Sat, August 15 2026

6 years ago

The evolving role of technology in education

Gulf Insider talks to Mr. William Hurt, Chief Operating Officer of the American University of Bahrain on digital transformation, FinTech, and the evolving role of technology in education. What is the scope for digital transformation in education and what are the risks associated with it? The scope for digital transformation in education is as wide or narrow as institutions want to make it. AUBH came into existence at the peak of digital transformation in the region, facilitating our ability to become a leader in the field. As a start-up institution, we are inherently dynamic and we had invested heavily in technology from the beginning. We believe in the power of digital education to reach students in a profound and engaging way, enhancing their education through greater access to learning materials, instructors, and other students. As a result, our entire campus and our teaching models have been specifically developed to use the most advanced educational technology available. The risks of migrating to a primarily digital platform are twofold. First, not everyone has access to the required technology. Students who don’t have the right device at home to access programs such as Adobe Photoshop, etc., would not be able participate fully in live […]

6 years ago

Bahrain: Heritage house in Muharraq wins two awards

A restored heritage house and boutique hotel in Muharraq has won the Identity Magazine 2020 Design Award. The renovated Nuzul Al-Salam, also known as Fathallah House, has also been conferred the Interior Design Award of the Ammar Basheir Creative Studio. The iconic restored heritage building is an offshoot of the Muharraq-based Shaikh Ibrahim bin Mohammed Al-Khalifa Centre from Culture and Research. The Dubai-based Identity Magazine is considered one of the most important specialized publications in the field of design and architecture in the region. The jury  included this year  India Mahdavi and Gianluca “Bilivo”  and Marco “Beva”, who are considered among the prominent judges in the fields of architecture, engineering and design. The renovated heritage house and boutique hotel has also been embellished with contemporary lines and styles inspired by a different concept from what is found in the region.

6 years ago

Classes to resume at British School of Bahrain tomorrow

Studies will resume at the British School of Bahrain on November 1, 2020, the Public and Media Relations Directorate at the Ministry of Education has announced. The school had sanitised all its facilities and was assured that the few infected cases and their contacts had completed the home confinement period ahead of re-opening, based on the precautionary measures and the health protocol issued by the National Medical Taskforce for Combating Coronavirus (COVID-19). The Health Ministry called on school principals to contact the relevant Education Ministry’s directorates when COVID-19 cases are detected to coordinate with the Public Health Directorate on the procedures to be followed in case there is a decision to close a school, be it public or private. Earlier this month, the Health Ministry, in coordination with the Education Ministry, suspended studies in the British School of Bahrain for ten days. The ministry said that the school would not reopen until the Public Health Directorate got assured that no new cases were registered during the ten days and that the school was completely free of any infected cases.

6 years ago

AUBH Highlights “American Technology In Education” For Discover America Week

The American University of Bahrain (AUBH) hosted a hybrid event on October 21, 2020, in collaboration with the U.S. Embassy in Bahrain, the American Chamber of Commerce, Amazon Web Services, and Microsoft, as part of the U.S. Embassy’s 2020 Discover America Week. The event was held on the University’s 75,000 square meter, state-of-the-art campus in Riffa and highlighted American technology brands and their pivotal role in education, in context with today’s evolving teaching and learning environments. Key U.S. Embassy officials attended the event in person along with senior representatives from the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham), while a larger number of guests attended the event online to ensure Covid-19 safety guidelines were respected. Discover America Week is an annual event organized by the U.S. Embassy in Bahrain to promote US-Bahrain bilateral trade and investment. It was designed to highlight the long-standing commercial relationship and history of the U.S. with the Kingdom of Bahrain. As such, Ms. Sameera Alatawi, AUBH’s Director of Information Technology, led a session with Mr. Zubin Chagpar, Head of Middle East and Africa, Public Sector, Amazon Web Services, and Mr. Hamad Al-Saie, Education Sector Lead, Microsoft, respectively, who demonstrated innovation in supporting the education sector and the […]

