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>> Infotour to Muscat, Oman in 2003

"Vocational Education made in Germany" iMOVE presents German initial and continuing vocational training in the Sultanate of Oman

In March 2003, iMOVE organised an informational seminar entitled “Vocational Education Made in Germany” in Muscat, Oman together with the German Industry and Commerce Office in Dubai and the Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ). The event was supported by the Ministry of Manpower in Oman. The goal behind the event was first of all to propagate the strengths and relevance of German vocational education and training and to portray Germany as a competent partner offering solutions in the field of initial and continuing vocational training, while secondly presenting training programmes “Made in Germany”.

Background

The need for vocational training in Oman is steadily on the rise, just like in other countries of the Gulf region. In view of the finite oil supply, Oman is also endeavouring to diversify its economy and increasingly investing in other areas, which means a growing need for qualified workers. On top of this, the population is exploding. The percentage of the young population which needs to be trained for the future labour market is growing. More than half of the population of Oman is below 16, and there are 33,000 young people leaving school every year entering the labour market.

In view of this situation, Oman is facing increasingly severe problems in the labour market. In many areas there is a shortage of qualified labour. There is also a shortage of institutions which are able to provide training. Given this, an attempt is being made through nationalisation of the labour market to make the country less dependent on foreign labour. The Omanisation programme, for instance, stipulates that 60% of a workforce be made up of Omani citizens in the banking sector. Many companies thus face the problem of having to hire persons who are inadequately qualified or unqualified for the respective job.

Germany has a lot to offer in the area of initial and continuing vocational training. The positioning of German vocational training in this market thus appears to hold out considerable promise.

The participants

In addition to iMOVE, the GTZ, the German Industry and Commerce Office in Dubai and Deutsche Lufthansa AG, which presented the advantages of in-house vocational training in Germany, the following six training providers took part in the event, taking advantage of the opportunity to present their spectrum of services and establish contacts:

Carl Duisberg Centren, Cognos AG, Internationaler Bund, Lucas-Nülle Training Systems GmbH, Lufthansa Technical Training GmbH, Dr. P. Rahn & Partner

The broad variety of programmes range from international management courses on training in quality to project management in the field of automation technology. At the same time, continuing training in Germany oriented towards the field of practice was also on offer along with customer-specific in-house training programmes.

The programme

The seminar took place on March 23. This day opened with welcoming addresses by representatives of iMOVE, the Ministry of Manpower and the German ambassador. The German vocational training system and its specific strengths were then presented. This part consisted of expert presentations by representatives of BIBB, the German Industry and Commerce Office, the GTZ and the representative of Deutsche Lufthansa AG in Dubai, who shed light on vocational training from a company perspective.

After this, German training providers who are interested in getting involved in future activities in the Gulf region or who are already active in the region presented their programmes on offer within the framework of individual presentations. The day was concluded with a reception by the German embassy in Muscat.

An opportunity was provided on the second day to conduct individual discussions with contacts and visit companies on-site.

The event was oriented towards decision-makers from the field of policy-making and business (domestic and German companies) as well as the colleges responsible for vocational training.

You will find the seminar's programm here.

Presentation by Sabine Gummersbach-Majoroh from iMOVE

Audience from right to left; Jürgen Friedrich (German Industry & Commerce Office), Sabine Gummersbach-Majoroh (iMOVE), Muneer bin Mohamed Al Maskery (Undersecretary for Vocational Training, Ministry of Manpower), Hartmut Blankenstein (German Ambassador)

There was an all-day exhibition which offered German training providers an additional opportunity to present their programmes and hold talks.

Talks held within the framework of the exhibition

Visitors at the exhibition

Wilfried Gebhardt (CDC) informs interested visitors

Hanns-Bernd Kuchta (GTZ) and Omani visitors

There were a large number of visitors at the information seminar – approximately 200 participants – which confirmed the lively interest in Oman for German vocational training. You can read the reports in the local press here:

- Oman Daily Observer dated March 19
- Times of Oman dated March 22
- Oman Daily Observer dated March 24
- Times of Oman dated March 24
- Oman Daily dated March 24

Contact:

For additional information, please contact:<BR>Sigrid Meiborg,
phone: +49 (0)228 107-1774, fax: +49 (0)228 107-2895.