Monday 25 / November / 2024
Muscat: Oman Cables Industry (OCI), the leading Omani company in the cables and systems industry - which is part of Prysmian Group – has celebrated the first student graduation of the SHE STEMS initiative at Al-Fahm Stage, Sultan Qaboos University (SQU).
The graduation was held in the presence of Dr. Rahma Ibrahim Al-Mahrooqi, Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation of the Sultanate of Oman and the CEO of Oman Cables, Cinzia Farise’. The SHE STEMS (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) programme was launched in September 2022 with an initial intake of 20 Omani women. The programme welcomed female Omani nationals aged 18-28 who were registered as job seekers with the Ministry of Labour and have a General Education Diploma.
The candidates engaged in an extensive six-month practical “Operating Maintenance” course, validated by MoHERI and supervised by a number of highly proficient, qualified instructors. The project is part of Oman Cables’ ambition to upscale local talent to link Oman to a sustainable future.
Dr. Rahma Ibrahim Al-Mahrooqi, Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation of the Sultanate of Oman, said: “SHE STEMS aligns with Oman’s ambitious Vision 2040 by expanding opportunities for Omani women and promoting a diverse, innovative and equitable economy. The programme develops hands-on skills and training to prepare Omani women for the nation’s manufacturing and STEM sectors, opening new horizons for them in the labor market.”
OCI’s Chief Executive Officer, Cinzia Farisè: “The SHE STEMS programme represents a significant milestone in our commitment to supporting the local community. It gives us great pleasure and pride to witness the first group of Omani women completing the programme, which was developed in partnership with the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, and the Ministry of Labour, as part of a global initiative that was firstly launched in Oman.”
“Deliver results to our shareholders is our job and give back to our community is our mission. When the two ambitions are satisfied, it means that our efforts have not been in vain”, she added.
Upon successful completion, each participant received a SHE STEMS certificate recognized by MoHERI and MoL. But the big news of the day is that while receiving their diploma, at the same time two SHE STEMS students were offered full-time employment at OCI.
After a first successful intake, screening for the second batch of candidates has started already and Oman Cables expects a large number of candidates for a 2nd 6-month full-time training – part in class and part on the field - in different technical disciplines, with the involvement of a recognised Technical Institute. Also, for the 2nd course Oman Cables is sponsoring the course tuition fees and students are receiving a monthly allowance by the Company. As the global economy rapidly evolves with automation and technological advances, the way students learn, connect, and interact in daily life is also changing. Skills developed through STEM provide students with the foundation to succeed in a STEM-integrated world.
