work-ready engineers to flow from oracle training academy in knowledge economic city al madinah
Newly trained engineers from a proposed Oracle Training Academy in Knowledge Economic City Al Madinah (KEC) will be ready to step straight into a job.
The global software giant has just signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with KEC in which training will play a key role.
KEC Chief Technology Officer Mohammed Shah says there is a world-wide shortage of skilled IT engineers, so the Oracle initiative will provide a home grown solution to help KEC meet its ambitious development goals, as well as provide good career opportunities for young Saudis in Al Madinah.
As a start Oracle will make its software available to local educational institutions and provide the expertise needed to help “train the trainers”. Later the two organisations will work together to identify opportunities in which they can use their collective strength to enhance Oracle based skills.
Mr Shah says Oracle is the global number one in enterprise software development with a significant presence in the region.
“We can learn a lot from their capability, efficiency and experience and we are looking forward to developing a whole new generation of Oracle-skilled engineers to fill the increasing number of vacancies across the Middle East.”
KEC CEO Tahir Bawazir said the signing of the MoU with Oracle is the first stage in a process that will produce many beneficiaries, from the academy graduates who get jobs through to the employers who have their IT staff needs met. Indirectly, the community as a whole also benefits because there is a multiplier effect that occurs each time a new job is created.
He said the training and employment of local youth is expected to lead to a more skilled work force in Al Madinah which in turns creates further competitive advantage for local companies.
Signing on behalf of Oracle, Vice President Abdul Rahman Al Thehaiban said both parties would achieve complementary goals through this partnership.
“While Oracle is already a major software provider in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East we are keen to expand our reach and we see this MoU with KEC as a major breakthrough in this respect.
“We need more qualified Oracle engineers trained to service our own growth plans so there is a strong business incentive for us to partner with KEC in this way.
Ends About Knowledge Economic City Al Madinah (KEC)
KEC Madinah is one of four economic cities being developed in Saudi Arabia to boost regional development and provide employment for the country’s growing population by focusing on Intellectual Property, Knowledge-Based Industries, Medical, Hospitality, Tourism and Multi-Media.
The project is located at Al-Madinah, the home of the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) where the Holy Quran was compiled. The project has special significance for Muslims throughout the world because of its location.
Knowledge Economic City is designed as a project that will position Saudi Arabia and young Saudi Arabian entrepreneurs as internationally respected leaders in knowledge based industries and aims to attract and develop talent from around the world. It will provide them with opportunities on a global scale while providing investors and entrepreneurs with infrastructure, opportunity, a unique pool of talent and the potential for a healthy return on investment.
More than 20,000 jobs and accommodation for about 150,000 people will be created by the project which will have an aggregated investment of more than SR25 billion and take up to 12 years to complete.
The other economic cities are King Abdullah Economic City in (Industrial, Port, Plastics and Light Manufacturing), Prince Abdul Aziz ibn Musaed Economic City in Hail (Agriculture, Mining, Transportation and Logistics) and Jisan Economic City (Heavy, Oil, Metal and Energy Industries) www.madinahkec.com
