Just the job!

STARTING a career with a plum job at the end of college is a dream every student hopes will become a reality ... although graduates across the globe have been finding it an increasingly difficult prospect in the current financial climate.

However, one of the top colleges in Bahrain is leading the way and over the past three years graduates of NYIT's (New York Institute of Technology) School of Engineering and Computing Sciences have all secured employment.

The school's assistant dean and associate professor, Dr Muhamad Abdul-Ghafour said: "Students like this major because it is very hot in the market right now, especially the one on information network and computer security.

"I do not have any student in Bahrain without a job. I am very happy to hear from many students that they get an offer even before they complete the course!

"Some of them go to work in companies dealing with communications whether it is in the private or public sector. Banks, where information technology plays a major role, also attract good students.

"Many are also recruited by the government ministries. Some of them are here on scholarship from the Ministry of Defence and others are from the Electricity and Water Authority."

The courses attract students from across the region. Currently there are youngsters from Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, India and Pakistan enrolled.

The department offers two undergraduate programmes where students can major in computer science and in information technology. At the graduate level, programmes offered are masters in computer science, electrical and computer engineering and information network and computer security. Students can also take minor credits in electric and computer engineering and computer graphics.

All students enrolled in the master's programmes are employed and classes only begin in the evening to accommodate their work schedules. Classes are conducted in English and applicants are assessed for their English and mathematics abilities.

Dr Abdul-Ghafour added: "The school has built a very good reputation in Bahrain. We are doing the best we can to improve the teaching quality by bringing faculty who are US graduates with at least 10-years experience. It has given us an edge."