Reaffirming their commitment to enhancing opportunities for Bahraini students, KFH-Bahrain in association with InJaz Bahrain organises the 5th Annual Bahrain Sophia Antipolis Mentorship Programme. The Programme is a joint initiative between Kuwait Finance House-Bahrain and InJaz Bahrain, a non-profit youth development and training organization. The Programme provides an opportunity for students to connect with mentors who are specifically knowledgeable about the corporate world. The idea is to ease the transition from academic knowledge to entrepreneurship spirit. This year, KFH-Bahrain is sending a group of twelve Bahraini students on an intensive leadership training course to Sophia Antipolis Science and Technology Park located in the South of France, which is considered one of the largest and most important science and technology parks in Europe. The students are selected by Injaz-Bahrain based on a criteria of academic excellence, distinctive scholastic track record, perfection of both the Arabic and English Language, achieving personal success in interviews in addition to other high standards that ensure the readiness of the participants to attend this unique Programme. On this occasion, H.H. Shaikha Hessa Bint Khalifa Al Khalifa, the Executive Director of InJaz-Bahrain, praised the quality of the Programme, which provides the opportunity for the students to visit various types of companies and organizations. The students will also have the opportunity to groom their leadership and managerial skills and gain various qualities such as self confidence, independence, team work, networking and other essential attributes. Mr. Abdulhakeem Alkhayyat, Managing Director and CEO of Kuwait Finance House-Bahrain said, "The benefits and knowledge achieved by the students who have participated in the Programme in the preceding four years has been the main driver to continue the annual Programme event as the experience has helped shape the students' path in becoming future entrepreneurs and business leaders for the Kingdom. As with previous years, the students will be immersed in the global institutions, universities and research centres at Sophia Antipolis, and there will be many activities including interactive seminars on various topics such as leadership and management aimed to develop and nurture the students' skill set to prepare them for the upcoming stages of their academic and professional lives." Throughout the mentorship Programme, students will interact with professionals, academics and CEOs from these various centres as well as from science and technology related organizations. They will gain the important experience of meeting world renowned personalities from scientific and industrial corporations, who will be dedicated to helping the students strengthen their ability to innovate through sharing industry expertise, refine their skills and provide the opportunity for valuable networking. Meeting in groups and on an individual basis, students will also visit various companies to gain in-depth experience of a high-level corporate work environment. It is anticipated that the group will develop strong relationships that will forge a team spirit over the course of the Programme. Philippe MARIANI, coordinator of the Programme and Senior Manager at KFH-Bahrain said "These relationships can form a valuable network for the future. The life span of the group will be extended beyond the Programme and will be blended with the previous groups of students to maximize longer term learning opportunities." This hands-on approach to learning and the transfer of knowledge from seasoned practitioners to aspiring young professionals makes this a unique Programme for the training and development of Bahraini youth and is in line with the Vision 2030 focus on entrepreneurship and human capital development. KFH-Bahrain and InJaz Bahrain have completed the selection process for the 2010 group of students who are currently preparing for this year's Programme which will start over the coming few days.