Features

The Place of Useful Learning

by BTM

Mon, 06 June 2022

Elvin Joseph

Elvin Joseph, the Director of Business Development for the University of Strathclyde in Bahrain, spoke to us about the offerings from the university›s international Master of Business Administration (MBA) programme.

Can you tell us about University of Strathclyde and how long it has been operating in Bahrain and the region?
The university is based in Glasgow, Scotland, and was founded by Professor John Anderson in 1796. We have had a presence here in the Middle East for more than 25 years, beginning with Bahrain and Dubai in 1995 and in Oman since 2001. 

What are some of the most recent coveted academic awards won by the university?
One of the most recent awards was our third Queen’s Anniversary Prize. The award, which is the highest national honour in the sector, was conferred on Strathclyde for excellence in advanced manufacturing. In 2020, we also received the accolade for its excellence in Energy Innovation. 

Furthermore, we are the only university to win the ‘University of the Year’ award twice, in 2012 and 2019.

Can you elaborate on some of the different programmes offered by Strathclyde in Bahrain and regionally?
We have two different programmes running in Bahrain. The first is our MBA which has been running for more than 25 years. Then, in 2020, we launched the Strathclyde FinTech programme in Bahrain and this has been a huge success in shaping the economic landscape of the Kingdom. 

The University of Strathclyde’ motto is ‘The Place of Useful Learning’. What does this actually represent?
This was decreed by John Anderson when he founded the university. We here are connected in terms of business, industry and a high number of professional accrediting bodies. This ensures that students are updated, as well as guaranteea our programmes are up-to-date and fit for purpose. This helps us build the skills that students need for their career opportunities and engaging with professionals, so we can set them up for future careers. 

Furthermore, the programme is constantly being refined so that it will be of value for students throughout their lifetime. The skills and knowledge they gain from us will be useful in their workplace, long after their academic studies are over.

How many students from Bahrain and the region have successfully completed Strathclyde’s programmes?
Over the span of the last 25 years we have had more than 6,000 alumni residents across the Middle East, with more than a thousand of them from Bahrain. One of the quirks of Bahrain is that we have students coming in from Saudi Arabia who study here as well.

Why should people choose Strathclyde over alternative MBA programmes?
Simply put, the University of Strathclyde is a multi-award winning university, as I mentioned earlier. We have been particularly commended as the Business School of the Year, the Workplace of the Year, and most importantly, our Executive MBA was ranked in the Financial Times’ Top 100 ranking of the best international executive programmes and in the Top 10 of the UK. These are outstanding achievements which I believe are unrivalled in the Middle East by anywhere else.

What message does the university have for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the occasion of her Platinum Jubilee celebration?
On behalf of the University of Strathclyde, I would like to congratulate Her Majesty on the remarkable Platinum Jubilee milestone, and we would like to extend our sincere thanks and gratitude to her for her continuing support to the university.

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