Al Fujairah, October 14, 2008 – One hundred Nationals in Fujairah are starting a training programme this week which will provide them with jobs by the end of November.
It is a joint venture between the Emirates National Development Programme (ENDP), the National Institute for Vocational Education (NIVE), and HSBC. The trainees will be guided from this week until November 20 by a six-strong team from NIVE, which is an initiative of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority based in Dubai.
The trainees are to receive two internationally-recognised certificates that will lead to jobs in banking and finance. The first is a diploma which is awarded upon finishing the month-long course. The second, an advanced diploma in banking and finance, will be awarded after the completion of a one-day per week training for a year in HSBC.
Issa Al Mulla, executive manager of ENDP, said that more effort is needed to encourage Nationals to work in the private sector. The number of Nationals employed in the private sector through ENDP since it was established in 2005 has now reached about 4,450 across the UAE.
Dr Naji al Mahdi, executive director of NIVE, said that the programme is theory mixed with practical skills. The practical training will take place in HSBC banks for 42 days throughout the year.
This should ensure that trainees are capable of handling banking processes and dealing with customers. The programme also includes training in communication and IT skills, as well as work ethics and conduct applied in large businesses.
Dr Naji added that the programme caters to the requirements of the banking industry, and it aims to prepare a generation of highly qualified Nationals to work in the sector.
Ammar Mohammed Shams, HR executive at HSBC, said that the nationalization rate in HSBC has reached 29%, which means 1,000 of its 3,800 employees are Nationals. HSBC is aiming to reach a rate of 30% by the end of the year.