The American University of Bahrain (AUBH) launched Bahrain’s first nationwide competition through which the winners, high school seniors, experienced a full day as AUBH students, giving them a real-time preview of university life. The competition, powered by AUBH’s Elevate program, aimed to support a seamless transition to University for them, beginning their college journey as confident and prepared as possible. The fifty winners experienced college-level classes with the University’s dual-modality learning experience and a career-guidance session, on AUBH’s 75,000 square meter state-of-the-art campus in Riffa. They also took part in socially distant extra-curricular activities and engaged with current students.  

The competition asked applicants to share why they think they would benefit from the experience in a direct message on the University’s Instagram channel. To ensure the community’s safety and to abide by the University’s Covid-19 guidelines, AUBH has piloted the program to ensure that there will only be a limited number of students at a time on campus. The University aims to transform the taster into a fully accessible program for all high school students once COVID-19 restrictions are relaxed.  

AUBH Founding President Dr. Susan Saxton commented: “The first year of University can be nerve-wracking for students who aren’t sure what to expect. Covid-19 has complicated that transition by not offering all students the opportunity to experience their first year of college on campus, throughout the world. Because of our dual-modality experience, we wanted to offer them a preview of what life as an AUBH student really is like, while offering them a fun experience, to ensure they are prepared once they graduate.”

The University’s launch of the competition is in keeping with its mission to offer an accessible American-style teaching and learning experience in Bahrain, on par with the best universities in the United States.