In a world marked by rapid changes and fierce competition, innovation has become the cornerstone of success for any entrepreneurial project or company seeking growth and sustainability. Experts emphasize the need to integrate innovation into educational curricula and training programs to prepare young people with the skills required for the modern labor market.
Dr. Maha Naaman Al-Shurbaji, Quality Assurance Consultant and CEO of Honor Code for Educational Training Entrepreneurship, who holds an MBA and is the first Bahraini with a PhD in Vocational Technical Education, shared her insights in an interview with Nadormagazine.
Defining Educational Innovation
Dr. Al-Shurbaji defines educational innovation as:
“The use of innovative methods and ideas in education to enhance learning efficiency by directly linking it to practical experience and labor market skills. Educational innovation aims to produce graduates with applied skills, not just theoretical knowledge, making them highly desirable to employers and positively impacting the national economy.”
Challenges and Solutions for Promoting Innovation
Challenges:
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Rapid changes in all sectors requiring flexible curricula.
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Shortage of qualified staff to adapt to new trends.
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Limited availability of modern educational resources.
Solutions:
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Focus on high-quality early childhood education experiences, following the example of countries like Japan.
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Develop curricula aligned with real-life applications and labor market needs.
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Provide supportive resources to enhance learning outcomes and close future skill gaps.
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Introduce new fields such as digital marketing, e-commerce, and cybersecurity instead of traditional marketing and sales methods.
Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Two Sides of the Same Coin
Dr. Al-Shurbaji emphasizes that innovation and entrepreneurship are intertwined. To train students to become professional entrepreneurs, they must have practical training in digital entrepreneurship such as:
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Sales automation
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Digital commerce
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Digital content management
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Social media marketing
Creating learning environments and curricula linked with active training equips entrepreneurs to adapt to rapid changes, solve problems, and achieve sustainable success, which also fosters customer loyalty.
Types of Educational Innovation in Entrepreneurship
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Teaching Methods:
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Project-based learning (individual or team-based)
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Problem-solving focused on real market challenges
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Simulations and interactive virtual environments
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Technology Integration:
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Presenting ideas via digital platforms
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Using AI in project planning and management
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Content Innovation:
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Business model creation: from logo design to product innovation and digital marketing
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Design thinking: solving real-world problems for target sectors
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Open innovation: collaborating with external stakeholders for customer-focused solutions
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Crowdfunding: competing to secure funding for innovative ideas
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Skills to Foster Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Youth
Dr. Al-Shurbaji highlights that advanced societies link curricula to labor market needs and offer effective training. Key skills include:
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Problem-solving, analytical thinking, and synthesis
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Teamwork, leadership, and responsibility
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Communication skills (written, spoken, and digital)
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Core academic skills (math, science, languages) connected to real-world applications
Strategies for Hands-On Learning Beyond Traditional Classrooms
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Curricula must allow students to apply theoretical knowledge in real-life contexts.
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Partnerships with local institutions (ministries, private companies) are essential to bridge education and the labor market, increasing employment rates.
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Bahrain’s 2030 Vision promotes diversifying the economy, investing in youth, and providing pathways for both university graduates and high school graduates to enter the workforce effectively.
Measuring the Impact of Entrepreneurship Education Programs
Dr. Al-Shurbaji explains that success is measured by:
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Employers’ willingness to hire graduates and vocational certificate holders
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Integration of higher-order thinking skills in curricula
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Sufficient practical training hours
Aligning educational outputs with labor market needs ensures high employment rates among graduates and encourages continuous improvement in teaching quality.
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