Underscoring their commitment to enhancing opportunities for Bahraini students, KFH-Bahrain in association with InJaz Bahrain organises the 4th 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 knowledgeable about the corporate world. The idea is to ease the transition from academic knowledge to entrepreneurship spirit. This year KFH-Bahrain sends a group of ten Bahraini students on an intensive leadership training course to Sophia Antipolis Science and Technology Park located in the South of France, which is considered on of the largest and most important science and technology parks in Europe. The students are selected by Injaz-Bahrain based on their academic excellence, distinctive scholastic track records, perfection of Arabic and English Languages, succeeding in personal interviews in addition to other criteria that ensure the readiness of the participants to attend this unique Programme. On this occasion, Sh. Hessa Bint Khalifa Al Khalifa, the chairman of InJaz-Bahrain, praised the quality of the Programme, which provides the opportunity for the students to visit various types of companies and organization. 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 important qualities. 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 three years has been the main driver to continue the annual Programme event. It has helped shape their path in becoming future entrepreneurs and business leaders for the Kingdom. 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 organisations. 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, refining their skills, and the provision of networking opportunities. Meeting in groups and on an individual basis, students will also visit companies so as to have an in-depth experience of a high-level corporate work environment. It is anticipated that the group will develop strong relationships and a group identity of team spirit over the course of the Programme, imparted with valuable practical wisdom from industry leaders. Philippe MARIANI, coordinator for the Programme and Senior Manager at KFH-Bahrain said "These relationships can form a valuable network for the future. The life of the group will be extended beyond the Programme and blended with the previous batches in order 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 into entrepreneurs and leaders. This Programme is thus 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 2009 group who are currently preparing for this year's Programme which will start over the coming few days.