Two UOB Academics Win First Place in the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Teaching Excellence Awards in Poland

University of Bahrain academics Dr. Reem Sultan and Dr. Fatema Qaed from the Dept.  of Architecture and Interior Design at the College of Engineering have won the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Teaching Excellence Awards at the 20th European Conference on Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ECIE 2025), held at the University of the National Education Commission in Krakow, Poland.

Their winning initiative, “Embedding Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Interior Design Education: A Design Thinking-Based Pedagogical Model,” was selected from a highly competitive international field for its originality, impact, and transferability across disciplines and cultures.

The award-winning course is the result of a four-year journey, engaging over 300 students and is built around a unique 5i framework (Inspire, Investigate, Ideate, Implement, Iterate). It integrates Design Thinking not just as a learning tool, but as a teaching and curriculum development strategy, blending creative practice with business and social innovation.

As part of this recognition, their case history has been officially published in the ECIE 2025 Conference Book. An academic volume that highlights global best practices in entrepreneurial education.

•