Bahrain is strengthening the link between technical education and employment as General Assembly – Bahrain Academy and private markets investment platform Tanami sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop local technology talent and create clearer pathways into the labour market.
The partnership focuses on aligning technical training with the skills employers need, while giving Bahraini graduates and professionals more opportunities to gain practical experience in technology roles. The move comes as Bahrain seeks to build the human capital needed to support its digital economy and broader shift towards a knowledge-based economy.
Under the MoU, the two organisations will support employment opportunities for General Assembly graduates in areas including software engineering, data analytics and user experience design. They will also explore employee development programmes, career fairs, professional events, knowledge-sharing sessions and specialised workshops.
The collaboration goes beyond classroom-based training, with plans for projects that expose trainees to real-world business challenges. These include user experience design projects, hackathons, expert speaker sessions and networking initiatives connecting technical talent with the private sector.
The approach reflects a growing focus on making technical education more closely connected to workplace application. Rather than treating skills development and hiring as separate processes, the partnership aims to create a pipeline in which training, practical experience and employment are linked more directly.
“This partnership represents a significant step in our efforts to build stronger bridges between education and labour market needs,” said Ahlam Oun, director of General Assembly Middle East Academies. She added that the organisation aims to provide practical pathways for talent to apply technical skills while helping companies access qualified capabilities.
For Tanami, the partnership builds on its existing focus on developing local talent. Mohamed Sharaf, chief technology officer at Tanami, said the company’s team is made up entirely of Bahraini talent and described the partnership as an extension of its commitment to creating more structured pathways for Bahraini professionals to enter the workforce and develop their careers.
The collaboration also builds on an existing relationship between the two organisations, with several General Assembly alumni already working at Tanami. This provides a direct link between the academy’s training programmes and the skills being used within a technology-focused private-sector business.
The partnership covers technical areas that are increasingly relevant to digital businesses, including software development, data and user experience. By connecting training providers with employers, initiatives of this kind can also give organisations a greater role in shaping the practical skills that graduates develop.
General Assembly offers technical and professional skills programmes in Bahrain, including software engineering, data analytics, user experience design and emerging technologies, with support from the Labour Fund (Tamkeen).
Tanami is a private markets investment platform that provides investors with digital access to opportunities across areas including private equity, private credit, real estate and infrastructure.
The MoU forms part of wider efforts in Bahrain to develop local capabilities, support digital transformation and prepare the workforce for an economy increasingly shaped by technology and specialised skills.