Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) has overseen the graduation of 940 Omanis as part of its training-for-employment programme. The 11th batch of graduates is the largest in the history of PDO’s National Objectives programme which was launched in 2011 to create employment and training opportunities for jobseekers.
The graduates were enrolled in different technical and non-technical training programmes which are in line with PDO’s efforts to support the government’s economic diversification drive. Today’s batch included 92 female graduates who have qualified to work in a range of occupations including commercial promoters, HSE advisors, real estate brokers, airline crew as well as two who will be appointed as drilling fluids engineers in the oil and gas industry.
PDO external affairs and value creation director Abdul-Amir Abdul-Hussein Al Ajmi said: “The graduation of the largest batch in PDO history is a great milestone showing that we are progressing in our commitment to develop young Omani talents and intensify our In-Country Value drive.”
Having successfully completed training lasting from 6 to 18 months at nine training institutes, such as TATI and Dalama, the graduates were awarded international certifications in different trades which will enable them to take up full-time positions as scaffolders, electricians, HSE officers, mechanics, welders, drilling fluids engineers and cabin crew.
These positions are provided by more than 30 employers including Oman Air, INCO Engineering, Halliburton and Oman Trading Establishments. Graduates from the Oman Real Estate Association programme will work independently as real estate brokers.
This batch also features the first group to graduate from the Knowledge Grid HSE programme with certifications including the IOSH Managing Safely, the NEBOSH International General Certificate in Health and Safety, and the City and Guilds NVQ Level 5 in Occupational Health & Safety Practice, which qualify them to work as HSE advisors.
Since 2011, PDO’s National Objectives programme has secured more than 45,000 jobs, vocational training, redeployment, transfer and scholarship opportunities to Omani jobseekers. This year, PDO targets the creation of 17,000 such opportunities.
“Today’s announcement shows that we are on track to meet our target of more than 1,300 graduates for this year, who we will train so they may acquire the skills and qualifications necessary to take up full-time positions.
“I praise all those involved in achieving this milestone, including the graduates, training institutes and employers, and there is no doubt that such achievements will benefit not only the graduates themselves, but also Oman as a whole,” Al Ajmi added.
