Bahrain-based Al Mabarrah Al Khalifia Foundation, a non-profit foundation, said it has signed an agreement with the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland – Medical University of Bahrain (RCSI Bahrain) for the launch of a new scholarship in medicine.

Al Mabarrah Al Khalifia Foundation is registered and licensed by the Ministry of Labour and Social Development. Established in 2011, the organisation’s aim is to make a social impact in the education field and to empower Bahraini youth to reach their optimum potential.

As per the agreement, the new ‘HH Shaikha Moza bint Hamad Medical Grant’ will be presented by Al Mabarrah as part of the Rayaat Scholarship programme, said a statement from the Foundation.

Applications for this scholarship, which covers all tuition fees as well as other benefits pertaining to the Rayaat programme, will be available starting from today (July 2) till July 22, it stated.

According to the Foundation, students will be selected as per a set of criteria. Eligible applicants must be Bahraini, a fresh graduate with a score of 98 per cent and above in secondary school in the field of science. The student must complete all the necessary procedures and apply to the university.

The applicant also should not be the recipient of another scholarship or financial assistance from the government or private entities, it stated.

On the new scholarship, Shaikha Zain bint Khalid Al Khalifa, the chairperson of the Foundation, said the objective was to provide educational opportunities to young people across different academic aspirations in universities and leading educational institutions in the country.

“Our mission is to create a generation capable of continuing the development of Bahrain across all sectors,” she noted.

Lauding Shaikha Zain Bin and all the members of the Foundation for their efforts to support and empower Bahrain’s youth, Sameer Otoom, the president of RCSI Bahrain, said: "It is indeed an honour for the university to name a scholarship for medicine after HRH Shaikha Moza Bint Hamad."

“We are hoping that this relationship will be further developed in the future for the benefit of Bahraini citizens,” he added.

The agreement was signed in the presence of Shaikha Zain bint Khalid Al Khalifa alongside board members Shaikha May bint Khalifa Al Khalifa, Shaikha Hend bint Ali Al Khalifa and Lulwa bint Khalifa Al Khalifa, and head of the programme Noora Isa Bin Hindi, as well as supreme council for health chairman, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulla Alkhalifa.

RCSI Bahrain’s head of school nursing and midwifery Prof Seamus Cowman; head of school of postgraduate studies and research, Prof Davinder Sandhu; head of quality enhancement Dr Kathryn Strachan; senior lecturer in family medicine Dr Ghufran Jassim; and head of student services and events, May Maher also took part.– TradeArabia News Service