Joint Cooperation Between the University and Hope Talents to Support and Develop Students’ and Graduates’ Talents
In line with the University’s strategy of serving the community and enhancing cooperative relations with national institutions and civil society organizations in the Kingdom of Bahrain, the University signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Hope Talents. The aim is to serve the University’s students and graduates and enhance their training and employment opportunities.
The University’s services are based on the principle of promoting community partnership by providing outstanding works that contribute to creating added value for the Bahraini society. This memorandum aims to establish a practical framework for cooperation between the two parties, benefiting the University’s students and graduates and assisting them in quickly integrating into the job market after graduation.
This MoU falls within the University’s keenness to enhance areas of cooperation and exchange experiences with the Hope Talents to strengthen educational outcomes and their efficiency in accordance with the needs of the job market.
Academic Excellence Award Scheme
https://www.asu.edu.bh/international/academic-excellence-award-scheme/
The below table illustrates the Academic Excellence Award scheme that Applied Science University has in place for the validated programmes.
The scheme rewards prospective students who have achieved academic merit. The scheme is divided into three categories, depending on the merit level achieved by students upon their graduation from high school.
Students are able to continue to benefit from this scheme throughout the full programme they are enrolled in, provided that they successfully continue to achieve a high GPA rate every academic year
Alumni Hired by ASU
Applied Science University is proud to have graduate students leading successful roles within the university. Some of our Alumni currently hired by ASU.
Financial Support to Local Community Businesses
For the year 2019-2020 the financial support to local community businesses was 75,000 BD. ASU allocated new resources for the year 2020-2021 seeking to increase the capacity of resources for companies in the local community with the purpose that people in the community have access to decent wages and supporting the law in Bahrain established for the whole society.
Figure 1. ASU Budget 2019-2020, taken from [1].
Compared to the year 2019-2020, ASU remains equally committed to entrepreneurship and financial assistance to new companies in the local community, this year the allocated fund is 77,000 BD annually incorporated into the university budget 2000 BD more than in the year 2019-2020. Below is the figure that contains the budget of the university that shows the fund for the year 2020-2021 [1].
Figure 2. ASU Budget 2020-2021, taken from [1].
Research Collaboration with London South Bank University
A high-level delegation from London South Bank University visited ASU (4-7 January) for initial talks to strengthen and augment our existing partnership with research, innovation and enterprise dimensions. The delegation was headed by Prof Paul Ivey, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Research and External Engagement, and included Prof David Mba, Dean of Engineering and Dr. Gurpreet Jagpal, Director of Research, Innovation and Enterprise. Prof Waheeb AlKhaja, Chairman of Board of Trustees, and Prof Ghassan Aouad, President of ASU, led ASU Senior Executive team in the discussions. The discussion has identified a possibility of establishing a joint Research Institute (RI), within major R&D projects that are primarily interdisciplinary in nature cutting across many interests in the University, e.g., Sustainable Futures. Various activities within the proposed RI include [2]:
- A portfolio of (HEC-approved) postgraduate programmes of studies (both at Masters and PhDs levels) will be developed and marketed widely within the region and beyond [2].
- Development of mobility programmes and joint staff database [2]
- Joint conferences/workshops organizations [2].
- Joint flag-ship R&D research projects [2].
Within our partnership, enterprise forms an equally important pillar under which, entrepreneurship and innovation are encouraged with CPD development, student start-ups, spin out, as well as commercial joint venture opportunities are harnessed and facilitated. During the visit, Prof. Ivey gave a lecture on Research Innovation, in which he emphasized the importance of research and innovation and outlined his vision and directions for collaborative research in general and between our two institutions in particular. ASU wants to provide the necessary support to the local community so that they have the necessary tools to create their start-ups and, in this way, contribute to economic growth in Bahrain. [2].
Figure 3. Research Collaboration with London South Bank University, taken from [2].
