by ashokaib | Sep 2, 2025 | Uncategorized
The President of Arabian Gulf University (AGU), Dr Saad bin Saud Al-Fuhaid, commended the remarkable success of the national cyber drill Cyber Shield 2025 organised by the National Cybersecurity Centre under the theme "Supply Chain Attacks". The event was attended by His Highness Lieutenant General Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, National Security Advisor, Commander of the Royal Guard and Secretary-General of the Supreme Defence Council. Dr Al-Fuhaid expressed pride in the university's win in the individual competition for the education sector category. The award was received by Dr Abdulkarim Katbi, Head of the Networks and Infrastructure Department at the Information Technology and Cybersecurity Centre at AGU during the ceremony attended by numerous national cybersecurity officials.
Dr Al-Fuhaid expressed his pride in this accomplishment and thanked His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa for his support for the university. He affirmed that hosting such events highlights Bahrain’s commitment to strengthening digital readiness and advancing cybersecurity capabilities to meet international standards. He also praised the exceptional talent of young professionals in effectively confronting digital threats.
For his part, Mr Nawaf Abdulrahman, Director of the Information Technology and Cybersecurity Centre at AGU, stressed the university’s dedication to enhancing cybersecurity within the academic environment. He noted the crucial role of safeguarding educational data and ensuring the continuity of secure digital learning.
Mr Abdulrahman added that the university is actively working to upgrade its technical infrastructure, adopt best international practices, raise awareness among students and faculty about safe technology use, and cultivate a cybersecurity culture as a fundamental aspect of modern university education.
In this context, Dr Abdulkarim Katbi commended His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa’s directives to hold Cyber Shield annually. He highlighted its significance in fostering cooperation, exchanging expertise, and developing national capabilities in cybersecurity.
He commented, "In an era of rapid digital transformation, protecting cyberspace is no longer optional but a national necessity. Cyberattacks threaten not only technological systems but the security of individuals, the stability of institutions, and the economic wellbeing of nations. Therefore, it is vital for governments, the private sector, and society to collaborate in raising awareness, developing cyber infrastructure, and enhancing defensive capabilities to meet the growing challenges."
by ashokaib | Sep 2, 2025 | Uncategorized
The National Institute for the Disabled has recently issued a publication titled "Stars in the Sky of Disability” which showcases the distinguished career of Dr Ahmed Malallah Al Ansari, one of Bahrain’s most prominent national figures in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, who dedicated his life to serving people with disabilities.
The booklet documents the professional and humanitarian journey of Dr Ahmed Al Ansari, a pioneer in Child Psychiatry and the first Bahraini specialist in this field. He played a pivotal role in establishing and advancing rehabilitation and psychological care services for individuals with special needs in Bahrain and the Gulf region.
Spanning over four decades, Dr Al Ansari emerged as a leading figure in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. His dedication to providing psychological, diagnostic, and rehabilitative care for children with developmental and neurological disorders has been instrumental in founding specialised units and centres across the Gulf.
The publication reviews milestones in his career, starting with the establishment of the first child psychiatric unit in the Gulf, in 1981, his involvement in founding the Bahraini Association for Intellectual Disability and Autism, and the Bahrain Society for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, which he continues to chair today, including his academic and research contributions at both regional and local levels. Among his numerous recognitions are the Order of His Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa (2021) and the Order of the Kingdom of Bahrain, Second Class (2003).
Under his leadership, six specialised centres were established, offering comprehensive services for children with autism spectrum disorder and developmental delays. He also organised parent training programmes and scientific conferences, notably the annual Dr Rashid bin Ali Flaifil Forum, now a prominent Gulf platform for scientific exchange.
Beyond his field work, Dr Al Ansari has held academic positions at Arabian Gulf University and contributed to student counselling and university programmes. He represented Bahrain on various regional scientific committees, including the Arab Board of Health Specialisations and the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Programme for Autism. Additionally, he served as a UNICEF consultant in Oman.
Dr Al Ansari has authored over 65 research papers, presented 36 at specialised conferences, and published more than 10 booklets focusing on psychiatry and disabilities.
The “Stars in the Sky of Disability” series aims to spotlight pioneering figures in disability services and showcase inspiring models of volunteer and humanitarian work through their experiences and initiatives. The publication also reflects the progress of Bahrain’s efforts in this field and celebrates the achievements of its pioneers.
by ashokaib | Sep 1, 2025 | Uncategorized
For the second year in a row, students of the College of Medicine and Health Sciences at the Arabian Gulf University (AGU), through the voluntary initiative “Sila Club”, and in collaboration with the Saudi Students Club, the Independent Kuwaiti Students Gathering in Bahrain, and the Omani Students Group, launched an awareness initiative aimed at preparing applicants for admission to the College of Medicine and Health Sciences. The initiative seeks to help candidates successfully pass the personal interviews, which are a key requirement for admission to the new academic year.