6 years ago

Survive or Thrive? Helping young people to be happy during a pandemic

At the start of a new academic year with COVID 19 continuing to affect the education of millions of students, as we continue to battle with the challenges and seize the opportunities, we are becoming more aware of the social and emotional impact of the pandemic on our young people. During these times, teachers across the region are doing their very best for their students, working hard to support their learning. In this new school year, we, at Britus Education, have a significant percentage of our students in Dubai, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia learning online, interacting with their teachers and peers ‘at a distance’. However, students are also in school and it has been my pleasure to visit classrooms and see children learning and enjoying the new term. However, there is something uncomfortable about watching a group of socially distanced children wearing masks and visors interact with each other and with their teacher. The current circumstances remind us very clearly that there is so much more to education than learning new knowledge – how can we, during a pandemic, provide our children with the social and emotional context to thrive and enjoy life? Whilst there may be a dearth of […]

6 years ago

How can parents support online learning?

Shaikha Latifa Al Khalifa, Co-founder & CEO of Clever Play Kids need a strong support system to thrive in learning be it in the classroom or online. With school, work and life in general disrupted so dramatically, how are parents to cope with the demands of future learning coming sooner than expected? Education experts often highlight the necessity of digital skills among students to train for future jobs. With schools abruptly shut down and shifted to online platforms, kids are not the only ones having to cope. Parents are challenged to quickly adapt to digital learning not only materially in terms of providing gadgets, tools and reliable internet connection but psychologically, in terms of getting into the right mindset to get a handle of the dramatic shift in learning platforms. Most parents would agree that the goal of providing continuity to learning amidst the pandemic and keeping children engaged within the safety of home is not without challenges. In the US, more than half of parents reported challenges with distance learning. With job disruptions and uncertain public health outlook wreaking havoc, parents’ stress is compounded by time management and child care issues. Yet, that is just one side of the […]

6 years ago

Ensuring that students are ready to learn

School leaders and their teams are busily working towards being ready for the new school year. Of course, this year, everything is different. COVID-19 continues to exert a grip on our lives and this has an inevitable impact on schools and schooling. COVID-19 is likely to be here to stay until a vaccine is developed and administered worldwide, therefore schools will be planning to offer alternative approaches to learning for the whole of the 2020-21 school year. As schools prepare for a very different start to the year it is important that school leaders remember their moral purpose, vision and strategic direction. COVID-19 has created a ‘new normal’, but the fundamentals of education remain the same – students deserve to receive a quality learning experience in a safe environment provided by schools that are trusted by their parents. So, how are schools preparing for the new school year? Carefully, is the most obvious answer! So, as a parent, what can you expect from your school? First, you should expect to have high levels of clear communication that keep you fully informed about the plans a school has to ensure your child is being given the opportunity to learn. You can […]

6 years ago

Gulf Insider talks to Julie Anne Gilbert, Infant School Head Teacher of the British School of Bahrain

In this episode of Education_BH, Gulf Insider talks to Julie Anne Gilbert, Infant School Head Teacher of the British School of Bahrain. The interview answers the following questions:

6 years ago

Developing Critical Thinkers through Personalized Learning

Gulf Insider interviews Susanne Penner, BC Offshore Representative of the Canadian School of Bahrain. What sets the CSB apart from other schools in Bahrain? Canadian School Bahrain aims to deliver global education in an engaging and safe environment while developing children’s wellbeing and embracing their confidence in their culture. Below are factors which set CSB apart: What is the British Columbia curriculum and what is unique about it? The Canadian School Bahrain (CSB) offers the British Columbia (BC), Canada curriculum. The BC Curriculum is an internationally renowned education program of the highest standard. This curriculum teaches students through fostering a lifelong love of learning. This outstanding program offers a balanced, concept and competency-based, inquiry approach to teaching and learning that is personalized and focuses on the whole child. Along with literacy and numeracy foundations, the curriculum emphasizes on building a set of core competences. The Core Competencies are sets of intellectual, personal, and social and emotional proficiencies that all students need to engage in deep, lifelong learning. BC students at Canadian School Bahrain will receive a Personal Education Number (PEN) which is a nine-digit number that follows the student through their B.C. education path from Early Learning, to Grade 12. […]

© Copyright 2026, Gulf Insider All Rights Reserved   | Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy