Context and Challenges

The Kingdom of Bahrain has embarked on a journey to enhance its competitiveness as a nation, a key pillar in its Vision 2023. A significant challenge to achieving this is the potential impact of automation on the workforce, particularly as 46% of work in Bahrain is vulnerable to automation, according to the Future of Jobs report.

Today, Bahrain faces a dual need to both upskill its existing workforce, and attract new entrants with relevant tech skills to foster innovation, economic diversification, and sustainable growth.

The Kingdom’s Labour Fund (Tamkeen) was established in 2006 to contribute to sustainable economic growth. Tamkeen does this by upskilling and preparing Bahraini talent to lead and enable the private sector to become the key economic driver in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Since its establishment Tamkeen has recognized that traditional funding model-based support structures have often been constrained by high costs and accessibility issues, especially for emerging technology and digital skills training.   

The Approach 

To achieve its goals Tamkeen invested 5.3 billion USD in direct and indirect support to enhance funding opportunities for the private sector, specifically SMEs, and support the training and employment of Bahraini individuals. As part of this, Tamkeen sought to create a skills development program specifically designed for Bahraini nationals. In July 2022, Tamkeen partnered with General Assembly to offer fully funded programs to teach in-demand skills.

This model makes 420 hours of in-person tech bootcamps financially accessible, enables residents 18 years and above to pursue skills training and development in areas such as information technology (software engineering, data analytics, and Java) and digital communication (UX design), removing financial barriers and encouraging widespread adoption.

The program is offered to Bahrainis at any stage of their career given they meet the admission criteria and is open to university graduates, job seekers, employees who are upskilling for their current or emerging jobs, and for individuals looking to break into startups.

General Assembly works closely with Tamkeen and key employers in the industry to ensure course content is aligned with the skills currently demanded by employers. This includes input from over 100 corporate partners and insights into Bahrain's job market needs, enhancing the program’s relevance and attractiveness for hiring companies. The program also helps candidates develop interview skills and provides other wraparound support services that help with accessing jobs.

The collaboration between Tamkeen and the General Assembly exemplifies the power of public-private partnership; by combining public funding with private-sector expertise in tech education, the initiative leverages both parties’ strengths and aligns educational outcomes with economic needs. If there are any job vacancies that can be filled by individuals graduating from these programs, the government subsidizes the salary, which makes it easier for companies to hire Bahrainis ensuring sustainability of jobs. 

The program has seen success with over 1,000 Bahraini graduates and a positive outcomes rate of 73%, out of which 66% of the total graduates are employed full-time. Notably, around 40% of participants from non-tech backgrounds have successfully transitioned to technology roles, and over 100 corporate partners have hired graduates. The critical elements associated with a high placement rate involves the 1:1 coaching that helps cater the individual goals into actions for the job search. Additionally, General Assembly has developed strong relationship with hiring partners to emphasize the benefits of hiring General Assembly graduates who are notably good at demonstrating their ability to learn new skills in a short period of time. The focus on portfolio projects aligned to curriculum enables learners to get hands-on experience immediately applicable to jobs.

Critical Lessons Learned

The power of government funding through the Tamkeen and General Assembly partnership, combined with their shared commitment to fund skills development is highlighted through their joint ethos that they are not just opening doors for Bahraini talent but creating opportunities for families to generate and continue to have a sustainable income.

Some of the key lessons learned are highlighted as:

1. The importance of outcome-based funding: Funding models should prioritize measurable outcomes, such as employment rates, career transitions, and skill development. Tamkeen’s success shows that a focus on outcomes enhances both program effectiveness and relevance, making the investment more attractive to both participants and employers. 

2. Provision of flexible and inclusive learning options: To reach a broad range of students including working professionals and women, and to achieve the intended outcomes, it’s crucial to offer flexible schedules and multiple learning formats, such as part-time and full-time options. General Assembly provides these options, ensuring the program meets the varying needs of participants and encourages a diverse learner base. 

3. Continuous curriculum updates: Given the rapid pace of technological advancement, training providers should regularly update their curriculum to stay aligned with industry needs. By continuously refining its offerings, General Assembly helps future-proof Bahrain’s workforce, ensuring it can keep pace with emerging trends in the technology sector.