SEZAD, Oman Wanfang send 88 Omanis for training in China
As many as 88 Omani students have been selected to attend a scholarship programme at the Ningxia Polytechnic College in China in a joint initiative facilitated by the Special Economic Zone Authority at Duqm (SEZAD) in collaboration with Oman Wanfang Company, the consortium of Chinese investors behind the $10 billion Sino-Oman Industrial City under implementation at the SEZ.
An initial batch of 38 students has already commenced their studies at the Chinese college.
During his recent visit to the Chinese city of Yinchuan, Yahya bin Said al Jabri, Chairman of SEZAD, visited the Omani students at the Ningxia Polytechnic College.
He urged them to make the most of the scholarship programme and garner the skills and knowledge necessary to pursue successful careers upon their return to the Sultanate.
Al Jabri also met with the faculty and academic staff who briefed him about the students’ performance.
The study programme began in March. The duration of the study is two years, upon the completion of which the students receive a diploma in a specialized technical and technological field, such as renewable energy development, oil equipment maintenance, petrochemical engineering, economic management, building materials, and computer applications.
Ningxia Polytechnic College has recently received academic accreditation from the Ministry of Higher Education.
This is the first batch of students who will work in Chinese companies operating in the Sino-Omani Industrial City in Duqm upon their graduation.
A second batch of 50 students is preparing to leave for the Ningxia Polytechnic College in the first quarter of next year, bringing the total number of students pursuing their studies in China to 88.
Ahead of start of their technical studies, the second batch of students has been enrolled at the SEZAD Training Centre for six months of English language student.
The students were selected based on interviews held in Duqm with priority given to candidates from the wilayat of Duqm in particular and Al Wusta Governorate in general.
These courses are part of SEZAD’s commitment to development the human capital potential of Duqm. For its part, Oman Wanfang Company has pledged to provide about 1,000 jobs for young Omanis to work in projects planned at the SEZ.