Engagement (Community and Industry)
Empowering Students and Celebrating Women’s Achievements in the Arts
The University of Bahrain actively fosters gender equality through women’s empowerment and leadership through initiatives that encourage participation and leadership in cultural activities. A key example is the University’s outstanding success at the GCC University Theater Festival, where students received multiple awards, including Best Director and Best Female Artist for the play “Travelers.”
This achievement reflects the University’s strategic focus on inclusive and gender-responsive education and its commitment to ensuring women’s representation and achievement across academic, social, and artistic domains. By providing opportunities for both male and female students to express themselves creatively, the University strengthens women’s confidence, leadership, and public visibility.
In line with SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 4 (Quality Education), the initiative demonstrates how the arts can serve as a platform for equity, personal development, and innovation. The University’s Deanship of Student Affairs and the College of Arts provide continuous mentorship, training workshops, and institutional support to ensure women’s active participation in performing arts. These efforts cultivate inclusive, creative leaders equipped to contribute to sustainable cultural and social development.
Relevant SDG 5 Targets and Indicators (Cultural Engagement & Equal Representation):
Gender Equality: publications / cultural outputs:
Promotes gender representation and recognition in creative and academic outputs, strengthening visibility of women in university-led cultural work.
Women’s application in underrepresented subjects:
Encourages female participation in performing arts, traditionally less represented fields for women in higher education.
Proportion of female degrees awarded:
Contributes indirectly by encouraging women’s continued engagement and success in academic and creative programs leading to degree completion.
Women’s mentoring schemes:
Involves peer mentorship and creative leadership opportunities for female students participating in arts and performance projects.
Promoting Women’s Participation in Underrepresented Fields through Alumni Engagement
The University of Bahrain, through its Alumni Club in collaboration with the Department of Mass Communication, Tourism and Arts at the College of Arts, organized a seminar titled “Inspiring Stories.” The event featured distinguished alumni who shared their professional journeys, highlighted strategies for overcoming challenges, and reflected on their key achievements in the Bahraini labor market and internationally.
Participants included leaders in media, social development, and public relations, providing valuable role models for female students pursuing careers in underrepresented fields. This initiative reinforces the University’s commitment to student access measures, mentorship, and the promotion of equitable opportunities for women, supporting the development of skills, confidence, and professional networks essential for leadership and innovation in diverse sectors.
Relevant SDG 5 Targets and Indicators (Empowerment & Career Development)
Supports student access measures, provides equal opportunity for male and female students to explore non-traditional career fields.
Enhancing Student Career Awareness in the Tourism Sector
The University of Bahrain, through its Career Guidance Office, organizes free workshops and lectures each semester to provide students with insights into career opportunities across growing sectors. One such event, titled “What Are the Career Opportunities Offered by the Tourism Sector in the Kingdom of Bahrain?”, introduced students to the significance of Bahrain’s tourism and hospitality industry, investment strategies by the Economic Development Board, and pathways for graduates to access local and international career prospects.
The seminar, led by Issa Jaafar Mubarak, Director of Media and Communication at the Economic Development Board, and Rayan Yacoub Ahmadi, Director of Sales at Address Beach Resort Bahrain, provided students with practical guidance, professional perspectives, and networking opportunities. These initiatives promote equitable access to knowledge and career readiness, supporting female and male students in exploring roles in underrepresented fields, in line with the University’s commitment to student access measures and inclusive professional development.
Relevant SDG 5 Targets and Indicators (Teaching & Learning / Engagement Category)
Preparing Students for Careers in Bahrain’s Banking and Financial Services Sector
The University of Bahrain, through its Career Guidance Office, organizes free workshops and lectures each semester to equip students with knowledge about emerging career opportunities. One such session, titled “Envisioning the Future of the Financial Services Sector in Bahrain and the Skills Required in the Labor Market,” introduced students to the growing banking and financial services sector and highlighted the skills and academic backgrounds needed for success in this field locally and internationally.
