17 Omani Students Graduate from Innovative SAP Training Initiative

Career-Boosting, ITA-Backed Young Professional Training Programme (Mawared) Provides Essential Business, IT and Leadership Skills

MUSCAT, Oman — March 24, 2014 — 17 Omani students graduated from SAP’s Information Technology Authority (ITA)-backed Young Professional Training Programme (Mawared) today.

The Mawared programme is specifically designed to prepare the students –which were selected from a pool of over 300 applicants –for the job market through teaching essential business, IT and leadership skills.

Training includes hands-on project experience and encompass everything from negotiation and communication to conflict management and “design thinking”. Theinitiative also offers SAP certifications at associate level in core business and industry solutions.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Fahad Sultan Al Abri, Director General of the Digital Society Development Division at ITA, said:

“We are proud to collaborate with SAP on the Mawared programme. Investing in and growing a skilled workforce will play a key role in transforming business in Oman, and this is an initiative that has the potential to make a huge impact. ICT drives innovation across a multitude of sectors and it has created a genuine momentum for job creation by enabling businesses to be more competitive and grow.”

Marita Mitschein, Senior Vice-President Strategic Investments, SAP AG, and Managing Director, SAP Training & Development Institute, added:

“Today is a very exciting day for the Mawared Training Programme in Oman as our second group ofyoung professionals in Oman graduates. These professionals are now equipped with highly sought-after skills that are relevant to a wide range of industries, and I have no doubt they will leave an inspirational mark in the coming years. For SAP this isa notable step in an ongoing journey, and we are looking forward to welcoming our next batch of graduates, and stepping up our ability to support the region’s workforce of the future wherever we can.”

Today’s graduates were funded by SAP and ITA. It is hoped that  future students will be supported by businesses and organisations that will benefit from access to a peerless pool of technologically articulate, business-savvy consultants attuned to local market needs.

The programme, which is central to SAP’s plans to certify more than 2,000 new consultants in the region within 2015, is a direct response to a distinct skills gap in the market and a lack of opportunities for talented young graduates.