Chance of a Lifetime

Natasha Bird speaks to Cynthia Gessling, acting director of The Crown Prince International Scholarship Programme (CPISP) about the amazing opportunities awaiting certain gifted Bahraini students.

It goes without saying that higher education is important. There are, of course, ways of achieving success without it, but on the whole, heading off to university will be the making of a person. Studying for a degree trains you in discipline, working ethics and delayed gratification, while at the same time giving you the opportunity to integrate socially with people from other cultures and backgrounds. A lot of these benefits are made even more potent if, as many Bahrainis do, you opt to study abroad.

An education overseas, however, can be very hard to come by. Most universities in America and Europe will charge a hefty premium for international applicants. There are often limited places for foreign students and you are also left with the task of finding suitable accommodation and budgeting for living expenses in a place that is unfamiliar to you.

Imagine then, that there were a way to benefit from all the amazing things about studying abroad, without having to worry about any of the drawbacks. Cynthia Gessling explains that, for ten hardworking Bahraini students, this dream can become a reality.
 
Now in its 13th year, the CPSIP has developed into one of the most superb opportunities in the Kingdom. Students from public and private schools submit their applications for the programme when they reach 11th grade. Applicants are required to have a minimum GPA of 97 per cent. Sixty candidates are then selected, based on the results of the qualifying exam, to undergo a year-long educational enrichment programme, through which they are assessed. It covers critical thinking, leadership, S.A.T. preparation and more.

Students benefit greatly from the programme even if they don’t make it to the final ten, as it is a fantastic opportunity to learn and interact.

“His Royal Highness the Crown Prince likes an out of the box thinker,” states Dr Gessling, “he doesn’t want a cookie cutter scholar. He likes them to challenge the status quo and to voice an opinion in critical thinking, leadership and more.”

The final recipients are selected based on their GPAs, results of their IELTS and SATs and performance in the training programme and critical thinking course. The programme is of great benefit to all the candidates and is a great opportunity to interact and experience creative methods of thinking and evaluation.

The selection process, including all student scores and grades, is reviewed by an independent auditing firm to ensure accuracy and transparency. The criteria by which the selection processes are carried out ensure equal opportunity and competitiveness for students from both genders and all schools.

The programme attends to all details concerning the students from the selection process until they graduate. In addition to the assistance they are provided with in choosing from among the world’s most prestigious universities, officals at the programme go to the length of making trips with the students to ensure that everything is in place for them. Costs related to their education, accommodation, tickets and living expenses when abroad are covered by the programme.  It all sounds so perfect; there must be a catch?

Apparently not. According to Dr Gessling, HRH the Crown Prince simply wants to “give young Bahrainis a level playing field”, so that more will get the opportunity to “achieve academic and personal success.” There is something else behind the idea too. “He feels very strongly that his mission to foster and support these scholars, who will eventually give back greatly to their country, will reap great rewards for the Kingdom of Bahrain,” says Dr Gessling.

 The CPISP not only provides its students with the valuable opportunity to study abroad up to postgraduate level, but also gives them the freedom of choice when it comes to their employment choices both inside and outside Bahrain. Many students have indeed scored themselves jobs and internships on distinguished international firms. The rich addition that gives to the capabilities of the programme’s alumni makes them a valuable asset to the development of the nation, once they put their efforts into contributing to its growth.

“The exposure to other cultures, experiences and ideas while taking pride in one’s identity creates a strong source of inspiration for our students,” says Dr Gessling.

“Young women and men in the programme have demonstrated their commitment to success and achievement since the beginning of their undergraduate studies and are expected to continue doing so,” she continues.

Bahrain, being a progressive nation, has strong women women who have proven their independence and capabilities. But even with that, the cultural and social patterns are taken into consideration by the programme. There is active communication with all families, especially with those that may have concerns about their daughters being away from them.

I asked Dr Gessling whether she had experienced any difficulties relating to this. “It is a family matter for some people, but of course we plan for this,” she says. “We have developed a new leadership model and we have a section named ‘Going West’ which helps to prepare students for the potential changes. We coach the families, allowing them to understand that their children are safe and showing them how much they can benefit from the experience. Our female students are very strong and they do really well. We have girls now at NYU, Columbia, Harvard and all of these scholars are just incredibly interesting, very driven and personally motivated.”

Finally, I asked Cynthia to spare a final thought for young Bahraini’s with big dreams. “Never give up on yourselves,” she says, “If you want something, you have to pursue it. When it comes to these scholars, it is their strong belief in themselves which has made them successful.”