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The kingdom's close links with New Zealand go far beyond the football match that is to be played in Wellington on Saturday, writes Anasuya Kesavan.
John Walter Scott, as chief executive, is the guiding force behind Bahrain Polytechnic in Isa Town, an up and coming educational institution established with a budget of BD10 million and operational since September last year.
With more than 23 years of experience in New Zealand's (NZ) polytechnic sector, he has been tasked by the kingdom's Economic Development Board to transform the delivery of higher education in the kingdom.
Mr Scott, 64, said that Bahrain chose Polytechnics International New Zealand (PINZ), an organisation he founded with former colleagues, to establish the new institution as they could demonstrate how it was used by NZ to transform its economy and reduce unemployment rates.
After putting up the proposal on behalf of PINZ he was invited to stay on to set up the project. Mr Scott said: "NZ has used polytechnic education to transform its economy. Polytechnics are largely driven by the needs of industry and world of work. We are a small country and an island and therefore we understand many of the issues that Bahrain is confronting.
"Our system also has a range of programmes that cover skills ranging from office level, right through to technical skills through to degree level.
"We took the lessons from NZ and spent 18 months understanding this country and its education system and worked on developing a plan that meets the demands of this country."
With a student population of 850 and a target of recruiting between 5,000 and 7,000 full-time equivalent students over the next five years, the establishment has a stiff challenge ahead of it.
The concept is new to the island and educating employers, schools, colleges and the community about what Bahrain Polytechnic has to offer is a primary goal.
The institution is also very strict about maintaining international quality standards and has expanded the threeyear course to four years with an inclusion of a foundation programme.
The polytechnic will also be introducing diplomas, advanced diplomas and certificates to benefit a larger pool of students.
Another important objective of the Polytechnic is to graduate employable people. Mr Scott said: "Part of a great shift in world education is moving from content to the outcome of skills that people have. Employers are looking for problem solving skills, synthesis skills, as well as the ability to be innovative and to do research.
"Here, we are identifying the outcomes that employers are looking for and are creating circumstances where students can practice those skills. The assignments, projects and teaching relate to real life experience.
"Bahrain has its head around what needs to happen and has given this institution a tremendous amount of autonomy.
