Ambassador stresses solid Bahrain-UK relations

Manama, Feb. 12 (BNA): The eighth annual Ahlia-Brunel PhD Student Symposium kicked off here today, with the participation of academicians from the Al-Ahlia University and the London-based Brunel University, as well the students of the joint programme. 14 work papers were presented during the symposium, which is an annual opportunity for researchers to highlight and discuss their the scientific findings. Board of Trustees Chairman and Managing Director of Al-Ahlia University, Professor Abdulla Yusuf Al-Hawaj, delivered a speech during the opening session. He affirmed the importance of scientific research in the kingdom and the region, voicing confidence in the ability of Bahrain and GCC researchers to contribute effectively to enhancing the science and knowledge march in the region and the world. He stressed that thanks to support of the leadership and the High Education Council, the Al-Ahlia University has succeeded in attaining the forecast goals of the "PhD Programme", launched in partnership with the London-based Brunel University, noting that 45 PhD holders have graduated from the programme and hold leadership posts in many ministries, companies and institutions in Bahrain and across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. He added that through the programme, the Al-Ahlia University aims to invest in scientific research and serve national goals, pointing out that the university has been keen to ensure that more 50% of researchers enrolled in the programme are Bahrainis, of which over 50 % are women. He affirmed that the programme, which enjoys regional and global acclaim, is open to researchers from Bahrain and other GCC countries. Al-Hawaj called for a greater social partnership in supporting scientific research in the kingdom, recalling the milestone Arab scientific achievements throughout history. Al-Ahlia University President, Professor Mansoor Ahmed Alaali also spoke during the opening session. He asserted that more than 100 scientific researches had been conducted in the Ahlia University in 2016, the second in Bahrain after the University of Bahrain. He affirmed that the Ahlia-Brunel PhD Programme is allocated a special interest given its importance to Bahrain and the GCC. British Ambassador Bahrain, Simon Martin, stressed the solid long-standing strategic Bahrain-UK relations spanning more two centuries. He added that the recent visit of the UK Prime Minister, Theresa May, had strengthened relations between the friendly kingdoms, and bolstered cooperation between them. Ambassador Martin lauded the existing cooperation between the Al-Ahlia University and Brunel University in teaching the PhD Programme and holding joint scientific research events, reiterating the British Embassy's support to the programme which, he said, benefits Bahraini and GCC students. The PhD Programme is offered by the Ahlia University in partnership with the Brunel University London. Launched in 2005, the PhD without Residence Programme in Information Systems, Computing, Mathematics, and Business and Management studies aims to attract students from the GCC region where a significant number of people strive to gain British standard degrees but are unable to travel to the UK to study on full-time basis and/or are unable to bear the high cost of living in the UK. The programme does not require students to go to the Brunel University London to study, however, attendance at Brunel is required for the Viva Voce defence at the end of the final year. Students are, however, may visit Brunel whenever they wish throughout the course of their PhD.