BIBF, Veolia, and TAI to launch Terra Academia Bahrain

TDT | Manama

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Veolia, Terra Academia International (TAI), and the Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF) yesterday announced the launch of Terra Academia Bahrain, set to become the Middle East’s first university focused on ecological transformation, industrial innovation, and sustainability.

The announcement was made at a high-level conference at BIBF Bahrain Bay, attended by H.E. Dr. Mohammed bin Mubarak Juma, Minister of Education and Chairman of the Higher Education Council, Mr. Khalid Ebrahim Humaidan, Chairman of BIBF and Governor of the Central Bank of Bahrain, and Mr. Eric Giraud-Telme, Ambassador of France to Bahrain.

Terra Academia Bahrain aims to become the Middle East’s first green university dedicated to ecological transformation, industrial innovation, and future skills.

Training

By 2030, it plans to train 5,000 students and professionals through a state-of-the-art campus hosting multiple partner universities, alongside a comprehensive online learning platform.

The initiative seeks to position Bahrain as a regional hub for talent, knowledge, and sustainable growth, emphasizing that the future begins in classrooms, where young minds learn to build a different, more sustainable world.

H.E. Dr. Juma reaffirmed the Kingdom’s commitment to a sustainable, low-carbon economy.

“Education is a fundamental driver of societal, technological, and economic change,” he said also highlighting the Forever Green campaign, which aims to double tree coverage and quadruple mangrove areas by 2035.

Jean-Michel Blanquer, Chairman of Terra Academia and former French Minister of Education, highlighted Bahrain’s strategic role in global ecological transformation.

“The ecological transition should not be seen as a constraint but as an engine for economic prosperity,” he said, noting that Terra Academia Bahrain’s mission aligns with Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030 that includes promoting sustainability, competitiveness, and social fairness.

He stressed that investing in human capital and key sectors such as renewable energy, artificial intelligence, green finance, and circular economy practices is central to sustainable development.

Initiative

Estelle Brachlianoff, CEO of Veolia, added: “This initiative reflects our strong belief that education, skills development and the creation of local jobs in the environmental sector are key enablers of sustainable growth in the Middle East. Through Terra Academia, we aim to contribute to building the talents, innovations and solutions needed to accelerate the region’s ecological transformation.”

The institution is expected to create thousands of jobs in green sectors by 2030, supporting Bahrain’s broader goal of becoming a regional hub for sustainable development and aligns with the Kingdom of Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030 and its climate ambitions, including its commitment to net zero by 2060.