The session was led by Ali Moosa Shafiee, Vice Chairman of Singapore Gulf Bank and EDB board member, and Isa Jaafar Mubarak, Media and Communication Director at the Economic Development Board. Discussions covered the EDB’s role in attracting international companies and banks to Bahrain, as well as insights on the evolving labor market.
These initiatives enhance students’ access to professional guidance, support informed career choices, and foster equitable opportunities for students across disciplines, aligning with the University’s commitment to student access measures and the development of skills for high-demand sectors.
Relevant SDG 5 Targets and Indicators (Teaching & Learning / Engagement Category)
Empowering Students and Community through the 21st Career Day Exhibition
The University of Bahrain inaugurated the 21st Career Day Exhibition at its Sakhir campus, featuring participation from 41 public and private companies and institutions across diverse professional sectors. The event provided students, alumni, and high school visitors with direct exposure to career opportunities, services, and professional pathways aligned with the University’s educational outcomes.
Dr. Fuad Mohammed Al-Ansari, President of UOB, toured the exhibition, emphasizing the University’s commitment to career readiness and workforce engagement. Sponsored by FOULATH Company as the platinum sponsor, along with other supporting organizations, the event reinforced UOB’s role in bridging education with industry, fostering student employability, and promoting equitable access to career guidance for all attendees.
By offering hands-on engagement with potential employers and mentorship opportunities, the Career Day Exhibition exemplifies UOB’s dedication to student access measures, community outreach, and professional development.
Relevant SDG 5 Targets and Indicators:
Provides equitable access to employers and professional pathways for both genders; aligns with student access and mentoring measures.
University of Bahrain Promotes Wellness and Gender Inclusion through Bahrain Sports Day
The University of Bahrain organized Bahrain Sports Day at its Sakhir campus, hosting a vibrant program of sports and recreational activities that engaged more than 600 participants from across the university community. The event brought together students, faculty, and staff in an inclusive and energetic atmosphere that celebrated health, teamwork, and equality.
By organizing Bahrain Sports Day, the University of Bahrain reaffirmed its commitment to creating an inclusive, health-oriented, and gender-balanced learning environment. The event not only celebrated physical fitness but also embodied the principles of equality, participation, and community spirit — reinforcing the University’s role as a model for inclusive engagement and sustainable campus well-being.
Relevant SDG 5 Targets and Indicators:
Promotes gender equality, participation, and inclusion through joint sports activities and mentoring spirit.
She Leads Tech Hackathon – Empowering Women in the Underrepresented ICT Sector
In July 2024, the ISACA Bahrain Chapter, with leadership representation from the University of Bahrain, collaborated with the Royal University for Women (RUW) to organize the “She Leads Tech Symposium and Hackathon.” The initiative sought to increase the representation of women in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector by inspiring and preparing young women to pursue studies and careers in technology and digital innovation.
Held on 3–4 July 2024 at RUW, the two‑day event combined symposium sessions, technical workshops, and a hackathon competition designed to develop participants’ problem‑solving, teamwork, and leadership abilities. The program engaged female high‑school students, providing mentorship from leading ICT professionals, including academic representation from the University of Bahrain serving within ISACA Bahrain.
The Royal University for Women awarded scholarships to the winning hackathon teams, supporting their continued higher education in ICT‑related disciplines and directly contributing to increasing the pipeline of women in technology. The initiative subsequently achieved international recognition when the ISACA Bahrain Chapter received the ISACA Global Innovative Chapter Program Award 2024 in the Innovative Community Engagement category.
This recognition underscores the strength of professional collaboration between higher‑education institutions and industry bodies in advancing women’s empowerment. Through leadership representation and active engagement in such national initiatives, the University of Bahrain continues to contribute to SDG 5 (Gender Equality) by promoting inclusive education, leadership, and digital capacity‑building for women across the Kingdom and the Gulf region.
Relevant SDG 5 Targets and Indicators:
Gender-focused mentorship programs / Awareness campaigns for gender equality
