TAG-Org to Prepare 30,000 Omani Employees to Obtain Abu-Ghazaleh Cambridge Diploma in IT Skills

11 Sep 2011
 

Under this agreement, the Arab Omani Training Institute – a member of TAG-Org – will provide training to approximately 30 thousand civil servants to obtain the Abu- Ghazaleh Cambridge International Diploma in IT Skills

MUSCAT ----- September 11, 2011 ------- Information Technology Authority (ITA) in Sultanate of Oman signed recently an agreement with Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Organization (TAG-Org) to implement a training project for civil servants in the field of information technology.

Under this agreement, the Arab Omani Training Institute – a member of TAG-Org – will provide training to approximately 30 thousand civil servants to obtain the Abu- Ghazaleh Cambridge International Diploma in IT Skills.

The agreement was signed by HE Mr. Ali bin Masoud Sunaidy, Minister of Sports Affairs, Chairman of the Board of Directors of ITA and HE Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, Chairman and CEO of TAG-Org. The project will be implemented over a twenty- month period and the first phase will start in four regions and later all governorates and regions of the Sultanate will be covered in the second phase.

This national project will enable civil servants to contribute effectively in Oman knowledge community through the use of e-government services, access to information on the Internet, and the completion of various electronic transactions. The project will also enable civil servants to take advantage of the huge potential of ICT in improving performance and maximizing gains in various walks of life.

The project also aims at raising the rating of the Sultanate in the global rankings in terms of digital literacy, in addition to building the infrastructure of Oman Digital Society in terms of trainers, training centers and institutes. The slogan "Hand in Hand towards A Digital Society in Oman" was adopted as a title for the next phase.

The Government Information Technology Training and Certification (GITTC) is considered one of the major projects that ITA is implementing under the Oman Digital strategy for 2020 aiming to ensure a shift to digital society. It is also considered one of the basic foundations for building an Omani society based on knowledge, thereby achieving the objectives of the national strategy on Oman Digital society and e-government. This strategy is based on the vision and guidance set by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said to provide citizens with technical skills that enable them to meet the contemporary scientific and knowledge challenges and to achieve further development and prosperity through investing or utilizing knowledge and modern technology in various fields of national activity.

ITA has implemented a pilot project for 400 employees from civil servants belonging to the ministries of: Interior, Justice, Health, Regional Municipalities and Water Resources, with the support of the Ministry of Civil Service, and the Ministry of Education. This phase aimed to assess the training programs, and participants' interaction with these programs before the start of the actual implementation of the project, so as to ensure providing trainees with the best expertise and skills.

The Arab Omani Training Institute has implemented the first training program of its kind in the Arab World i.e. the training of accredited instructors / trainers on computers capable in their turn to provide training to people with special needs especially with hearing disability. The International Diploma Program in IT Skills is considered one of the most recognized programs for government projects-aimed at eliminating digital literacy and building a digital society.

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