Crown Prince’s International Scholarship Program begins assessing applications of 1,254 young Bahraini students

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

The Crown Prince’s International Scholarship Program (CPISP) has started the assessment process for 1,254 scholarship applicants from governmental and private schools, and Bahrainis studying abroad. The program cooperated with Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF) to assess candidates’ English language and critical reasoning skills.

CPISP Director of Finance and Administration Affairs Shatha Ahmed Ali noted that the assessment included a computer-based test of English Proficiency, in addition to three critical reasoning tests to assess verbal, numerical, and diagrammatical reasoning.

For applicants currently studying outside of Bahrain, the program arranged for applicants to take the tests under supervised conditions at an appropriate location. Ali highlighted that the next step will be to select a minimum of 60 candidates based on the results of the qualifying tests and their Grade Point Average (GPA). The candidates will then undergo various training and preparation courses for standardised testing throughout the summer and the next academic year until the final 10 recipients, five males and five females, are selected in April 2023.

Nurturing minds

The Crown Prince’s International Scholarship Program aims to nurture the minds of future generations through education. The Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, established the CPISP in 1999 to guide Bahrain’s young people into the 21st century. Under the programme, the most able high school students from Bahrain are awarded scholarships to continue their higher education overseas, and return to productively contribute to the development of Bahrain.

The program provides Bahrain’s most gifted and talented youth the opportunity to learn at the finest international educational institutions. Further, it provides its scholars with career development support and training; equipping them with the necessary tools to become effective decision makers who contribute to Bahrain’s development, both nationally and globally.

The program is privately funded by HRH Prince Salman and various local and international sponsoring organisations and individuals who share HRH’s vision of equipping outstanding young Bahrainis with the necessary tools to excel and achieve their aspirations and contribute to the building of a modern Bahraini state.

Selection criteria

Ten fully funded university scholarships are awarded on an annual basis to young men and women from both governmental and private secondary schools, based on their academic merit. The selection criteria include SAT and IELTS scores, Grade Point Average (GPA), and results of training programs organised by the CPISP. Since its inception, over 160 of Bahrain’s brightest high school graduates have been selected to pursue higher education degrees at top international universities around the world.

The program provides its scholars with training and a solid international educational foundation, in addition to continuous opportunities to gain work experience and international cultural exposure. HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister meets with all scholars sponsored by the CPISP during their holiday breaks in Bahrain to personally follow up on their progress.

Scholars choose their own desired field of study and accredited university they gain acceptance to, provided that it is outside of the Kingdom of Bahrain and the region, to ensure international cultural exposure.

The CPISP provides its scholars with internships and career development guidance, and facilitates them with job placement after graduation. The program organises courses and training for all qualifying candidates applying for scholarships, as part of the overall selection process.