Crown Prince Scholarship students undertake challenging project at Batelco

The CPISP Action Learning Programme has been designed and supported by Rob Rörich & Associates in association with Aligned Leadership, both leading international organisational development consultancy companies.

CPISP officials selected four students, Amal Ahmadi, Islam Al Tayeb, Reda Al Fardan and Sayed Ali Al Derazi, who have all completed two years abroad, to participate in the 50 day programme with their task being to complete a challenging project set by Batelco's Senior Leadership Team and Chief Executive Peter Kaliaropoulos.

"The project - Bahrain becoming a leader in Broadband services in the Middle East - is a real opportunity with significance across the Kingdom for consumers, business and Government organisations. We are delighted to have some of the brightest minds and future Bahraini leaders addressing such an important project," said Mr. Kaliaropoulos.

The students who are being supported in their task by two Batelco staff members, Stefan Somersall-Weeks and Donya Al Ansari as members of the team, recently made an interim presentation to Batelco's senior leadership team and CPISP Director Dr. Ron Koller.

"We were extremely impressed by the quality and content of the presentation," said Mr. Kaliaropoulos, "and look forward to the final outcome."

"Giving the students the opportunity to apply previous learning to find solutions to problems, utilising real time-systems and information and supported by experienced professionals is providing them with a unique, accelerated learning experience."

"At the same time Batelco has the opportunity to tap into some powerful minds who have already proven their capabilities by being selected to be part of the Crown Princes Scholarship Programme in the first place," added Mr. Kaliaropoulos.

On completion of their 50 day project, the students will make a final presentation before HH the Crown Prince, Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, CPISP Management, Mr. Kaliaropoulos, other Batelco Management, and Management from Shamil Bank.

The Action Learning concept which has been used internationally for years is based on learning by doing, with the guiding principle being "There can be no action without learning; no learning without action". Rob Rörich & Associates consultant Rob Rörich meets with the group on a regular basis to allow the students the opportunity to discuss and reflect on their learning. Mr. Rörich, with a background in industrial psychology, has years of experience in group dynamics and programme facilitation.

Batelco and Shamil Bank were the only two local companies selected by the CPISP to participate in this initial Action Learning Programme.