A team from Bahrain labour fund Tamkeen paid a visit to the National Institute of Industrial Training (NIIT) to discuss the milestones achieved by the programmes provided under the Tamkeen-NIIT partnership.

The NIIT is a private enterprise set up to provide high quality skills training and offers a range of practical programmes which are externally accredited by Wigan and Leigh College UK and other awarding bodies.

The visit comes as part of Tamkeen’s continuous co-operation with leading training service providers aimed at empowering Bahraini individuals and enhancing their skills.

The delegation led by Tamkeen chief executive Mahmood Al-Kooheji toured NIIT’s campus facilities and also attended a presentation by the institute's managing director Dr Hashim Hashim, who shed light on the success of its various programmes and projects and their progress.

Focusing on the Engineering Multi Skills project, a unique employment training programme for technical track graduates and job seekers, Dr Hashim discussed the achievements of the programme thus far.

This project offers 100 Bahraini youth conditional job contracts with potential employers from the time of commencement of the programme, he stated.

"Designed to maximise trainees’ job opportunities by developing skills in a wide range of technical engineering disciplines, the 9 month-programme offers each trainee basic multi-skill training before allowing them to specialise in one of four engineering disciplines in accordance with their employment contract."

"Training is provided in mechanical engineering, fabrication and welding, and electrical engineering to name a few," he added.

Since its establishment in December 2010, 60 beneficiaries have enrolled in Engineering Multi Skills to date. On completion of the course, candidates receive globally-recognized qualifications awarded by NIIT’s official UK partner Wigan and Leigh College.

The candidates then become eligible to enroll in a wide variety of value-added jobs including automotive service advisors, general electricians, and welders among other technical services, said Dr Hashim.

Al Kooheji said: “We are committed to providing the highest quality training to Bahrainis, and our partnership with NIIT has ensured that job-seekers in the engineering field are prepared for employment. At the same time, we are opening the doors for further training and career progression in the future."

"Forming strategic partnerships which create value-added employment opportunities for Bahrainis helps achieve our goal of empowering Bahrainis and helping supply highly skilled professionals to meet the requirements of Bahrain’s labour market," he added.

Tamkeen’s senior management will conduct a number of similar visits to its various training partners and service providers during the coming months.-TradeArabia News Service