This workshop on Research Leadership and Creating Capacity of Research aimed at issues to increase the level of understanding of research and its management. These included: How to create a strong research culture in universities in the Arab world and how to become a research leader. The workshop was targeted to senior and middle managers who are dealing with research planning and management in Arab Universities and other organizations that have a research budget and research aspirations.

Under the patronage of Prof. Riyadh Y. Hamzah (the Secretary General of the Higher Education Council – Kingdom of Bahrain), the programme was delivered under the auspices of the Arab European Leadership Network in Higher Education (ARELEN) in association with the Association of Arab Universities (Jordan); Applied Science University (Kingdom of Bahrain) and Cardiff Metropolitan University (UK).

The Workshop was attended by some 50 people from local universities and HEC with a strong presence by the media including Bahrain TV.

The Workshop was opened with excellent welcoming speeches by Professor Waheeb Al Khaja (Chairman of the Board of Trustees), Professor Sultan Abu Orabi (Secretary General of AArU) and Mr Lloyd Powell (Head of Partnerships at Cardiff Met University).

Professor Riyadh Y. Hamza gave an excellent keynote address in which he outlined the HEC Research Strategy and the status of research in the Kingdom of Bahrain. It was a very informative and superbly analytical keynote. It was extensively supported by evidence and comparative analysis with other members of the GCC and the rest of the world, which contextualizes the Kingdom’s current position.

The rest of the workshop was a series of lectures and workshops given by the President and Professor Hussein Zedan (Assistant Vice President – Academic Affairs and Development). Topics included: The Art and Science of Doing Research; Creating Research Capacities and Strategies; Research Publication and PhD Supervision. In addition to, The Impact of Doing Research; Funding and Costing of Research; Building a Teaching-Research Partnership and Research Ethics.

In the evening of the first day, Professor Sultan gave an excellent presentation on Higher education and scientific research in the Arab World and how it evolved, with critical analysis supported by solid evidence. The presentation was also attended by Professor Riyadh Hamzah.