutions at ENSOMEA. The session was, therefore, chaired by Dr Darren James Mitchell, Associate Academic Dean, LSBU Global.

Professor Waheeb Al Khaja remarked that the event provided an essential platform for dialogue between academics and practitioners. He reaffirmed the University’s commitment to delivering education that keeps pace with the evolving job market, stressing the University’s focus on continuously enhancing its highly specialised academic programmes to meet market demands and ensure the graduates are equipped to face future challenges.

Professor Hatem, specified the significance of nurturing collaborations between the University and the business sector. He accentuated the University’s dedication to offering an interactive and dynamic learning environment that integrates academic knowledge with real-world practical applications. He further noted that ongoing collaboration with industry partners is critical in improving education quality and preparing students to become and emerge as leaders in their chosen fields.

It is worth noting that this event coincided with the visit of a delegation from the LSBU, by which the University, in partnership, offers six dual-award British programmes. This includes BEng (Hons) Civil Engineering, BEng (Hons) Architecture Engineering, BEng (Hons) Electrical and Electronic Engineering, BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering, BA (Hons) Business Management, and LLB (Hons) Law.