BMC’s Anti-poverty Programs

BMC recognizes that education is one of the most powerful tools for breaking the cycle of poverty. This pillar details the comprehensive framework the college has implemented to ensure that students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds not only gain access to quality higher education but also receive the support necessary to thrive academically and graduate successfully.

1.3.1 Bottom Financial Quintile Admission Target

BMC has established explicit, measurable targets to increase the enrollment of students from the bottom 20% of household income groups in the community.

Policies and Programs:

• 1. • • Targeted Recruitment: Outreach efforts are directed at schools and communities with high concentrations of low-income families.

       • Transparent Financial Aid Communications: The "Admission-Financial Aid" document clearly outlines the available support, ensuring prospective students and their families are aware of the opportunities to make higher education affordable.

       • Holistic Admissions: The admissions process considers socioeconomic context, ensuring that potential is not overshadowed by financial circumstance.

Implementation:

• 1. • • Scholarship Prevalence: Notably, 69% of BMC’s student body benefits from financial assistance schemes, indicating a significant reach into economically diverse segments of the population.

• Direct-Target Programs: The Low-Income Supporting Programs are explicitly designed for students from the bottom financial quintile, including specific support for the children of national martyrs and orphans under the guardianship of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development.

Targeted Recruitment Strategies:

• 1. • • Community-Based Outreach: BMC admissions teams actively engage with high schools in economically disadvantaged areas through school forums and community events, specifically highlighting financial support options.

       • Partnerships with Social Services: Collaboration with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development ensures outreach to orphans and children of national martyrs, who often come from low-income backgrounds.

       • Clear Communication of Financial Aid: All recruitment materials, including the "Admission-Financial Aid" document, explicitly detail scholarship programs, flexible payment plans, and support services, demystifying the financial aspects of higher education for low-income families.

Transparent Admission Policies:

• 1. • • Holistic Review Process: While maintaining high academic standards, the admissions committee considers the socioeconomic context of applicants, recognizing that potential may not be fully reflected in traditional metrics due to resource limitations.

       • Fee Waiver Applications: Prospective students can apply for fee waivers during the admission process, ensuring that application costs are not a barrier.

       • Support Scholarship (Abna’a Al Shuhada’a): To support the students as sons and daughters of the martyrs of the homeland, BMC provides a full tuition fee scholarship to them. Providing full tuition scholarships to children of martyrs. While not exclusively income-based, this represents significant institutional investment supporting vulnerable students facing financial hardship.

       • Financial Aid (Daaem / Support Program): This program is directly supports current low-income students by providing financial aid to alleviate tuition fee pressures, enabling them to continue their medical studies.

       • Financial Aid (Ehsan Scholarship): Ehsan (Philanthropy / Kindness) Provides full tuition scholarships to orphans under governmental care (Ministry of Human Resources) facing financial hardship, mitigating barriers to education for those vulnerable students after parental loss.

       • Student Loan (Maslak Program): Maslak is an educational financing program supports students facing financial pressures (including low-income students) with zero-interest loans for tuition fees, making education accessible regardless of current ability to pay and the tuition fees will be paid after graduation and hired on instalments base with zero interest. The program was established by BMC in collaboration with Al-Rajhi Foundation for Development Finance.

       • Bursaries (Iqraa Scholarship): Provides partial scholarships, reducing financial barriers to education for students, including those from low-income backgrounds in collaboration between BMC and Dallah Al Baraka Holding Group.

1.3.2 Bottom Financial Quintile Student Success

Admission is only the first step. BMC is deeply committed to ensuring that students from the bottom financial quintile are retained, supported, and ultimately graduate, ready to embark on successful careers.

Academic Support Systems

• 1. 1. • Enhanced Academic Advising: Students from low-income backgrounds are paired with dedicated academic advisors who provide proactive guidance on course selection, study strategies, and time management.

        • Peer Tutoring and Mentoring: The college facilitates peer-to-peer tutoring programs, linking struggling students with high-achieving peers. Faculty mentorship programs provide additional academic and professional guidance.

        • Supplemental Instruction: For challenging core courses, supplemental instruction sessions are offered, providing collaborative learning environments that have been shown to improve grades and retention.

Career Preparation and Graduation Support

• 1. 1. • Career Portal and Counseling: The BMC Career Portal offers personalized career counseling, resume workshops, and interview preparation, specifically emphasizing opportunities for upward mobility.

        • Internship and Placement Assistance: The college leverages its industry partnerships to help secure internships and clinical placements for students, providing crucial professional experience and networking opportunities.

        • Leadership Development: Workshops such as the "Leadership in Healthcare" seminar are offered to all students, building the soft skills and confidence needed for professional success post-graduation.

Success Metrics and Tracking

• The academic progress of students receiving significant financial aid is closely monitored, allowing for early intervention if academic performance declines. Moreover, the graduation rate is analyzed by socioeconomic cohort to identify and address any disparities, ensuring equitable outcomes. In addition, the college maintains contact with alumni to track career progression, providing evidence of the long-term impact of its support on economic mobility.

