They learned by doing

Majority of the Eqtidar programme interns after their two-month on-job training said they like to “pursue a career in productivity and innovation.” When started two-months back with 62 Bahraini youths from various disciplines including Engineering, IT and Business Studies, the programme had this as its supreme goal.

Now after months of rigorous training, involving 42 real productivity improvement projects, the programme has achieved its objective “with zero withdrawal and zero failure”. Eqtidar has also led to saving 1,550,000 Bahraini dinars and improving 78 processes and work methods practised in the host companies. The two-month programme presented the participants with international certification from the UK in Productivity Improvement Projects.

“The programme achieved 103 per cent success as it exceeded its target goal, with zero withdrawal and zero failure,” Ebrahim Radhi, Principle consultants at Jafcon, said while celebrating the graduation of the Bahraini youth interns. Eqtidar, Radhi said, achieved 99pc satisfaction rating and successfully attracted fivefolds its capacity. Furthermore, it achieved the approval of 95pc of the well-reputed host companies.”

The programme, he said, granted Bahraini youth with an opportunity to gain practical experience and learn new skills in process re-engineering, cost reduction and other 21st century technologies. “The main methodology was Project-Based Learning (PBL) governed by the UK-Level 4 Qualification in Productivity Improvement Practices.” The collaborative scheme had universities as well as several local and international firms in Bahrain as partners.

“An enthusiastic and energetic group of trainees spent a couple of months with us to get practical experience, assist with the increasing workload and at the same time contribute towards improving the productivity of our processes,” said Ahmed Jahromi, the Assistant General Manager of AXA Gulf Insurance. Eqtidar programme, he said, excelled by all measures. “All the best to the innovative trainees and we now look forward to the next batch!” Fourteen leading companies in Bahrain from sectors including Energy, Telecommunications, Construction, Banking, Logistics and Insurance, and representing government agencies, SMEs, international companies, startups and corporates took part.

Upon completion, 82 per cent of the participants - senior graduate students and recent graduates- expressed their interest in pursuing a career in productivity and innovation. The Programme was organised in strategic partnership with the Labour Fund “Tamkeen” and jointly conducted by Jafcon and BSTD, and audited and certified by NOCN, the UK awarding body. Chief Executive of Tamkeen Dr Ebrahim Mohammed Janahi said, “Expanding the provision of internationally certified programmes to educate and train more Bahrainis come at the top priorities of Tamkeen’s responsibilities.”