When and why was the Crown Prince’s International Scholarship Programme established?
The Crown Prince’s International Scholarship Program (CPISP) was established in 1999 by HRH the Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander, Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, with the aim of providing the opportunity to Bahrain’s brightest, most talented and outstanding youth to study at top international universities and colleges.
His Royal Highness’ vision is to develop young Bahrainis from all walks of life so that they can achieve their dreams and aspirations, and attain key positions that will contribute to Bahrain’s development, through serving in the public or private sectors or through the international arena.
In terms of specific milestones and achievements, how has the scholarship programme evolved since its inception?
As of 2009, The Program has awarded a total of 96 scholarships to outstanding Bahraini secondary school students. Ten fully funded under-graduate scholarships are awarded on an annual basis to 5 young men and 5 young women from both private and governmental secondary schools, providing them the opportunity to study at top international universities and colleges.
The first group of scholarship recipients included 6 students from the Ministry of Education schools. However, in 2001, HRH the Crown Prince decided to increase the total number of annual scholarships to 10, and include four scholarships for students from private schools.
Scholarship recipients are free to choose their own majors and universities that they gain acceptance from. The Program requires its scholars to attend international universities abroad, so that they receive cultural exposure and gain the most out of their academic experience. Government school students are required to undergo two years of either prep or boarding school, where they attain a high school post graduate diploma or A Levels, before applying to University. This gives them the opportunity to improve their English language and research writing skills; the results have proven to be outstanding when it comes to obtaining a seat in prestigious universities.
The Program works hard to create a family atmosphere among students, parents and staff, arranging for various activities and social functions throughout the year. HRH the Crown Prince meets students in small informal groups twice a year upon their return to Bahrain during their summer and winter breaks to personally ask about their progress and development. CPISP officials also make trips during the year o the US and UK to check on students and visit schools and universities to build and maintain ties, and seek scholarship opportunities for future candidates and recipients.
The Program encourages students to actively participate in academic field trips, summer projects and other initiatives which enrich their learning experience and develop personal growth. CPISP students have proudly represented Bahrain by undertaking field trips and summer projects around the world including Borneo, France, South Africa, Syria and Tasmania. Students are also required to partake in summer internships so that they can gain work experience and prepare for their future career plans.
In 2004, the Program’s first group of scholars graduated from university with Bachelors’ degrees and either began employment or continued with their post-graduate degrees, funded by HRH the Crown Prince. The Program places no restrictions on students on where they work upon graduation. In fact, HRH encourages graduates to obtain a job in the global arena and gain international work experience and exposure before returning to Bahrain.
In 2005, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI recognized HRH the Crown Prince for his efforts in setting up the CPISP and his commitment to fund the program with $32 million over the next 10 years.
In 2006, HRH launched the CPISP Endowment Fund, opening the door for sponsors to contribute to the Program’s continued operation and development through financial support. A Board of Directors was established, chaired by HRH the Crown Prince, and six of the thirteen seats on the Board have been reserved for sponsors. The Fund also enabled the CPISP to provide its scholars with the opportunity to pursue post-graduate degrees and take part in specialized educational enrichment programs. The CPISP Action Learning Program was launched as a result, and has allowed CPISP students to develop their leadership and team working abilities, as well as learn from hands-on experience in a work environment by working on a real business challenge with top companies.
In 2009, the CPISP added a leadership, critical thinking, and communication segment to its final selection criteria, organizing a 4 week training workshop for candidates vying for the Crown Prince’s annual scholarships. Students took part in activities and exercises aimed at developing their leadership, critical thinking, and communication skills; and interacted with mentors from various organizations who also received training on how to assess the students.
The CPISP Alumni Association was also launched, and includes 46 CPISP graduates who are either employed, pursuing post-graduate degrees, or taking part in specialized projects. The Alumni Association works to create a lasting connection between the CPISP and its graduates. It’s objectives and duties not only include organizing reunions and activities for graduates, but will also involve assisting the Program in developing beneficial programs and projects for current students.
