In line with its continuous efforts of driving positive change across the RCSI community and beyond, RCSI Bahrain held an event at its campus in Busaiteen to celebrate the launch of its RCSI Bahrain Student Engagement and Partnership (StEP) programme.

Co-developed by RCSI Bahrain students and staff, the programme aims to promote and implement a culture of partnership and inclusivity, where the expertise and perspectives of both staff and students are equally valued. The StEP programme is scaffolded around a framework of four domains: StEP in Institutional Management; StEP in the Academic Research Community; StEP in the Local Community and the Social Environment and StEP in Teaching and Assessment. Under each domain, key partnership projects will be led by students and staff who will work together through shared goals to enhance student participation and enrich their journey at RCSI Bahrain. The StEP programme currently has more than 30 staff and students working on 17 seven different projects across the four domains.

President of RCSI Bahrain, Professor Sameer Otoom commented, “As a health sciences University, transforming healthcare education, research and service has been one of RCSI Bahrain’s priorities. With the launch of the StEP programme, RCSI Bahrain acknowledges the importance of student and staff partnership and collaboration to continuously enhance the delivery of our educational programmes and our student support systems, ultimately improving our students’ overall experience and preparing them to become the future leaders of healthcare.”

The launch event, held at the RCSI Bahrain campus Atrium, featured joint speeches by staff and students from across the University, where they introduced the programme and the benefits to students, staff, and the wider community. The opening speech was presented by RCSI Bahrain Chief Operating Officer, Mr Stephen Harrison-Mirfield and Student Council President 2021/22, Mr Usama AlDallal, giving an overview of the programme.

Mr Harrison-Mirfield said in his address: “RCSI Bahrain is committed to providing a transformative learning experience for our students and our goal is to develop healthcare leaders who will make a positive change in their communities and beyond. This mission is something we can only achieve in partnership with our students, as co-creators of their learning experience. The creation of the (StEP) agreement will encourage our highly engaged student body to take a step forward in one of the four domains of the programme, where they can gain valuable experience as leaders – enhancing their confidence, employability and networking opportunities.”

Participation in the StEP programme will be an enriching and empowering experience for both students and staff, based on a model of universal partnership. Launched with the hashtag ‘#StrongerTogether’, the StEP programme reflects the RCSI core values of Respect, Collaboration, Scholarship and Innovation.

RCSI Bahrain’s Head of Student Development and Wellbeing and leader of the StEP programme, Dr Wendy Maddison, said in her address: “The RCSI Bahrain StEP initiatives foster collaboration and partnership between staff and students, promoting a positive alliance, and the articulation of new opportunities. It provides unique opportunities for students to develop both personally, professionally and academically, and recognises the varied views, experiences, and valued expertise of all members of our RCSI community.”

Fourth Year School of Nursing and Midwifery student, Ms Kashwer Reza, noted in her speech: "As a nursing student, I look forward to seeing the results we as a student body can achieve when we work in partnership with our faculty members. Knowing that RCSI Bahrain values my voice, and the voice of my peers, makes me more determined than ever to make a valuable contribution to my domain and to bring value to every project I embark on.”

To recognise and celebrate student efforts within the StEP programme, the ‘RCSI Bahrain Student Partnership Champion Award’ was also launched for undergraduate students who through student-staff partnerships, have driven positive change across the RCSI community for the benefit of human health.