MUSCAT -- Galfar Training Institute (GTI) has trained more than 636 Omanis under the National Project Training for last three years along with 3,334 Galfar employees in PDO Defensive Driving Course and more than 2,000 in HSE, Management and soft skills programmes. Backed by Galfar Engineering and Contracting, the GTI is an approved institute with the Ministry of Manpower. It offers vocational training courses in construction and engineering. Some of its programmes and services include: Ministry of Manpower funded National Project Training (NPT) for HDD and Operators Courses, PDO Defensive Driving Courses, HSE Courses, Scaffolding, Welding, Project Management Training, Soft skills and Management Training Courses.
GTI's major focus is to train Omani nationals as Heavy Duty Drivers (HDD) and for Technical Trades under the National Training Programme. The duration of both the programmes are six months and the candidates are trained in driving of tippers, trucks, low bed and high bed trailers, water tankers and heavy buses. The training programme to the operators of construction equipment include operation of dozer, wheel loader, forklift, excavator, back hoe, grader, crane, truck mounted crane, vibratory roller and tool carrier.
Khamis al Rasbi, Director of Galfar Training Institute said, "Galfar firmly believes that Omanisation is much more than generating jobs for Omanis -- it means training, developing and mentoring Omani staff to enable them to excel in their work environment. We provide specific training and mentoring depending on the job requirements."
The institute also provides training in Health, Safety and Environment (induction to HSE) to the new employees of Galfar along with fire-fighting courses. It also imparts defensive driving training programmes to Galfar (as an in-house training provider) that help employees to identify and effectively deal with real and potential hazards in the oilfields and urban traffic.
Moyeed Ruhan, Manager of Galfar Training Institute, said, "We assess our programmes often so as to improve them over a period of time. The PDO Defensive Driving Course programmes are defined by PDO, to their standards, and they improve the training and assessing periodically after research. Thus, PDO DDC courses delivered by GTI follow best practices. Also, Ministry of Manpower regularly adds changes and improvements to HDD and Mobile Equipment Operator courses too."
GTI has recently trained groups from reputed organisations including Royal Oman Police, Royal Navy, Royal Opera House, Oman Cables, Nuhas Oman, Sohar Aluminium, Duqm Port and Al Khaleej.
The institute organises soft-skills and management training programmes in co-ordination with Human Resource Unit for Galfar employees to enhance their skills and enable them to deliver their commitments faster, cost-effective and in a professional manner. The Project Management Programmes are updated with new PMP exam pattern. Highly experienced, expert trainers deliver these programmes and present the subject with real-life scenarios to make participants understand principles in a simple way and encourages them to apply these proven techniques effectively in their day-to-day assignments.
GTI is also a Development Partner of ICES (The Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors) and represents PMCC-India for the prestigious project management programmes and preparation of PMP certification.
© Oman Daily Observer 2013
