Ahlia University and Brunel University sign new agreements

The press conference was presided by Professor Abdullah Al Hawaj, AU president, and Professor Julia Buckingham, the Vice-Chancellor of Brunel University.

The event was also attended by Ross Dixan, deputy British ambassador, Fatima Hashim, representative of the British Council, as well as a number of Ahlia professors and administrators.

Professor Abdullah Al Hawaj praised the partnership held over years with Brunel as well as congratulated Professor Julia for being the first woman to take the position of the president in Brunel University.

He confirmed, "This 'woman dean smiling' is affirming in her first visit to Bahrain such partnership and how helpful it could be to the whole region."

He stated affirmatively, "We want to enlarge this partnership beyond the GCC." He further revealed, "Both he and Professor Julia had met Deputy Minister Shaikh Mohamed bin Mubarak earlier before the press conference as a mark of the Bahraini government support."

He took the chance to announce the signing of more agreements that concrete and re-establish the linkage and the celebration of the launch of Brunel Alumni Bahrain Chapter that is to be held in Movenpick Tuesday night.

From her part Professor Julia thanked the great hospitality with which she was received. She pointed out that this programme held with Ahlia University for years is a learning curve.

She said, "We have actually born a very successful partnership. and we are in a position that we would really like it to expand for the benefit of the entire region."

She expressed her enthusiasm and looking forward to enlarging the reach of the PHD programme, which is one of a kind for Brunel University in the Middle East, and moving it to new territories.

Questions and discussions followed the statements and signing of the agreement marking a new chapter for Ahlia full of new achievements and dreams. As Professor Al Hawaj said, "All these efforts would make Bahrain the hub for such universal linkage; taking advantage from the investment of all 'the investment in education'."