Manama: In a significant step towards enhancing digital innovation and developing national capabilities in Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Information and eGovernment Authority (iGA) recently celebrated the graduation of the first batch of its AI Talent Programme. This initiative was launched in strategic partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS) and in collaboration with the University of Bahrain and Ahlia University.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the six-month programme aimed to empower academically distinguished university IT students by preparing them for their graduation projects with practical experience in adopting AI solutions within the government sector. Participants underwent extensive hands-on training, which included teamwork, programming, and developing AI-based prototypes at the iGA Innovation Hub. This strategic effort links academic education with real-world needs.
The participants from the University of Bahrain and Ahlia University tackled two major projects to address challenges in the government sector: one for the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and another for the Statistics and Population Registry sector.
Mohammed Ali Al Qaed, Chief Executive of the iGA, commended the graduation of the first batch, highlighting that the programme aligns with the Government’s vision and demonstrates iGA’s commitment to implementing the directives of General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Ministerial Committee for Information and Communications Technology (MCICT). Al Qaed emphasized that the programme’s success in preparing qualified national talents capable of transforming academic knowledge into practical solutions is in line with Bahrain Vision 2030.
Al Qaed also noted the collaboration with participating universities and the strategic partnership with AWS, stressing that investing in students is a fundamental aspect of the national digital transformation journey. During the event, he announced the launch of the second batch of the AI Talent Programme, which will include 20 students from six universities. This next batch will feature an expanded number of applied projects, reflecting the program’s growing impact on government innovation.
Eman Ahmed Al Dossary, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, expressed the Ministry’s pride in collaborating with iGA through the programme, which led to the development of an advanced system for organizing and monitoring promotional campaigns and commercial discounts. This system, supported by AI engines, will accelerate licensing procedures, enhance smart regulatory oversight, and ensure accuracy and transparency in the market.
Dr. Fuad Mohammed Al Ansari, President of the University of Bahrain, highlighted that the outstanding performance of students in the AI Talent Programme reflects the University’s vision of aligning academic education with market needs. He noted that the students’ development of a smart system to track and analyze foreign investment indicates their readiness to enter the labour market and tackle real-world challenges. Dr. Al Ansari emphasized the program’s effectiveness in empowering youth and leveraging AI technologies to support the national economy.
Professor Mansoor Al Aali, President of Ahlia University, emphasized that the university’s participation in the AI Talent Programme reflects its dedication to advancing digital innovation and building national capabilities. He noted that the programme enables students to transform academic knowledge into smart solutions for government sectors. This reflects the maturity of the Project-Based Learning model and applied innovation.
The first batch of the programme included 13 students, with 7 from Ahlia University and 6 from the University of Bahrain, specializing in IT majors. They were divided into two groups: one addressing challenges for the Statistics and Population Registry sector and the other focusing on the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.
Students from the University of Bahrain developed a national smart system to track and manage foreign investment, aggregating data to produce precise reports that aid government authorities in monitoring investment volumes and trends. Meanwhile, Ahlia University students developed an AI-enabled tool for organizing and monitoring promotional campaigns and commercial discounts, enhancing regulatory oversight and improving services for commercial entities.