BBS currently offers a one-year program called Business Foundations, which is a three-tiered curriculum in English Language, Business fundamentals and Professional development skills. It was designed by local and international experts in the business and education sector, and is based on extensive research among private sector leaders in Iraq about the “Skill Gap” the skills Iraqi youth lack, but need, in order to work with companies.
Multinational companies operating in Iraq consistently state that English language and “soft” or “professional” skills are the main abilities Iraqi job applicants lack but need to obtain entry-level positions and succeed in the private sector. Private-sector leaders in Iraq report that basic understanding of Business fundamentals is the third key skills group that Iraqi graduates need but lack in order to work in the sector.
Business Foundations provides both soft or academic skills such as research and critical thinking as well as hard or practical skills like language and finance needed for Iraqi university graduates to find entry-level employment or to start their own businesses. BBS’s curriculum meets high quality, international academic standards and is tailored for the needs of Iraqi youth and market demands. It is a blended, hybrid model that uses both in-person and online components to maximize learning.
Please note that BBS is not yet accredited by a ministry. BBS staff are working to gain recognition.