The initiative featured a live broadcast on the X platform, during which several AGU graduates, including Dr Abdulkarim Al Shahri, were hosted to answer questions from students and their parents, and to provide a clear overview of the nature of the interviews, their themes and the types of questions involved.
Medical student Rawan Al Enezi, who leads the initiative, said that personal interviews are often a source of anxiety and stress for many applicants. Explaining further, she said: “We launched this initiative last year, my colleagues and I, with the aim of breaking the barrier of fear and providing support to students by sharing real experiences and practical advice on how to prepare for the interview and handle it with confidence and calm. Since the initiative was widely welcomed by both students and parents, we decided to repeat it again this year.”
Meanwhile, student Ziyad Al Zahrani, who helped organise the session, said: “Having personally gone through the interview experience when I first joined the College of Medicine, I fully understand the stress applicants may face. Through this initiative, we sought to act as a bridge between experience and knowledge, and to help provide applicants with the confidence and answers they need. What pleased me most was the positive interaction of the students and their sense of reassurance after the session.”
The event witnessed wide engagement and included a comprehensive presentation explaining the steps of the interview, the number of academics involved, and the role of sixth-year students in supporting the assessment committees. It also featured testimonials from students who had successfully passed the interviews, along with effective tips to avoid stress and prepare well.
This initiative builds on the efforts of the student group, which last year issued a comprehensive electronic guide providing new students from the GCC with all the information they need about studying at the AGU College of Medicine, from the foundation year through to clinical training years, in addition to outlining the study system and academic assessment mechanisms.
by ashokaib | Aug 31, 2025 | Uncategorized
Dr Shaima Alnashaba, Assistant Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at the College of Medicine and Health Sciences at Arabian Gulf University (AGU)and Consultant in Internal Medicine, Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, participated in the American Endocrine Society Conference (ENDO 2025), recently held in San Francisco, USA.
During the conference, Dr Alnashaba presented a scientific poster titled: "FAST Score vs. FIB-4 Score in Identifying At-Risk MASH in Type 2 Diabetes with MASLD". The poster focused on evaluating early diagnostic tools for diabetic fatty liver disease and highlighted recent advances in this field.
On the sidelines of the event, she received the Early Career Forum Award, which is granted by the society to outstanding researchers at the beginning of their careers. She is among the first Bahraini doctors to receive this prestigious international recognition.
Dr Alnashaba affirmed that this honour serves as an incentive to continue her efforts in scientific research while serving healthcare and academic sectors in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
by ashokaib | Aug 31, 2025 | Uncategorized
The Arabian Gulf University (AGU), in cooperation with the Supreme Council for Environment (SCE), has launched an advanced training programme titled “Groundwater Hydrology and Management in the Kingdom of Bahrain”, aimed at enhancing institutional and human capacities in the groundwater sector in the face of climate change challenges. The programme is supported by the Green Climate Fund (GCF).
The programme, which runs until December, will train 20 promising Bahraini specialists and engineers in early to mid-career positions within relevant government entities. Participants will gain advanced skills in the characterisation and analysis of groundwater, the use of mathematical models to simulate aquifers to support decision-making, and modern principles of governance and sustainable groundwater management.
On this occasion, Prof. Waleed Khalil Zubari, Professor of Water Resources at AGU and lead trainer of the programme, emphasised that this training carries a high-level strategic dimension for the water sector in the Kingdom of Bahrain. He noted that it aims to prepare the next generation of water leaders to manage groundwater responsibly and sustainably, while strengthening resilience to climate change impacts. These impacts include declining rainfall leading to reduced recharge of groundwater, increasing demand from the agricultural sector due to rising temperatures, and the intensifying intrusion of seawater causing salinisation and deterioration of groundwater quality.
He added that addressing these challenges and developing adaptation strategies, such as artificial recharge and reducing agricultural demand through appropriate awareness, economic and technical tools, is of vital importance for Bahrain’s national water security. Preserving groundwater from degradation and ensuring its sustainability and readiness for emergencies is aligned with the objectives of advancing integrated water resources management in the Kingdom.
For her part, Eng. Laila Ali Sabeel, Director of the Climate Change and Sustainable Development Directorate at the SCE, stressed that groundwater is among the highest environmental priorities in Bahrain, given its critical importance, the need to maintain its quality, prevent pollution, and guarantee sustainability for future generations. She highlighted that deepening the scientific and technical understanding of this strategic resource forms a cornerstone of the Council’s efforts in developing effective environmental policies.
She further underlined the importance of institutional integration between the SCE, the Water Resources Council, and other relevant entities, as this plays a pivotal role in directing national efforts towards integrated and sustainable groundwater management, especially in light of increasing climate change challenges.
Additionally, Eng. Sabeel noted that the partnership with AGU reflects the Council’s commitment to strengthening national capacities through specialised training programmes that support applied research and enable Bahraini talents to utilise the latest scientific, hydrological, and modelling tools, thereby contributing to informed decision-making and the formulation of effective and knowledge-based environmental policies.