1.3.3 Promotion of International and Cultural Diversity

BMC is dedicated to promoting international and cultural diversity, recognizing the significant role it plays in enriching the academic and social experiences of its students. By cultivating an environment where diverse prospects thrive, BMC ensures that its graduates leave with a broader worldview and enhanced skills that prepare them for the global landscape. With an academic environment representing 38 different nationalities, including a substantial proportion of students from various developing countries, BMC proudly reflects a truly international community. This diversity enriches classroom discussions, fosters mutual respect, and nurtures a culture of global awareness and empathy.

Beyond simply creating a diverse learning environment, BMC takes real steps to support its international students, particularly those from low and lower-middle-income countries. The college offers a range of financial aid options, including full or partial fee exemptions, scholarships, and grants, specifically designed to help students who might otherwise lack the resources to pursue higher education. Additionally, BMC provides holistic support services, such as affordable housing, daily meals, and complimentary medical care, ensuring that all students can focus on their studies without the burden of financial strain.

Through these initiatives, BMC actively works to attract talented individuals from around the world who face economic barriers, creating opportunities for them to achieve their academic goals. By fostering a culturally diverse learning environment, the college promotes cross-cultural understanding and collaboration, while also contributing to the broader aim of reducing global inequalities and supporting sustainable development in lower-income countries. These measures reflect BMC's deep commitment not only to academic excellence but also to the well-being and holistic development of its diverse student body, ensuring that every student can succeed and make a meaningful impact in their communities and beyond.

Student Wellbeing Initiatives

Recognizing that financial barriers should never delay a talented student's educational journey; BMC has established a range of initiatives to support students from the bottom economic quintile. Through scholarships, housing support, nutritional aid, and a broader commitment to holistic student wellbeing, BMC aims to create an equitable learning environment where talents and dedications drive success.

Housing Support: Creating a Stable Foundation for Learning

For many students, the cost of housing is a significant barrier to accessing quality education. To ensure that living expenses do not obstruct a student's academic path, BMC has taken a proactive approach in providing affordable accommodation. BMC offers in-campus housing at preferential rates, particularly for students from low-income backgrounds and developing countries. This initiative aims to provide students with a safe and conducive living environment that supports their academic pursuits.

Additionally, BMC has developed partnerships with local housing providers, including hotels and residences, to offer students reduced accommodation fees. By facilitating access to affordable, comfortable housing, BMC ensures that students can focus on their education without the added stress of financial strain related to living expenses. This commitment to creating a supportive living environment demonstrates BMC’s dedication to the overall wellbeing of its students.

Food Security Initiatives: Ensuring No Student Studies Hungry

Nutrition is linked to cognitive performance, and BMC recognizes that hunger should never be a barrier to a student's education. To ensure that students have access to nutritious food, BMC has collaborated with various food service providers to provide free meal tickets and subsidized meal options. These efforts align closely with the SDGs, particularly Zero Hunger. By guaranteeing that students have access to healthy meals, BMC enables them to concentrate fully on their studies, unhindered by food insecurity.

Furthermore, BMC has organized events such as the "Food Day Bazaar," which took place in April and November 2024. These events aimed to support students facing financial challenges by encouraging students to bring and sell food products and games, with the funds raised going toward their peers in need. This initiative not only fostered a sense of community but also empowered students to actively contribute to the welfare of their peers, reinforcing the value of collective support and community engagement.

Academic Resources and Support: Empowering Success

To further support students, BMC recognizes the importance of providing access to quality educational materials and resources. The college organizes in-house book fairs, where students can purchase textbooks from leading global publishers at discounted rates. This initiative ensures that financial limitations do not prevent students from accessing the learning materials they need to succeed.

Moreover, BMC offers vouchers to help students cover the cost of essential academic tools such as computers, stationery, and other supplies. By providing financial support for these necessary items, BMC helps create an environment where all students, regardless of their financial background, have equal access to the tools they need for academic success.

Partnerships and Collaborations: Expanding Opportunities Through MOUs

BMC’s commitment to student wellbeing extends beyond the campus through strategic partnerships and collaborations with nonprofit organizations. Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) have been signed with several nonprofit entities, including the Hassan Abbas Shurbatly for Community Services, Abudawood Nonprofit Organization, and Takatuf. These MOUs are aimed at providing financial assistance to students in need and ensuring that resources are allocated based on well-researched case studies.

These partnerships allow BMC to mobilize funds for students with specific financial needs, ensuring that every student can pursue their academic dreams. The collaboration with Takatuf focuses on long-term community development, ensuring that students not only receive immediate financial support but also have access to initiatives that foster growth and sustainability. These partnerships highlight BMC’s commitment to fostering an inclusive educational environment where all students have equal opportunities to succeed.