The General Director of Vatel Bahrain, HE Sheikh Khaled bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, is a strong advocate for professional development, sharing his insights on Vatel’s new MBA programme and how it provides hospitality students with a competitive edge.

Congratulations on completing your Master’s in Educational Leadership in Practice from the University of Manchester, UK. How do you think this experience will influence the way you lead Vatel and shape its future direction?
Thank you. At Vatel we always advocate the concept of lifelong learning to students and staff, and personal development is core to our strategy as we encourage our staff to continuously improve, including myself. We are deeply committed to applying the highest standards of educational leadership. This qualification has a strong focus on implementing an industry-led approach and innovative strategies in academic leadership and policy development. It will further enable us to continuously enhance academic excellence, drive positive institutional change and elevate the overall student journey in alignment with global best practices, while taking our context into consideration.

Vatel has introduced the Kingdom’s first MBA in International Hotel Management. What do you see this programme bringing to the table for Bahrain’s hospitality scene?
In alignment with Bahrain’s Vision 2030, Bahrain’s Tourism strategy 2022-2026 and our mission to advance the Kingdom’s hospitality and tourism sectors, we are proud to launch Bahrain’s first MBA in International Hotel Management. This programme is designed to equip learners with strategic and operational competencies, combining analytical and decision-making skills with practical managerial experience. It also encourages an entrepreneurial mindset and a global perspective, qualities that are essential to leading and innovating within Bahrain’s evolving hospitality industry. Working professionals in the field now have an academic pathway after completing their bachelor’s, which allows them to be better equipped for senior positions. It is the first step towards expanding our programmes that cater to the hospitality industry at various levels.

Vatel is known globally for its strong alumni network. How do you see Vatel Bahrain leveraging that network, particularly with this new MBA programme?
Vatel’s international alumni network is one of its greatest strengths. At Vatel Bahrain, we actively highlight our graduates’ career milestones and achievements, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange across the global Vatel community. Through alumni engagement initiatives, professional development opportunities and networking events, we aim to cultivate a culture of lifelong learning by empowering graduates to remain connected, informed and ahead of market trends. Being the only Vatel campus in the region, the introduction of Vatel’s MBA will certainly help attract not only Vatel graduates but all hospitality graduates in the region to visit and study in Bahrain – this also contributes towards achieving Bahrain’s Education Tourism goals.

In your view, what are the most important skills that graduates need for today’s evolving hospitality sector, and how is Vatel adapting its curriculum to meet these needs?
Graduates today are expected to have adaptability, strategic thinking, cultural intelligence and a lifelong learning mindset. At Vatel Bahrain, we integrate these competencies through our core values: success and prosperity; openness to lifelong learning; sharing and social responsibility; and commitment and discipline. Our curriculum is continuously refined based on best practices and feedback collected from professionals across the world, to ensure it meets global standards. Vatel prepares learners for leadership roles in a rapidly transforming industry through an inclusive and diverse learning environment that supports innovation and personal growth. Because of the large practical learning components within Vatel’s programmes, learners always work alongside professionals in the field, in and out of Bahrain, allowing them to supplement their theoretical studies with relevant knowledge, skills and competencies.

Vatel has always emphasised learning by doing. How do you balance academic study with practical experience, and how does this prepare graduates for leadership roles in hospitality?
Our programmes are uniquely designed to blend theoretical knowledge with practical application. Besides the frequent weekly practice, students undertake annual internships at leading four- and five-star hotels, gaining first-hand experience in real operational settings. This experiential approach ensures that our graduates are not only academically qualified but also industry-ready upon completion. We take great pride in the fact that Vatel Bahrain graduates are consistently the preferred choice for employment among our hospitality partners. This unique approach allows our bachelor’s programme students to graduate with about two years of relevant work experience with leading international hospitality brands and hotel chains. We are proud to say that all cohorts so far have received job offers before they graduated.

As the hospitality sector in Bahrain grows increasingly competitive, what partnerships or collaborations are you focussing on to ensure students graduate with a distinct edge?
Partnerships are central to our educational philosophy. Through close collaboration with our hospitality and tourism partners, we ensure that our programmes remain relevant and future focussed. Our ongoing partnerships with industry leaders, both locally and internationally, provide students with invaluable exposure, internships and networking opportunities, giving them a competitive edge in the marketplace. In addition to their regular weekly practice and internships, students are frequently engaged in world-class events that take place in Bahrain, allowing them to gain invaluable experiences.

Looking ahead, where do you see the biggest opportunities for hospitality education in the region, and how is Vatel Bahrain preparing to lead in that space?
Hospitality and tourism education in Bahrain and across the GCC is entering an exciting phase of growth and transformation. Operating under the patronage of the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA), Vatel Bahrain is committed to supporting national and regional strategies for tourism development. We are actively collaborating with BTEA and our partners on initiatives that align academic outcomes with industry needs, ensuring that our graduates are prepared to lead and innovate within the region’s expanding hospitality landscape and addressing general market needs for the existing workforce. Looking at the global statistics, we see the growth in the Middle East is very promising compared to other regions, which is a great indication for career opportunities in this promising field. Vatel Bahrain started by offering the bachelor’s programme, and this year we’re very proud to have launched the MBA programme. And now we are looking to expand beyond these by offering lower-level programmes that cater towards operational roles. ✤