Future Bahraini engineers have been given the chance this week to hear from young British engineers as BAE Systems hosts a series of STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) workshops this week in partnership with Bahrain Polytechnic. The workshops are supported by the Ministry of Education, the British Council and British Embassy and are designed to celebrate the 200th Anniversary of the close relationship between Bahrain and the United Kingdom.
As part of its ongoing education program in Bahrain, graduate engineers from BAE Systems are introducing the concept of STEM to 600 students from 20 schools in Bahrain, which take place at Bahrain Polytechnic from 13-17 March. STEM is an interdisciplinary educational curriculum focused on building the skills that drive innovation and fuel economic growth for the future – vital subjects for a career in engineering.
To mark the official launch of the STEM workshop program at Bahrain Polytechnic, Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain, Mr. Simon Martin CMG, Dr. Hasan Almulla, Deputy CEO from Bahrain Polytechnic and representatives from BAE Systems attended the launch ceremony at the Polytechnic.
Simon Martin CMG said: “I am delighted to see around 600 students from 20 different schools taking part in STEM workshops at Bahrain Polytechnic this week. It has been inspiring to see the enthusiasm of the young Bahraini engineers, scientists and mathematicians of the future! The workshops have been organized by the leading British company, BAE Systems, supported by the Ministry of Education, the British Council and the British Embassy. Education links between our countries have long been a key element of the close relationship between Britain and Bahrain, and it is entirely fitting that this important event should form part of the celebration of the 200th Anniversary of this relationship.
“I should like to thank HRH Prime Minister Khalifa bin Salman and the Minister of Education Dr. Majed Al Noaimei for their continued support for this event and of course Bahrain Polytechnic for hosting the STEM workshops. I hope to see more educational projects between BAE Systems and different educational institutes in Bahrain,” he added.
Saeed Abbas, Senior Science Curriculum Specialist for Basic Education at the Ministry of Education said: “We at the Ministry of Education are delighted to be hosting this type of STEM activity that has great benefits for students. Such activity engages students in practical exercises and has a direct and positive impact on their attitudes and future plans at this level of their study. The program also creates and opportunity for students to broaden their horizons and be inspired”.
For the first time BAE Systems has partnered with Bahrain Polytechnic and the event is hosted at the Polytechnic’s campus at Isa Town. The BAE Systems’ engineering graduates, Hannah Williams and Kush Ahuja, together with student volunteers from Bahrain Polytechnic, are taking Bahraini school students through a workshop on “the Theory of Flight” designed to encourage them to study STEM subjects in further education and to pursue careers in technology or engineering.
In addition, the young engineers will give the Bahrain Polytechnic students the opportunity to explore the daily life of an engineer in a global engineering company.
As part of these activities, the students will also be able to experience the practical side of aerospace engineering as there will be a real Spitfire aircraft at the Polytechnic to support “the Theory of Flight” theme.
Bahrain Polytechnic’s Acting CEO, Dr. Mohamed Al Aseeri, stated: “We are honored to have partnered with BAE Systems to host this event. At the Polytechnic, we focus on practical learning more than the theoretical, and we develop our students to become work-ready immediately after they graduate by equipping them with the 21st century skills. Hosting these workshops at our campus reflects on the Kingdom’s goals to develop the youth of Bahrain, and we completely support the initiative. I’d like to thank BAE Systems for hosting this unique event at our campus, and look forward to many more collaborations in the future”.
