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52 BizEd JULY | AUGUST 2015 SHARED JOURNEY Ahlia University accepts applications to the program and then forwards the ap- plications that meet Brunel University London's admission requirements to us to make our final admissions decisions. The number of applications we have received to this new program—30 in all—has demonstrated the need for this alternative, nonresidency approach to the PhD. Of the eight students accept- ed, half are women—higher than we expected for a degree for which appli- cants are usually predominantly male. Following a cohort-based model, students complete their doctorates in Bahrain, where they maintain a link to their home base. This approach gener- ates a sense of community and shared journey among the students, lessening the sense of isolation that can come with some forms of distance learning. We also organize an annual symposium, attended by academics from the region, where students can present their research. "I've been developing my transferable skills much more than I expected to do, attending workshops and training, presenting to various audiences,œand traveling to conferences," says Najma Taqi, a student in the program. "Being able to work for my degree on my own personal project, with all the freedom I like, is ideal for me." Brunel faculty interact with students primarily via Skype and email. Addition- al faculty also fly into Bahrain for two condensed face-to-face school ses- sions—once in summer and once in win- ter—where they deliver support sessions on topics such as research methods, thesis structure, and paper writing. The PhD students are required to travel to London only once in the entire program, for their oral "viva voce" defense of their thesis, so that we can evaluate and con- firm the quality of their work before they exit the program. This home-based model allows our doctoral students in Bahrain to concen- trate their research on regional issues that matter to them. And because most students will not relocate after gradu- ation, their knowledge will stay in the region, helping to create a knowledge economy that promotes growth and diversification. So far, students have worked on thesis topics such as com- munity leadership in a new democracy, national culture and knowledge manage- ment, the role of emotional intelligence in improving intercultural training, and religion and corporate philanthropy. Not surprisingly, many students also focus their research on the role of women in business. Taqi, for ex- ample, is analyzing factors that lead to obstacles and success for women entrepreneurs in developing countries. "Female contribution is a must," says Taqi. "Research has shown the impor- tance of women for economic growth." Student Layla Faisal Alhalwachi is studying women's representation on corporate boards, a topic that "is partic- ularly crucial in the context of the Mid- dle East," she says. "Women here have been given less access to senior leader- ship posts. My study aims to contribute solutions to help level the playing field." ENHANCED SUPPORT Noncompletion rates among PhD students are traditionally high, and the dropout risk for students in a nonres- idential program could be higher still. That's why Brunel's staŠ is careful to be aware of the life situations of each stu- dent in our program, providing constant guidance, support, and encouragement. That's something that Ebtesam Al-Alawi, a student in the program as well as a working mother, believes is crucial to her success. (See "One Student's Story" on facing page.) "With my hectic schedule, I am forced to face life's daily obstacles as a business owner, an active member of society, and a PhD student. Having constant support helped me commit to the program," she says. Al-Alawi, whose research involves the study of the relation between team turn- over and performance, notes that there is still a lack of understanding of gender diŠerences and the role of women in business, particularly in the GCC region. "Theories on the creation of businesses have been formulated and tested on male entrepreneurs and don't reflect women's processes and organizational styles," says Al-Alawi. "High-level research is needed to consider the problems faced by women entrepreneurs, their administrative practices, conflicts between their roles in their business and their families, and the vision they have for their enterprises." Bringing more women into academia, she stresses, will drive more research—and more knowledge—about gender and business success. CULTIVATING INTELLECT Brunel Business School has several objectives for our partnership with Ahlia University. In addition to build- ing the doctoral program that is open to students across the region, we want to develop a long-term relationship between our universities; deliver a pipe- line of research with impact on regional business issues; and, most important, provide access to high-level research opportunities for women who face cultural obstacles to studying overseas. To start this program, we have faced many challenges—first and foremost, we had to integrate this program into the sectarian nature of Bahraini politics and society. The Middle East is a politically charged region, which means that all activities and statements related to our partnership with and PhD program at Ahlia University have to be politically impartial, so that we can avoid any criti- cism or misinterpretation. WOMEN HAVE A REAL NEED AND DESIRE TO CONTRIBUTE NEW IDEAS, DRIVE CHANGE, AND BE PART OF A NEW ENVIRONMENT FOR BUSINESS IN THE MIDDLE EAST.