The Opening Ceremony of West Virginia University Civil Engineering Degree Programme in Bahrain
18,Oct 2017
His Excellency Dr. Majib bin Ali Al Nuaimi, Minister of Education and Chairman of the Higher Education Council, delegated Dr. Mona Al Balooshi, Assistant Secretary General of Evaluation & Accreditation, and as per Higher Education Council’s approval for hosting West Virginia University Civil Engineering degree programme by Royal University for Women in the Kingdom of Bahrain, to patronize the inaugural opening ceremony was held on Wednesday, October 18, 2017 at the University’s campus in West Riffa. At the event, Mr. Fahad Al Zamil, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Royal University for Women and Prof. Mazin Jumaah, President of Royal University for Women welcomed the high level visiting delegation from West Virginia University, expressing their pride for being part of a promising collaboration and hopes to engage in further collaborations.
Mr. William Wilmoth, Chairman of the West Virginia University Board of Governors then welcomed students, wishing them success in their academic endeavors. He added that the West Virginia University degree programme in Civil Engineering hosted by Royal University for Women is a testament to the international reach of WVU and commitment to the partnerships in the Kingdom of Bahrain. He explained that it is a step towards a broader plan to provide world-class educational services to all students and to help them become well-rounded, mature, leading individuals who can excel academically and develop socially.
The students were also addressed by Dr. Gordon Gee, West Virginia University President who encouraged them to seize this opportunity to gain expertise from the visiting professors and reiterated West Virginia University’s dedication to fostering the ideal atmosphere in education. He added that the launch of the degree is an integral part of West Virginia University’s plan to provide world-class educational services to all students, to help them realize their potential and gain the necessary knowledge and skills to further their personal and professional careers.
The degree program, the first to be offered by West Virginia University in the Middle East started accepting applicants for the fall semester during the summer with students enrolling for academic year 2017/2018. Students enrolled in the program are registered as West Virginia University students and are eligible to earn a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering.
As part of the opening ceremony, His Excellency Mr. William Roebuck, US Ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain acknowledged the efforts of both West Virginia University and Royal University for Women towards achieving this remarkable milestone. He then congratulated the students on joining the West Virginia University family, and stressed on the potential of such programs for collaboration and exchanging of ideas and practices.
The West Virginia University degree program in Bahrain hosted by Royal University for Women is offered in newly constructed facilities and classrooms with state-of-the-art laboratory equipment as well as benefiting from courses and labs instructed by faculty affiliated to West Virginia University. The West Virginia University program is co-educational and all students admitted to the program will enroll in a preparatory foundation semester in English and Mathematics. In addition, career support services are available to assist with job placement upon graduation.
