The paper highlights major works done by Bahraini women and recommends how to enhance these works for the continuous growth of the nation. Despite growing digital economies in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), women remain significantly underrepresented in technology sectors due to gaps in digital competencies and limited access to structured, high-impact training pathways. This paper evaluates the efficacy of formal education systems, corporate digital upskilling initiatives, and policy-level interventions in narrowing the gendered digital skills divide across the GCC. Using a convergent mixed-methods approach, we developed a novel regional dataset (2020–2025) covering STEM education trends, corporate tech workforce metrics, and national upskilling policies. This is triangulated with qualitative data from 30 semi-structured interviews with women professionals, HR managers, and policymakers. Quantitative analysis applies regression and multi-level modeling to assess relationships between program participation and measurable outcomes such as promotion, retention, and entrepreneurship entry. Thematic coding of interviews uncovers cultural and systemic barriers in tech adoption and training design. Findings highlight the outsized influence of mentorship-enabled corporate training and curriculum-integrated digital competencies on women's tech progression. However, inconsistencies in policy implementation and the fragmented nature of education-to-employment pathways limit scalability. The paper proposes a strategic policy-industry-academia model to bridge digital gender gaps with concrete reforms for Bahrain and broader GCC replication. The study contributes to innovation policy, gender-inclusive technology frameworks, and regional development strategy by linking institutional design to human capital activation in the digital economy.

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Bridging the Digital Skills Divide: Evaluating Tech-Education, Corporate Programs, and Policy Instruments for Women's Empowerment in the GCC

  • Fajer Danish,
  • Rohail Hassan,
  • Ali Ateeq,
  • Siddiq Balal Ebrahim

摘要

The paper highlights major works done by Bahraini women and recommends how to enhance these works for the continuous growth of the nation. Despite growing digital economies in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), women remain significantly underrepresented in technology sectors due to gaps in digital competencies and limited access to structured, high-impact training pathways. This paper evaluates the efficacy of formal education systems, corporate digital upskilling initiatives, and policy-level interventions in narrowing the gendered digital skills divide across the GCC. Using a convergent mixed-methods approach, we developed a novel regional dataset (2020–2025) covering STEM education trends, corporate tech workforce metrics, and national upskilling policies. This is triangulated with qualitative data from 30 semi-structured interviews with women professionals, HR managers, and policymakers. Quantitative analysis applies regression and multi-level modeling to assess relationships between program participation and measurable outcomes such as promotion, retention, and entrepreneurship entry. Thematic coding of interviews uncovers cultural and systemic barriers in tech adoption and training design. Findings highlight the outsized influence of mentorship-enabled corporate training and curriculum-integrated digital competencies on women's tech progression. However, inconsistencies in policy implementation and the fragmented nature of education-to-employment pathways limit scalability. The paper proposes a strategic policy-industry-academia model to bridge digital gender gaps with concrete reforms for Bahrain and broader GCC replication. The study contributes to innovation policy, gender-inclusive technology frameworks, and regional development strategy by linking institutional design to human capital activation in the digital economy.