As the CPISP celebrates its ten year anniversary, it recognizes that it is the Bahraini students themselves who can take credit for the Program’s success. As a result of their hard work, outstanding academic performance, and numerous personal achievements, the CPISP has earned itself a high reputation among the educational institutions and international organizations that it deals with.
What strategic approach to education do you adopt? Does your scholarship programme focus on delivering assistance to schools in certain geographic areas of Bahrain? What is your selection rationale?
CPISP has developed its own specialized process to shortlist scholarship candidates and select the final recipients. First, CPISP staff brief 11th grade students with high GPAs about the Program and its application criteria through presentations and school visits. Students then submit their applications to the Scholarship Office and sit for a Qualifying English Language Test administered by the CPISP. To qualify as a CPISP applicant, students must be enrolled in the 11th grade and have a 97 per cent or higher cumulative GPA for grade 10 and the first semester of grade 11, as well as Bahraini citizenship. The top 60 students are then shortlisted based on their GPAs and English Test scores. These candidates are then given the opportunity to benefit from various educational workshops administered by the Program over the summer and throughout their final academic year of secondary school.
Candidates are offered a series of courses, workshops and seminars commencing in March and concluding in December. The candidates begin with a course that prepares them to take the IELTS and SAT. The CPISP registers the candidates for the IELTS and SAT and organizes the administration of these assessments. During the summer candidates take part in a specialized training program, which aims to develop their leadership, communication, and critical thinking skills.
From September until December a variety of seminars relating to applying to university, selecting a career and exploring other options for financing university education are available to the candidates. A local college fair is held at the conclusion of these seminars.
The final ten scholarship recipients are selected based on their GPA, scores on the SAT and IELTS, and a score from the summer training program. The selection process, including all student scores and grades, is reviewed by an independent auditing firm to ensure accuracy and transparency.
What are some of the international universities that students have attended? Do you provide funding for post-graduate education through master’s and doctoral programmes?
The CPISP currently provides both undergraduate and post-graduate funding for its scholars, who are selected at the secondary school level. CPISP scholars have gained acceptance into some of the most distinguished international universities in the US, UK, and France. They include:
US Universities:
• Boston College
• Brown University
• Columbia University
• Cornell University
• Drake University
• Emory University
• Georgetown University
• Harvard University
• Johns Hopkins University
• Lake Forest College
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Michigan State University
• New York University
• Princeton University
• Purdue University
• Rochester Institute of Technology
• Stanford University
• Tufts University
• University of Chicago
• University of Hartford
• University of Michigan
• University of Pennsylvania
• University of Southern California
• Yale University
UK Universities:
• Architectural Association
• University of Birmingham
• University of Durham
• Imperial College London
• King’s College London
• London School of Economics and Political Science
• Loughborough University
• University of Manchester
• Oxford University
• School of Oriental and African Studies
• University College London
• University of Bristol
• University of Cambridge
• University of Nottingham
• University of Warwick
French Universities:
• Paris Graduate School of Management
• Sciences Po
How is your programme funded? And how do you determine funding priorities?
The Program was initially funded solely by HRH the Crown Prince when it was established in 1999. In 2006 the Program’s endowment fund was launched, which has since attracted a total of 27 sponsors who have pledged, in addition to HRH’s continued annual contribution of BD 1.5 million to the Program, a combined total of BD 18 million over the next 5 years. The Program currently operates on a yearly budget of about BD 1.8 million, and is supporting 48 students pursuing their Bachelor’s degrees, 5 pursuing Master’s degrees, and 5 pursuing their doctorates. The annual financial support provided by HRH the Crown Prince and sponsors goes into the CPISP’s yearly operational budget and into investments that will generate funding for the Program’s future operations.
