Digital Learning through Dynamic Strategic Planning: A Case Study of Bahrain Training Institute

In February 2020, the Kingdom of Bahrain joined nations across the world in introducing measures to control the devastating Covid19 epidemic. The events lead to unprecedented changes in the methodology of learning in vocational and educational institutions. Online education, mobile learning, gamification, and technology-enhanced teaching which were catchphrases in educational circles until then, became a forced reality. This case study focuses on reviewing Bahrain Training Institute’s e-learning strategies that were successfully developed and implemented while the global pandemic raged on. During this period, a dynamic strategic planning system was put into place, to match the needs of the hour, through training and assessment strategies that were tried, tested, and enhanced while considering the requirements of the students and quality of training programs. Based on the experience of three semesters of online training, five specific digital-learning dynamic strategies are presented to recapitulate the successful measures taken within the organisation, that can be implemented in other higher education institutions. The case study begins with a look at the background of the educational institution and the factors that lead to change. It then analyses the themes that were developed from a quantitative study, to interpret participants’ views. The findings of the case-study are listed, to review the dynamic strategic planning processes that were put in place to shift the Commercial Studies programs online. The case-study highlights the challenges faced and suitable solutions that were implemented within key areas of the training pedagogy and assessment design. It concludes with implications and recommendations for educational institutions to successfully bring about online training as a permanent mode of learning for the future.