Financial Aid for create Start-Up Awarded by the Capital Governorate
On 5 January 2020, the University President, Prof Ghassan Aouad with the Dean of Student Affairs, Dr. Faiza Zitouni and Head of Marketing and Student Recruitment, Edyta Przybyla attended the weekly majlis of Shaikh Hisham Bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa at Capital Governorate. During the meeting Shaikh Hisham offered ASU a Financial Aid for create Start-up worth of BD 35,000 to be awarded to one of students [3].
Figure 4. Scholarship Awarded By The Capital Governorate, taken from [3].
In addition to the above, on 16 January 2017, the University signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Flat 6 Labs [4] [5]. Flat6Labs is a leading accelerator in the MENA region with locations in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Lebanon, Tunisia, Bahrain and a new addition launching in Morocco soon.
Figure 5. Flat 6 Labs, taken from [4].
Figure 6. Flat 6 Labs, Agreement [5].
Figure 7. Flat 6 Labs, Agreement Signed [5]
Flat6Labs with their network of locations enables local start-ups to access over 300 mentors and cross border business and legal support for start-ups to scale their business into the respective markets of their locations. Selected start-ups for their accelerator program also benefit from an initial seed fund of up to $30K and non-cash benefits such as office space in a collaborative environment in addition to training & coaching by seasoned trainers and partners. The purpose of the agreement is to collaborate in the area of entrepreneurship and business incubators and accelerators to support the local community, some examples of the local community sustainable start-up’s that the university supported financially are:
Start Your project
https://www.asu.edu.bh/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/booklet-Final.pdf
The Stories Studio WLL
a Bahraini based video game development studio creating commercial games for global social impact, the university supported the company for [6]. ASU Amount of Financial Support BHD was BD 4000
Figure 8. The Stories Studio WLL, taken from [6].
The Experience Accelerator WLL
An online learning platform about the latest leadership thinking [7]. ASU Amount of Financial Support BHD was BD 4500
Figure 9. The Experience Accelerator WLL [7].
Hommycook
Hommycook is an online Food ordering platform specialized in homemade food [8]. ASU Amount of Financial Support BHD was BD 3200 [8].
Figure 10. Hommycook, taken from [8].
Local Productive Families
An annual exhibition held at ASU to host the families the produce products to sell [9] . ASU Amount of Financial Support BHD was BD 4000
Applied Science University with the Origin Group organized a forum in cooperation with the UNIDO and the British Council, whose aim of the event was to overcome the current challenges in the region that affect all segments of society by introducing youth to entrepreneurship [10].
Figure 12. Forum with UNIDO, taken from [10].
ASU supported many start-ups in the community, the support was either financial aid or consultancy based support, examples of start-ups supported by the university are:
- BARREL & DRUM [11]: ASU supported this start-up with providing information that contributed to the start-up business plan, the start-up profile is an up-to-the-minute designer eyewear line, prides itself on a return to essentials. They believe in stripping back the pseudo-glamour and grandeur of designer eyewear to create pieces that are grounded and natural, yet still utterly stylish
Figure 13. Barrel % Drum, taken from [11]
- BESUITED: ASU supported this start-up by providing business consultancy and financial support as well, Besuited is a cutting-edge men’s accessory store offering a wide selection of diverse embellishments: neckties, pocket squares, bracelets, tie bars, lapel pins, and more.
Figure 14. Besuited, taken from [12]
- BOSSY KITCHEN: ASU supported this start up financially, the start-up was a home-based business before emerging as a full-fledged restaurant.
Figure 15. BOSSY KITCHEN taken from [13]
Also, the university collaborates with the government in supporting start-ups in the community, government bodies
Figure 16. start-ups in the community, taken from [14]
Figure 17 . start-ups in the community- event, taken from [14]
And with the ministry of industry, commerce and tourism
Figure 18. Ministry of Industry – commerce and tourism, taken from [14]
The university provides workshops the community on how to launch a start-up:
Figure 19. ASU, Star your Business form [14]