BACKGROUND
The employability of graduates is of paramount importance to any country. According to Cameron Mirza Head of Projects and Strategy at Bahrain’s Higher Education Council
“Only 20-25% of employers in the whole region are happy with the quality of graduates so that’s why employability is so important to us.”
“Employability is a massive area of tension for us because employers tell us that they want graduates with employability skills they want graduates with 21st century skills soft skills and attributes communications skills and problem solving critical thinking that will help boost the private sector the public sector and create a better society for Bahrain.”
The HEA was commissioned by the Higher Education Council of Bahrain via the British Council to help formulate and implement a plan to embed employability into the curriculum of the universities across the Kingdom. This is part of the Kingdom’s economic vision 2030.
THE BRIEF
To equip universities with knowledge and strategies to embed employability into the curriculum to meet the skills needs of employers and ensure that students can fulfil their potential.
OUR APPROACH
The HEA worked with the Higher Education Council of Bahrain to understand the specific in-country need developing and running a national collaborative event for leaders of employability from across Bahrain. The purpose of the event was to support institutions to develop their curriculum in order to address employability more effectively and to raise standards across the board.
The HEA introduced delegates to a process for employability using its framework for embedding employability as a starting point. The framework provided delegates with a process to evaluate their practice identifying areas of strength and areas for development and a structure for monitoring progress. Delegates were able to take this process back to their institution where they could use it to ensure that they have effective support in place for their students and use what employers are actually saying they want from graduates to inform the curriculum.
OUTCOMES
“The HEA are really good partners. They understand the Middle East and our issues here in Bahrain. They do not provide something off the shelf – they are adaptive in everything they do for us and contextualise for Bahrain’s needs and that’s what sets them apart. HEA staff have great energy great experience and are a pleasure to work with.”
Cameron Mirza Head of Projects and Strategy Higher Education Council Kingdom of Bahrain