Bahrain's Economic Development Board (EDB) has thrown its weight behind an apprenticeship programme to boost vocational training in the kingdom, a report said.

The National Institute for Industrial Training (NIIT), the only industrial institute of its kind in Bahrain, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Education Centre of Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles in Kassel, Germany, to promote co-operation in the fields of apprenticeship and training, with the support of the EDB, reported the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.

The MoU was signed by NIIT acting director Abdullah Mohammed and vice-president and head of education and Training Centre of Rheinmetall Thomas Noll at the NIIT headquarters in Hidd Industrial Area.

EDB business development executive director Vivian Jamal said this MoU represents an important opportunity for Bahrain and demonstrates the importance placed on human capital development and education in the kingdom.

"Bahrain boasts one of the most highly skilled workforces in the region, and we look forward to welcoming such initiatives and agreements, which are in line with our commitment to further enhancing the quality of our education, and ensure that Bahrainis entering the workforce are able to compete at a global level".

Under the terms of the MoU, the two parties will work together to develop joint apprenticeship and training activities, encourage exchange of education and training expertise, co-operate in planning and installation of apprenticeship and training centres, and integrate the German dual apprenticeship system.

The latter is an apprenticeship system that combines between theory and practice as well as company and vocational schools.

The Bahraini apprenticeship system would co-ordinate a system that offers graduates the chance to be employed as trainees at companies offering opportunities in learning new methods, machines, techniques and operational processes, paving the way towards hiring them as skilled-workers upon their successful final qualification.

To encourage trainees, a monthly-apprenticeship salary will be determined for every trainee in the apprenticeship contract. The apprenticeship salary increases continuously each year, taking into consideration that trainees are performing productively. The programme may potentially include at some stage sending trainees on courses to Germany.

"Since its establishment seven years ago, NIIT has been progressing steadily towards achieving milestones one after another and bringing in international best practices in vocational training to Bahrain," Mohammed said.

"In order to improve a competitive and performance-based sector in apprenticeship in the kingdom, it is necessary to implement the German dual apprenticeship system."

The MoU is part of a wider plan between NIIT and Rheinmetall Education Centre that also incorporates planning an apprenticeship and training centre in Bahrain, and implementation of the apprenticeship pilot project in the kingdom, joint workshops and seminars, and to take part in fairs and conferences.

"We are glad to work with an experienced partner like NIIT Bahrain to exchange our expertise and bring in successful projects to kingdom," Noll said.

"To assure common apprenticeship objectives, the training would be continuously overseen by independent institutions or authorities in Bahrain."

NIIT was established five years ago by a group of 53 business leaders in Bahrain to provide industrial training for Bahrainis to enhance their chances of employment.

It also provides special training in management skills, computing and other office-related jobs. It recently launched its first dedicated industrial training for females. – TradeArabia News Service