| | 8 DECEMBER 2015HIGHERReviewIN MY VIEWThe publication of this first report from the Higher Education Council (HEC) (dated June 2015) on the industry specially puts the spot-light on the employability of fresh employees. Improved graduate skills will encourage universities to take stock on the situation and reflect on their mission in meeting national needs. From a policy perspective, this report builds on employer driven data such as the recent E&Y report of 2015, which compares the skills and attributes of graduates across the GCC. Whilst Bah-rain does lead the other GCC countries in terms of local talent by possessing commitment and updated qualifi-cations, the overall picture of an employer in Bahrain is portrayed as one who is struggling to find graduates with a skill set that will be able to contribute and add value to their company.In any university, there is a common accept-ance that a progres-sive educational institution is one which produces `readily em-ployable' grad-uates, who can synchronously engage their chosen career with the needs of the employer. In Bahrain, the National Higher Educa-tion Strategy of 2014 concentrated on guiding themes related to enhancement of skills for the future, strategic access, technology in education and entrepreneurship. Such values can be a driving force for curriculum reform because they fit comfortably within the complexity of the health-care industry which sets competent health profes-sionals as benchmark of the education system. RCSI Bah-rain, drawing on a secure academic reputation built over the last 230 years by RCSI Dublin, is well positioned in addressing the challenges, with academic accreditation and validation from Ireland and Bahrain. The RCSI medical school has achieved the standards of World Federation of Medical Education and the School of Nursing and Mid-wifery is placed on the EMRO list of approved schools. Emphasising on the Employer Requirements based on Industry Standards in BahrainBy Professor Seamus Cowman, Head of School of Nursing & Midwifery Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland ­ BahrainProfessor Sameer Otoom, President, Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland-BahrainCameron Mizra, Higher Education CouncilProfessor Sameer Otoom
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