RCSI Medical University of Bahrain held its first Equal Opportunities Executive Committee meeting last month led by Mr Gary Brady, Head of Human Resources and Ms Fatema Frutan, HR Partner for Learning and Development. This committee is assigned to consolidate the principle of equal opportunity and ensure the promotion of diversity and inclusion practices among staff in alignment with the efforts of the Supreme Council for Women (SCW) led by Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Wife of His Majesty the King and President of the SCW.

Under the UN Fifth Sustainable Development Goal of ‘Achieving gender equality’, the university has already made progress in its organisational structure and professional development plan. Currently, 64% of the university’s full-time staff are female, with 48% of managerial positions held by females, and 56% of female personnel pursuing higher education (level 9 Master/Postgraduate Diplomas and Level 10 Doctorate/Higher Doctorate) and professional Membership and Fellowship.

Over the past three years, 43 female staff members participated in bespoke Leadership programmes delivered in partnership with our strategic partner AdvanceHE. Additionally, 37 female academics obtained a Certification in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education from Advance HE, and 28 became AdvanceHE Fellows.   

Mr Stephen Harrison-Mirfield, Managing Director of RCSI Medical University of Bahrain, commented: “As a university, we are privileged to have a pool of female talent and we are committed to empowering them to achieve their full potential. The creation of the Equal Opportunities Executive Committee is another step forward and an opportunity to enhance the university’s professional development plan further.”  

As part of the University’s Equal Opportunities framework and Professional Development Unit’s strategy, RCSI Medical University of Bahrain looks forward to engaging with the SCW to implement equal opportunity initiatives and professional development programmes that meet both personal and institutional goals in alignment with our strategic plan.