The first batch of the program proved to be very successful, with 25% of graduates getting on-the-job training opportunities and job opportunities in local and international companies including Beyon Cyber.
Furthermore, a number of graduates will get the opportunity to build their knowledge and expertise through global experiences by joining world-renowned companies such as ZEN Data through the Global Ready Talent empowerment programme.
The program is offered by the SANS Institute, the world’s leading provider of training and education in the field of cybersecurity, and enables participants to acquire the knowledge and skills required to enter and specialize in the field through a hands-on and practical approach thus ensuring that they are prepared for it. Utilize these skills in a real work environment immediately after graduation.
On this occasion, Maha Moves, CEO of the Labor Fund (Tamkeen), celebrated the high-quality results of the training program, highlighting how it meets the current requirements of the labor market in light of the rapid transformation towards digital transformation and technology. Adoption, which makes cyber security and data protection a priority for all organizations.
She added, “This partnership stems from our commitment to providing national competencies with the training and development required to secure high-value job opportunities locally and internationally within sectors with high potential. We look forward to reaping more positive results from the upcoming cohorts in the program.”
In addition, Ned Beltagy, General Manager, Middle East and Africa at SANS Institute, stated: “With 40% of students achieving over 90% on their GSEC and GCIH exams and 82% and 86% passing their exams on the first attempt, this program equips students with Truly equipped with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in cybersecurity.Our students are highly prepared and ready to make an impact in the cybersecurity industry.”
Abu Bakr Arshad, Chief Technology Officer of Beyon Cyber, stated, “Beyon Cyber has benefited greatly from the Tamkeen Cybersecurity Program. Graduates of this program have gained significant working knowledge from the program and are ready to work from day one. This is a great initiative capacity building at the state level.
Ali Al-Anjawi, a recent graduate who has since been employed in the telecom sector, said: “The program provided a solid foundation for entering the field of cybersecurity through solid materials delivered by experts, and I also benefited greatly from the networking opportunities facilitated through the SANS job fairs which helped me in Understand the requirements and expectations of employers seeking to hire cyber security professionals.
It is worth noting that Tamkeen announced its partnership with the SANS Institute last year, with the aim of training hundreds of Bahrainis on cybersecurity skills, which are among the most required skills globally.
This partnership aims to bridge the cybersecurity skills gap in the Bahraini market, which will contribute to the creation of high-quality job opportunities with great potential for career growth for the Bahraini workforce in various sectors such as financial services, information and communication technology, and manufacturing. This will meet the growing demand for cybersecurity professionals for governments and private sector organizations, both locally and internationally.
Furthermore, SANS Institute recently opened the door for applications for the second cohort of the program through: https://www.sans.org/mlp/bahrain-academy/ and the door for applications will close by Saturday 4 March 2023.
This initiative is in line with Tamkeen’s strategic goals for the year which focus on four main priorities: facilitating increased economic participation of Bahrainis, providing training that is in line with labor market needs in new and emerging skills, as well as developing institutions and the ecosystem. All of which lead to a positive economic impact and sustainable growth.
Over the past year, Tamkeen has supported nearly 4.1 thousand enterprises in various sectors and stages of growth through its various support programs, with 71% of the enterprises supporting the training and employment of national talents. Tamkeen also worked proactively to attract applications from companies with high potential resulting in a 21% increase in subsidized quality job opportunities, thus providing more than 10 thousand job opportunities and 8.4 thousand training opportunities for Bahrainis to facilitate participation in the labor market.
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