The Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States (ABEGS) and the Arabian Gulf University (AGU) have officially inaugurated the Joint Scientific Chair in Gulf Identity and Citizenship, with the attendance of His Excellency Dr Muhammad bin Mubarak Jumaa, Minister of Education and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Higher Education Council in the Kingdom of Bahrain, His Excellency Dr Abdulrahman bin Mohammad Al Asmi, Director General of ABEGS, and His Excellency Dr Saad bin Saud Al Fuhaid, President of AGU. The ceremony was held at the hall named after His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Fahad bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, located in the Princess Al Jawhara Al Ibrahim Centre for Molecular Medicine, Genetics and Inherited Disorders.

On this occasion, HE the Minister of Education underscored that the establishment of this chair aligns with the pivotal role played by ABEGS and AGU, which serve as two essential pillars within the integrated collaborative framework established by the GCC since its inception. He highlighted that this initiative reaffirms the robust historical ties and close cooperation that unite our Gulf nations and peoples under the esteemed leadership of Their Majesties and Highnesses, the leaders of the Council of States. He further expressed hope that the launch of this scientific chair would inspire academics and students alike to engage in relevant research, thereby enriching the Gulf’s academic resources and raising awareness among youth regarding the significance of a shared Gulf identity and citizenship.

In his remarks, HE the Director General of ABEGS emphasised that the establishment of the Scientific Chair in Gulf Identity and Citizenship, a collaboration with AGU, aims to cultivate an interest in the fields of Gulf identity and citizenship.

He stressed that the chair will support research, writing, translation and the issuance of documents and training materials in this domain, noting that this inauguration serves as a continuation of the longstanding partnership between the Bureau and the University, and highlighting that member states of ABEGS prioritise the strengthening and development of citizenship values through their curricula and educational programmes.

On his part, HE the President of AGU expressed appreciation for the commitment shown by Their Majesties and Highnesses, the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council member states, towards Gulf identity. He praised their dedication to promoting citizenship values and their continuous support for educational advancement, recognising education as the foundation for national development and prosperity. 

HE the President also affirmed that the establishment of this chair represents the commencement of rigorous scientific research and high-quality programmes and activities, which will enrich the Gulf cultural landscape, with its outcomes and recommendations playing a vital role in the efforts to promote citizenship education and strengthen identity.

During this occasion, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed to establish the joint research chair between ABEGS and AGU, along with an agreement between the Bureau's library and the University.

Following this, the sessions of the seminar entitled “Education for Citizenship” commenced. The first session, moderated by Dr Saud bin Musa Al Salahi, addressed “Global Trends in Teaching Citizenship”, featuring insights from Prof. Saif bin Nasser Al Ma’amari and Dr Omar bin Adnan Jaloun. The second session, moderated by Ms Nasreen Ma’roof, Chairperson of Bahrain Radio, explored “Integrating Citizenship Education and Common Global Values in Teacher Preparation Programmes in the GCC Countries”, with presentations from Prof. Baqer Al Najjar and Dr Manal Al Jassim. The third session consisted of a workshop where Ms Hala Ahmad Sulaiman presented Bahrain’s experience in promoting citizenship under the theme “Bahrain Our Home, Together We Build the Future”.