A Bahraini academic achievement has drawn international attention after Dr. Reem Jassim successfully defended her PhD dissertation at Friedrich Schiller University in Germany, focusing on women’s entrepreneurship in Arab-Islamic contexts. Her dissertation, titled “Religiosity and Female Entrepreneurship: Growth, Digital Strategies, and Resilience in Arab-Islamic Contexts”, was completed as part of a structured doctoral programme using the cumulative dissertation model. This approach is based on producing a series of peer-reviewed research papers suitable for publication in top-tier international journals within a unified theoretical and methodological framework.
The research examines the relationship between religiosity and economic growth, the role of digital strategies, and the development of resilience among female entrepreneurs in Arab–Islamic societies. It offers practical insights that can support economic and development policymakers.
Prof. Abdulla Al-Hawaj, Founding President and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, said the achievement is a testament to the exceptional capabilities of young Bahraini academics and highlights the importance of investing in specialised scientific research. “Scientific research is a strategic priority within Ahlia University’s vision, and this accomplishment demonstrates the impact of such investment,” he added.
Dr. Jassim described the achievement as the result of a long and intensive research journey, noting that the study provides added value to academic institutions, policymakers, and organisations supporting women’s entrepreneurship in the region.
Her distinction is further strengthened by receiving two “Best Research Paper” awards from Babson College in the US, in addition to continuing to publish her doctoral outputs in leading international journals, contributing to the growing global presence of Bahraini research.
