All Darden students eligible for the full-time MBA program can take Darden Worldwide courses and receive the Batten Foundation Darden Worldwide Scholarship, which covers course fees for the program. Darden Professor June West recently led a group of second-year students on a week-long travel course to the Kingdom of Bahrain. Darden students have been visiting the area since his 2001 year.
This course explored Bahrain’s role in the global economy as a petrochemical, financial and trading center and its strategic geopolitical location within the Arabian Gulf. Students met with senior executives from a wide range of companies and organizations, including:
- Aluminum Bahrain (Aruba) is a major commodity exporter accounting for nearly 12% of the country’s GDP, a long-time Darden partner, and host to DWC and Darden students.
- At U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and the U.S. Department of State, leaders discussed Bahrain’s strategic importance and role in the Middle East.
- At Alhi United Bank, leaders discussed conventional Islamic banking practices and growth strategies.
- coca cola middle east
- Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance. Darden Partner in the Gulf Coast Development Program. The program is designed to bring senior executives from the Gulf region to Darden for leadership programs.
- Vitol, one of the world’s largest private energy and commodity trading companies
- Mumtalakat Holding Company is Bahrain’s sovereign wealth fund and owner of McLaren Racing and the Bahrain F1 Circuit.
- Supreme Council of Women, an organization of leading women in business and government
Darden Worldwide Course students and staff would like to thank all the companies and speakers who welcomed the group to such a wonderful country, and June who shared her over 20 years of experience operating in the Gulf region.・Thank you Dr. West.
Check out some photos of the amazing course.
Rear Admiral Sean Bailey, Deputy Commander, US Navy Central Command (NAVCENT) and US 5th Fleet, and David Maher, Political Officer at the US Embassy in Manama, Bahrain, pictured with a group from the Darden School at the University of Virginia. Photographed on March 16, 2023, while visiting Bahrain. The delegation provided an overview of the U.S. 5th Fleet’s mission and role in regional maritime security. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Helen Brown)
March 16, 2023, Rear Adm. Sean Bailey, Vice Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) and U.S. 5th Fleet, welcomes 26 students from the University of Virginia Darden School of Business to NAVCENT during a visit to Bahrain, March 16, 2023. MBA students received an overview of the mission and role of the U.S. 5th Fleet in regional maritime security. Students also received a briefing from David Maher, political officer at the U.S. Embassy in Manama, Bahrain. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Helen Brown)
A group photo taken when Mr. Darden visited Aluminum Bahrain (Aruba) headquarters. Alba Chairman Shaikh Daiji bin Salman bin Daiji Al Khalifa, CEO Ali Al Bakari and COO Dr Abdullah Habib will lead Darden’s Executive Program (TEP) and Gulf Development Programme. is a graduate of
Sean Solomon and Moriah Horner don jumpsuits and helmets during Darden’s visit to Aluminum Bahrain.
Darden students prepare for go-kart racing at the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Double Hoo Farid Masood, Managing Director of Vitol Group, mentored Darden students at Vitol.
Darden University student Tyler Brown studies oil prices on the Vitol trading floor.
Professor Darden June West: The best teacher!
Student Brandon Gilbert takes a tour of Darden’s Coca-Cola Bahrain bottling plant.
This Darden Worldwide course is based in Manama, Bahrain.
In addition to participating in the course itself, students may have the opportunity to travel independently in the region before or after their studies. Darden students visited Dubai before their course in Bahrain.