Prof. Dr. Adel Ismail Al-Alawi, coordinator of the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program at the College of Education, Administrative and Technical Sciences at Arabian Gulf University, emphasized that this partnership with the French “ESSEC” is developing year after year, reflecting close cooperation and a continuous pursuit of academic excellence and regional impact, in line with regional and international quality assurance standards in higher education. He explained that the program aims to produce highly competent Gulf leaders who meet global standards and contribute to driving development and strengthening the Gulf economy through the knowledge and skills they possess, which motivate them to move forward and contribute to the development of their homelands and communities, while also developing their skills and ensuring their success on both professional and personal levels.
Dr. Al-Alawi expressed the university’s pride in this unique partnership, which has resulted in the graduation of many distinguished business leaders in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. He emphasized the university’s commitment to providing a supportive work environment that fosters innovation and encourages renewal by strengthening international partnerships with one of France’s most prestigious universities.
He also said: “What distinguishes this program most is that it offers a specialized experience in business administration—one that not only equips graduates with the skills necessary for success but also provides them with in-depth knowledge in the fields of ‘public-private partnerships’ and ‘facilities management.’” He noted that the curriculum’s design paves the way for graduates’ success and helps them tackle the challenges and capitalize on the opportunities at the forefront of modern infrastructure development—an area of particular interest in the rapidly evolving Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, while also noting that the program’s focus on digital transformation ensures that graduates are well-equipped to keep pace with the ever-evolving global technology landscape.
He added: “This program has been ranked third globally among MBA programs worldwide, and it represents the culmination of academic cooperation between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the French Republic, through the productive collaboration between the Arabian Gulf University and the French university “ESSEC. The program has been carefully designed to address the unique challenges of the Arabian Gulf region while incorporating international standards of excellence, combining theoretical knowledge with practical field experience to achieve genuine successes over the years. To date, it has graduated 268 young business leaders who have assumed leadership positions in ministries, companies, and institutions in both the public and private sectors across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, a testament to the Gulf states’ high confidence in this program and the strength of its outcomes.”
It is worth noting that this program is part of the university’s strategic direction to promote scientific research, support innovation, and meet the needs of the Gulf and Arab labor markets by offering high-quality programs and modern practical applications. Admission requirements stipulate that the student’s overall GPA at the bachelor’s level must be no less than “Very Good,” achieve the required score (depending on the major) on the IELTS or its equivalent on the TOEFL, pass a personal interview and any exams or academic requirements specified by the program and approved by the university, and submit a certificate of passing a health fitness test and a certificate of good conduct from the college from which they graduated.