The Arabian Gulf University (AGU), in collaboration with Al Salam Bank Group, has launched the Al Salam Digital Education Lab under the umbrella of the King Hamad Chair in Digital Education. The initiative comes as part of the implementation of the agreement signed between both parties to support innovative educational activities and projects in the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, and to strengthen the Chair’s role in serving the community.

During a meeting between the Al Salam Bank delegation and AGU’s Vice President for Support Services and Institutional Advancement, Dr Abdulrahman Yousif Ismail, the Vice President expressed his deep appreciation for the support extended by Their Majesties and Highnesses, the leaders of the GCC states, to the university’s mission. He also praised the contributions of the King Hamad Chair in Digital Education, which proudly bears the name of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of the Kingdom of Bahrain, and valued Al Salam Bank’s role in funding and supporting educational and training initiatives built on innovation in digital learning.

For his part, Mr Ehab Abdullatif Ahmed, Deputy Chief Executive for Corporate Affairs at Al Salam Bank, affirmed that the partnership with the Arabian Gulf University, an institution with a distinguished legacy and leading academic reputation, constitutes a strategic step towards expanding future cooperation, particularly in the fields of digital education and artificial intelligence applications, in support of current and future generations across various disciplines.

Similarly, Mr Anwar Mohamed Murad, Group Deputy Chief Executive - Banking at Al Salam Bank, highlighted the Group’s commitment to supporting educational initiatives driven by innovation and modern technologies. He emphasised the Bank’s dedication to strengthening institutional cooperation with AGU and adopting further future initiatives aimed at building a sustainable knowledge-based economy while contributing to the advancement of the educational and research environment and serving the community.

Meanwhile, Professor Waleed Zubari, Dean of the College of Education, Technical and Administrative Sciences , noted that partnerships with the private sector and leading financial institutions represent an investment in building generations equipped with knowledge and expertise. He described the launch of the Al Salam Digital Education Lab as a promising first initiative that will greatly benefit the university’s postgraduate community.

During the visit, the Al Salam Bank delegation was briefed on the objectives of AGU’s academic and research chairs, foremost among them the King Hamad Chair in Digital Education. The delegation also met with faculty members of the Digital Education Programme at the College of Education, Technical and Administrative Sciences, and attended research presentations delivered by postgraduate students from GCC countries enrolled in the Master’s in Digital Education programme. In addition, the delegation toured the Simulation and Medical Skills Centre, which provides an advanced, reality-based training environment equipped with state-of-the-art technologies and high-fidelity medical manikins across various healthcare specialities.

This partnership reflects AGU’s commitment to strengthening its collaboration with private-sector and banking institutions to build strategic alliances that contribute to achieving sustainable development goals, particularly in innovation, digital transformation, and emerging technologies, enhancing the university’s role in community service. 

The King Hamad Academic Chair in Digital Education works to provide scientific insights supporting digital transformation, developing modern education policies, and preparing national competencies capable of leading digital education initiatives and advancing technological infrastructure in schools and organisations. The Chair also fosters research and innovation in e-learning and the development of digital education applications across learning ecosystems, under the supervision of Prof. Alajab Mohammed Alajab, Professor of Educational Technology and Distance Learning at the College of Education, Technical and Administrative Sciences at AGU.