MORE than 5,000 students will have the opportunity to specialise in modern sciences, which will be introduced in a Bahrain university for the first time.
Education Minister Dr Majid Al Nuaimi yesterday told MPs in writing that the new Isa Al Kabeer Al Hedaya Al Khalifiya University, to be built in Muharraq, will have three colleges – one each for advanced sciences, modern economics and innovation and sustainable development.
The Advanced Sciences college will be launched in the first phase “whenever a plot is allocated” by the Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Ministry and the first buildings are ready.
It will include specialised courses and bachelors degrees in artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, renewable energy and space sciences.
The Modern Economics college will offer courses in logistics, tax accounting, governance and public policies.
The Innovation and Sustainable Development department will have students pursuing courses in landscaping, urban planning and innovative industrial designs.
The university is named after the Al Hedaya Al Khalifiya Secondary School for Boys, Muharraq, which dates back to 1919 and is the oldest school in the country.
The original site of the school has been fenced off and turned into an education museum.
“We will accept the first batch of 500 students whenever we complete all constructional, financial and administrative requirements for the Advanced Sciences college within the new Isa Al Kabeer Al Hedaya Al Khalifiya University. We hope to reach the full capacity of 5,000 in four years,” said Dr Al Nuaimi.
He was speaking in response to a question by area MP Ebrahim Al Nefaei on the progress of work.
“The Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Ministry is helping us procure a government plot for the project, while the temporary administrative offices are located at the secondary school for boys.
“We have contacted several international universities from the UK, the US and France to host their programmes here as we work to introduce new specialisations that the labour market needs.
“Things would be assessed within the first five years of operations as we explore new and rare specialisations in future.”
He added that UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) would also be consulted on general specifics for the new specialisations.
“Experts from the Unesco International Bureau of Education will help provide consultation as we draw an educational blueprint for years ahead.”
Directives to revamp Bahrain’s oldest school were issued by His Majesty King Hamad in December 2016.
Mr Al Nefaei said the transformation would take Al Hedaya into the next level of education.
“More than a century of school education success matched with another century of higher education success and so on – this is how the country develops and evolves,” he said.
He, however, said the minister’s reply didn’t include specific dates and where the new university would exactly be located in Muharraq.
“Until days ago I was under the impression that school children would be moved to a new building in Muharraq, which is not the case.
“It now appears that children will continue to be in the old premises, while university students will start their lessons from a new building.
“But why isn’t it listed in the 2021-2022 national budget for funding?”
The country’s biggest government higher education establishment – Bahrain University, established in 1968, currently has around 30,000 students.
mohammed@gdn.com.bh
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