The Program’s funding priorities include all student related expenses, followed by promotion of the Program to attract sponsorship and support of its endowment fund. The CPISP covers the costs of students’ tuition fees, accommodation, and health insurance. Students are given a yearly allowance which differs according to their location of study, and are also provided with round trip airline tickets from Bahrain to their school or university at least once a year during their holiday breaks. Upon their graduation from university, the Program provides two air tickets to the parents or guardians of each student to attend their university commencement ceremonies. The CPISP also provides its recipients with the opportunity to take part in additional education enrichment programs in cooperation with other organizations, such as its in-house Action Learning Program and the Academy of Achievement’s International Summit.
The CPISP also funds various programs for eligible candidates applying for scholarships, as well as its scholars. As mentioned before, the CPISP provides its qualifying candidates with SAT and IELTS training workshops, a specialized leadership, critical thinking, and communication development program, and the opportunity to explore career and university options through seminars and a college fair.
Is CPISP in partnership with other government or non-government scholarship initiatives? Do you work in tandem with them?
The Crown Prince’s International Scholarship Program operates as a separate entity that provides scholarships to select outstanding Bahraini secondary school students, from both private and governmental secondary schools, on an annual basis. Qualifying students must apply directly for the Crown Prince’s scholarships the year prior to their actual secondary school graduation. Application forms can be downloaded from the CPISP website (www.cpisp.bh) and submitted to the Scholarship Offices, which are currently located at the Court of the Crown Prince.
To brief outstanding students about the Program’s application process, the CPISP works with the Ministry of Education and individual private secondary schools to organize and set up presentations and school visits. The Program also works with various business organizations to provide scholarship candidates and recipients with internships and career-related information. Local organizations take part in the training programs organized by the CPISP, offering candidates and recipients their guidance and expertise as mentors and colleagues. A local college fair is also organized by the CPISP for its candidates, which provides students with other educational options in the region.
Applicants and candidates who do not earn the Crown Prince’s scholarship are able to earn other scholarship opportunities from other organizations. Various government and semigovernment organizations and ministries have approached CPISP candidates with scholarship opportunities as well.
How do you help raise awareness about the importance of education and what additional measures do you think could be taken to spread the word?
HRH the Crown Prince’s vision regarding the Kingdom’s future recognizes the crucial role of education, training, and youth and human development. With the establishment of the endowment fund, the Program has taken measures to approach outside organizations from the private sector and business community to support HRH in achieving the Program’s objectives.
The CPISP strives to promote its objectives on a local community level, as well as internationally. Through its private school visits and government school presentations, the CPISP calls on outstanding students to take advantage of the educational opportunities available to them, and to benefit from international cultural exposure. The CPISP also utilizes the local media and its own in-house Spotlight magazine, to showcase its message and highlight the achievements of its scholars. The success and personal accomplishments of CPISP scholars and alumni are a testament to the outcomes of a solid education.
Internationally, the CPISP has proven to be one of the most productive scholarship programs in the region. Program officials continuously work to maintain ties with international universities and educational institutions; and due to the students supported by the Program, the CPISP has earned a reputable standing with top universities and education-related organizations.
How do you envision the Bahraini public and private sectors benefiting from graduates who are recipients of your scholarships? Is ‘brain drain’ an issue?
Recipients of the Crown Prince’s scholarships have proven to excel in their academic environments, extracurricular activities, and in the workplace. During their internship and work related experiences, scholars have received high recommendations from senior officials in praise of their performance and quality work.
The CPISP aspires to see its scholars attain a substantial education, gain international cultural exposure, and secure employment opportunities that will allow them to demonstrate their full potential and productivity. By attaining key decision-making roles in the private or public sectors, CPISP scholars will contribute to Bahrain’s development and future both nationally and globally.
Although the CPISP places no restrictions on where students work after graduation, students are encouraged to gain international work experience and exposure before returning to Bahrain. Many students choose to return to Bahrain upon their graduation to support the growth of their country directly. Due to the quality performance demonstrated by their predecessors, CPISP scholars are sought by major companies and organizations in Bahrain with promising job offers.