The Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) announced that registration is now open for the second batch of participants in the Technical Development Program, which aims to support Bahraini job seekers and university graduates in specialized ICT fields and refine their skills.
The program will also help the trainees gain employment in either the public or the private sector. Registration is through the iGA’s corporate website iga.gov.bh from August 23 to September 19, where candidates can verify their eligibility requirements and the documents needed to complete the registration process.
Mohammed Ali Al Qaed, Chief Executive of iGA, said that the program is consistent with Bahrain’s efforts to elevate high potential sectors, in light of the comprehensive development process led by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and in implementation of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister’s directives to continue supporting government strategies and priorities, including the Bahrain Economic Recovery Plan.
He highlighted the importance of the training program in building a team of specialized Bahraini youth capable of working with advanced technologies so that they can contribute to enhancing the electronic solutions and services offered by government and private entities.
Al Qaed said that the continuation of the Technical Development Program is within the framework of the Ministerial Committee for Information and Communication Technology (MCICT), chaired by General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Minister of Interior. The iGA, in cooperation with the Ministry of Labour, is continuing to offer professional training and skills to Bahraini youth across various technical sectors to develop them from fresh graduate levels into leadership material.
The training will qualify them to take on technical leadership positions following graduation and support their entry into the labour market.
Graduates and job seekers between 21 and 30 years old are welcome to register for the Technical Development Program as long as they have bachelor’s degrees in IT or computer science, or their equivalent, and are registered job seekers or Unemployment Benefits Record Service beneficiaries with the Ministry of Labour.
Applicants are required to submit the following documents in order to complete the registration process: a copy of their university certificate, an updated CV, and any other specialized certificates relevant to the training program. Professional certificates obtained through the program are internationally accredited, which contributes to the trainees’ career development while achieving the strategies and goals of national programs and the Bahrain Economic Recovery Plan.
Launched by the Ministry of Labour and the iGA in December last year, the Technical Development Program will provide intensive training within various iGA departments for about 240 young people over a period of three years, an average of 80 trainees per year. It grants participants monthly salaries with the support of the Ministry of Labour throughout the training period.
The iGA has begun implementing an intensive practical training program for the first batch of trainees accepted into the program. This initial group consists of 80 young individuals and the training commenced at the beginning of this year. They have been rotated through various technical departments and assigned daily tasks, and their academic courses started in July of the previous year.
These courses are being offered in collaboration with the Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF) and will continue until March 2024, during which each trainee will have the opportunity to attain two professional certifications. This will be accomplished through a series of courses and exams designed to meet the required standards.
