‘Taqder’ prepares young Omanis for the job market
Times News Service
MUSCAT: Youth Vision recently concluded its “Taqder” programme, an initiative focused on developing the skills of Omanis and supporting them, and sponsored by BP Oman’s Social Investment Programme.
The closing ceremony was held under the auspices of Jokha Bint Abdullah Al Shukili, Director General of Universities and Private Colleges at the Ministry of Higher Education. Representatives from BP Oman, as well as CEOs and managers of various companies and institutions attended the event.
Shamsa Al Rawahi, BP Oman’s Social Investment Programme Officer, said, “The Taqder programme reflects our commitment to empowering Omani graduates and job seekers, equipping them with tools to boost their chances in this increasingly competitive market.”
BP Oman’s commitment
“The success of the initiative reiterates BP Oman’s commitment to further invest in such capability development programmes, which support national priorities and inspire growth throughout the national workforce. We congratulate Youth Vision for this achievement,” she added.
At the ceremony, a video highlighting the journey of the trainees under Taqder was played. Later, they got to present the projects they had worked on to senior executives to enhance their employment opportunities. The projects were in various fields including marketing, finance and administration. They also shared their overall experience of working in small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
“The Taqder programme has enabled us to further understand challenges that job seekers face. The initiative contributed to the preparation of students before graduation by developing the work skills required in the market in a practical manner, not only through traditional teaching methods used in educational institutions,” said Maryam Khalifa Al Amri, Chief Executive Officer of Youth Vision.
“We will work to develop and expand the programme further to reach more potential job seekers. It can be applied in colleges and universities to provide students with the skills to overcome labour market challenges,” she added.
Several field trips
During the programme, trainees went through various phases, including challenges, discussions and competitions. Several field trips were organised, which contributed to the enhancement of participants’ teamwork, values, self-confidence and problem-solving skills. The initiative saw 475 people register, out of whom 150 were selected for the first stage. They underwent various training workshops under the supervision and evaluation of a specialised committee. Eleven participants qualified for the second stage, which was a three-month practical training in SMEs. Through the programme, 16 training and job opportunities were offered.
“The stage where we trainees worked on projects for the SMEs had the greatest impact on the development of our skills. It enabled us to apply what we have learnt through the implementation of effective operational plans,” said Wafa Al Saidi, trainee at Xeem Management Consultancy and participant of Taqder.
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