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Arabian Business, Monday, Aug 19, 2019 | Zul Hijjah 18, 1440
First American-style university set to open in Bahrain
Bahrain: The first purpose-built,
American-style university is set to open in Bahrain in September.
American University of
Bahrain (AUBH) will be located in Riffa and has been designed to cater for
up to 4,000 students, a statement said.
The campus occupies a
75,000 square metre plot and features classrooms, labs, an auditorium,
student common rooms and sporting facilities.
AUBH, which will feature dedicated Colleges of Engineering, Architecture &
Design, and Business & Management, will be operated by the Bahrain-based Elm
Education platform, in which Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company, the country's
sovereign wealth fund, has invested.
Mahmood H Alkooheji, CEO of Mumtalakat, said: “We believe that investing in
education is an investment in the kingdom’s economy and future. Education is the
necessary building block for better health, employment and empowerment.
"In Bahrain, with a growing youth population, the demand for higher education
continues to grow at 6 percent, but our private higher education institutions
account for only one third of total enrolments. This is why we chose to invest
in Elm - to address the increasing demand for education and help build a more
productive and prosperous society.”
Dr Susan E Saxton, president of AUBH, added: “Establishment of AUBH supports the
kingdom in its quest to achieve academic excellence, and to advance its status
as the educational role model for the Arab region.”
Elm has also entered into a joint venture with a prominent operator of American
curriculum K12 schools, to co-own and operate an American curriculum school in
Bahrain.
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