Al-Hawaj: Upholding His Majesty’s Summit Initiatives is Our National Duty
The semester we recently concluded was far from ordinary. It was filled with events and programs that embraced the future, blending cutting-edge knowledge with forward-thinking initiatives. It was a time that made us pause at the finish line, not just to reflect on our journey but to prepare for new, unexpected paths ahead. As the second semester ended and the academic year drew to a close, like always, “Al-Ayam” brings with it a moment to review the past, reflect on the present, and anticipate the future with hope for what lies ahead.
Today, we speak with the visionary leader, Private Education Pioneer, Founding President of Ahlia University and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Professor Abdullah Yousif Al Hawaj. He is a man who has proudly showed the world that Bahrain invests in education and that its success comes from within.
“A New Beginning Rises from an End”
– The end of the academic year 2023-2024 felt like an old cinematic tale—where one chapter closes and another begins. How did the year wrap up, and how did it start? Did it meet your expectations?
– Without a doubt, the beginning of the 2023-2024 academic year was like a well-planned endeavor, not a stumbling start. There’s a vast difference between a deliberate approach and one that struggles to take shape. We began the academic year last September at Ahlia University with high hopes for achieving a better position in global rankings, and our efforts paid off as we secured the 651st spot globally. This is just one step in our larger vision to be among the top 500 universities worldwide by 2030.
We’ve also made significant progress in other areas, such as advancing in global education standards and contributing to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, alongside securing international accreditation in Information Technology, Business and Finance. With this momentum, we embarked on the next phase, armed with new programs that pushed us to the forefront in various fields. We launched innovative courses designed to meet the recent demands of the labor markets and the pervading digital transformation. Our Master’s in FinTech, for instance, fills a gap in previous offerings, while our Master’s in Forensic Accounting, Nutrition Science, and Physiotherapy, along with our PhD in Digital Media and Communication Technology, position us as the first Arab University to offer such programs. This reflects our commitment to addressing the needs of both the students and society, demonstrating that with the right vision, nothing is beyond reach for decision-makers or for those aspiring to achieve their goals.
“Personality of the Year”
– You have recently received the “Academic Personality of the Year Award” from the Association of Arab Universities in Abu Dhabi, which is a significant recognition that complements the international honors you’ve garnered. How did it feel to receive such a prestigious acknowledgment?
– First and foremost, I am deeply grateful to God for allowing me to witness this moment. It’s a culmination of over 45 years in academia—years that are difficult to summarize in numbers or broad headlines. In a way, I see this recognition as a kind of “life’s work reward.” The honor from the Association of Arab Universities was awarded based on the efforts I’ve shared with distinguished colleagues in the often challenging academic landscape. It also reflects the success we achieved in founding the first private university in the Kingdom of Bahrain, one of the first of its kind in the region. The idea for this institution began over thirty years ago, and this award is an additional badge of honor that I wear with pride, dedicating it to our beloved Kingdom, its leadership, government, and people. This achievement would not have been possible without the steadfast support, resources, and encouragement from our wise leadership. They created an environment where our dreams could flourish. My heartfelt thanks go to everyone who stood by us, helping us turn this vision into a reality. I am also grateful to those who eased the path for us, allowing us to break new ground and contribute to placing our country on the global map as a center of knowledge and enlightenment for the entire Gulf region.
“Innovative Initiatives and the Arab Summit”
– As the 2023-2024 academic year came to a close, in sync with the recent Arab Summit held in Bahrain. The initiatives presented by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa were widely praised, especially those focusing on the importance of FinTech, information technology, and modern sciences as key to achieving sustainable development. How do you view these forward-thinking proposals?
– These visionary initiatives from His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa were a breath of fresh air at the conclusion of the Arab Summit. His Majesty sent a powerful message to leaders and intellectuals in the region, stressing the importance of advancing our sciences, arts, and culture. His call for increased Arab cooperation in cutting-edge fields—particularly in technology, FinTech, and the broader information revolution—shows the dedication of His Majesty, the government, and the people of Bahrain to driving progress and modernizing national institutions. His vision makes clear that we must keep pace with the digital age and leverage artificial intelligence to further sustainable development, making these technologies available to academic, knowledge, and production institutions. If we truly aspire to build a solid foundation of scientific knowledge that can help solve our challenges and address urgent developmental, intellectual, and cultural issues, then we must spare no effort or resources in ensuring we become creators of progress, rather than simply consumers of it.
“National Committee to Activate Historic Initiatives”
– Recently, the Cabinet, under the leadership of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, decided to establish a committee to implement the initiatives proposed by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa at the Arab Summit. What is your view on this decision, and what do you think it aims to achieve?
– This decision couldn’t have come at a better time. Throughout the history of Arab summits, we’ve seen many important resolutions and recommendations made, but often they are left unfulfilled. We’ve long waited for actions that align with the hopes of the Arab people, yet many of these ambitions have remained unrealized. Thankfully, during this Arab Summit—held under highly critical and unprecedented circumstances—Bahrain displayed remarkable awareness and readiness. As a nation, led by its leadership, government, and people, we came together in recognizing the urgency of addressing the region’s significant risks and challenges. This unity has strengthened our resolve to confront the dangers that lie ahead. His Majesty the King introduced bold initiatives and shared his vision for the future of the Arab world, posing key questions: What are the obstacles to achieving our collective goals? How do we tackle the humanitarian disaster in Gaza and Rafah, the mass killings, and the forced displacement of Palestinians? His Majesty swiftly responded by proposing an international peace conference for the Middle East, with the aim of securing global guarantees for the Palestinian people’s right to a dignified life. This includes ending the war, establishing lasting peace, and creating a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, as part of the “two-state solution.”
“Initiatives and Sustainable Development”
– On the development front, His Majesty’s initiative clearly stressed the importance of education and integrating FinTech into academic curricula to ensure continuous, sustainable growth, rather than sporadic or reactive progress. Can you share your thoughts on this?
– This is exactly what I wanted to emphasize, and it’s what has inspired so many. His Majesty’s initiative, presented to the Arab leaders, reflects the dreams we have long held and hoped to achieve. It embodies the voice of the people, the aspirations of a nation, and the vision for a brighter future. The initiative is a clear directive to focus on modern sciences and education, essential for finding effective solutions to our challenges and addressing our complex economic issues in a scientific way. The timing of His Majesty’s initiative is ideal, as we, as educators and as a robust educational system, have already begun integrating advancements that enhance our academic fields. At Ahlia University, for example, we have introduced FinTech into our programs, alongside cutting-edge information technologies, artificial intelligence, and future forecasting algorithms. This places us at the forefront of institutions that are combining technological innovation with academic learning. The initiatives put forward by His Majesty, along with the Cabinet’s decision to form a committee to implement and oversee them, will guide us into a new era—one that we’ve long strived for. We may not have realized how close we were to achieving these dreams, but now it’s clear that every great achievement starts with a vision, and we are on the brink of making that vision a reality.
