Thirty-four Bahrainis from the private sector graduated from a tailor-made course in business management and leadership skills held at BIBF as a part of Tamkeen initiative to equip Bahrainis’ with leadership and business management skills that will make them effective players in the Kingdom of Bahrain's vision 2030 development matrix.

Delivered by the Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF), the 12-month long part-time course titled ‘International Diploma in Management Programme’ was  offered in association with the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), UK. The 34 successful candidates, which include 8 Bahraini business women, undertook assignments that gave them vital skills and experience in different areas.
 
“Tamkeen takes pride in its innovative approach to developing human resources for the private sector. Leadership development is a key ingredient in the formula for success in the private sector and by supporting the training of promising Bahrainis in this vital area, we believe that Tamkeen is strengthening the foundation for future progress,” said Vice President for Enterprise and Human Capital Development, Dr. Ahmed Abdul Ghani Al Shaikh.

Dr. Al Shaikh added, “This is an ongoing programme – these 34 Bahrainis are part of the first batch and a second batch of 11 beneficiaries have also completed their course in December. Two more batches are ready to take the course – a group of 36 beneficiaries who will graduate in July 2010 and a fourth batch of 33 who are already in training since October 2009 and will graduate in December 2010.”

In addition to these batches, the training programme will also reach 70 more business owners and managers this year in March and September. Candidates attend classes every alternate Saturday from 8 am to 2 pm and are required to complete a series of work based assignments as they progress from module 1 to module 8 (a total of 8 assignments)

The BD195,000 course targets 200 Bahraini business owners and managers who have been informed through a marketing campaign in leading Arabic and English newspapers in Bahrain.

The programme is tailor-made to nurture the management and leadership skills of the participants, and is combined with the valuable membership of the CMI; the only chartered professional body that is dedicated to management and leadership, boasting 80,000 members worldwide.
 
BIBF director Garry Muriwai commented “On behalf of BIBF I congratulate the participants for their achievement and success. Their success was built around the programme framework especially learning in an environment that was action-based, practical, and linked to work-related outcomes.”

Mr. Muriwai added “In addition, the successful candidates acquired a qualification in
management that will give them a head-start towards becoming a Chartered Manager, the highest level of achievement with the Chartered Management Institute.”