Bid to train 1,800 Bahrainis in hospitality sector
The Labour Fund yesterday signed a BD3.2 million contract with Baisan Institute for Hospitality Management (BIHM) to fund the training of more than 1,800 Bahrainis in diverse fields of the hospitality sector.
The agreement was signed by Abdulellah Ebrahim Al Qassimi, Acting Chief Executive of the Labour Fund, and Qutub Abbas Dadabhai, Chairman of the Board of Directors of BIHM.. The signing ceremony was held at the Bahrain Hotels Company premises at the Gulf Hotel and was also attended by Aqeel Raees, Chairman of the Specific Council for Vocational Training - Hospitality Sector, and Dr. Ahmed Abdul Ghani Al Shaikh, Vice President of the Human Capital Development at the Labour Fund.
"The hospitality sector is one of the fastest growing economic sectors in the Kingdom and has been identified by the Labour Fund as having a real need for qualified and professional Bahraini staff and the potential to offer sustainable employment," stated Abdulellah Ebrahim Al Qassimi, Acting Chief Executive of the Labour Fund.
This initiative by the Labour Fund encompasses training for all job levels of the sector. There will be 1,500 trainees for diverse entry-level positions, 300 middle-level positions and 50 are planned to take a BSc. in hospitality management aimed to assume high positions in the sector. Moreover, the initiative will also entail sponsoring 20 participants currently working in the human resources departments of the hospitality sector to complete their professional qualifications in Human Resource Management. The training programmes will be delivered based upon internationally recognised curriculum from the Educational Institute of the American Hotel & Lodging Association EI-AHLA) and Northwood University in U.S.A. The duration of this project will span 5 years and will offer 6 to 48-month long programmes.
Qutub Abbas Dadabhai told news reporters that the agreement will certainly help to place Bahrain in the forefront of Hospitality Education in the Gulf.
"With BIHM's track record in providing employment through the training programmes, BIHM has built an excellent rapport with all major companies in this sector and looks forward to serving them by providing the right Bahrainis to fill up the positions. BIHM looks forward to meet the tremendous demand for well-trained Bahrainis in this sector by working together with these companies," said Dadabhai. Dadabhai stated that BIHM is already moving ahead with its plans to invest in a bigger state-of-the art facilities.
Dr Ahmad A. Ghani Al Shaikh reiterated that Labour Fund's training programmes are open to all eligible Bahraini nationals, and aims to provide the right learning environment to make Bahraini nationals the employees of choice for this sector and other major sectors as well. "We are hopeful at the Labour Fund that Bahrainis interested in the various career opportunities this sector offers will exploit these opportunities."
The Labour Fund has already launched 3 projects to qualify more than 600 health care and nursing staff in collaboration with the College of Health Sciences and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland - the Medical University of Bahrain. A total of 34 Bahrainis will benefit from the on-going EASA-approved Aeronautics Maintenance Engineering programme at BAS Aircraft Engineering Training Centre.
© Bahrain Tribune 2007
