DOHA - At a ceremony held yesterday at the Institute of Administrative Development (IAD), Qtel CEO Dr Nasser Marafih, and Khalid Al Sualiti, IAD General Manager, signed an agreement finalising a three-year deal for training programmes for Qtel employees.
Also present at the event were Qtel Chairman Sheikh Abdullah Al Thani, Deputy Chairman Sheikh Mohammed bin Suheim Al Thani, Executive Director for Human Resources Jassim Al Mansoori and Mustafa Al Qatami, Head of Public Relations.
On behalf of the IAD, the Minister of Civil Service Affairs and Housing, H E Dr Sultan bin Hassan Al Dosiri, and Dr Yahya Al Rashdaan Manager, Training Centre, were also present.
The agreement, which is renewable on an annual basis, will include training for administration, finance and accounting and information technology and PC skills programmes. Programmes and course work will be carried out at either IAD or Qtel premises in both Arabic and English and employees having successfully completed course work will be awarded certificates of achievement.
Commenting on the agreement, Sheikh Abdullah said: "Qtel prides itself on being a knowledge-based organisation. We have a dedicated Talent Development function that focuses exclusively on identifying and growing our people through a number of quality programmes using the best resources from around the world. At a senior level, we work with some of the world's best-known business schools such as Insead and the Harvard communities to refine both our local and international strategies to help fine-tune our thinking using the best business minds and thinkers in the world."
He added: "At other layers in our organisation, we have diverse programmes - including our own scholarship programmes and placements at renowned international universities -- to develop not only our technological skills but also our people's business acumen and corporate intelligence.
Today's agreement with IAD perfectly complements our strategy and is now an important part of our training toolbox."
The company reported that it was currently finalising an employee Competency Framework that will identify both core competencies and also leadership competencies - which is an increasingly important area for the development of Qtel's young employees in the company's environment.
Mansoori stated: "As part of our commitment to the workforce of the future, Qtel has established a specialised talent development department that offers a host of programs for young graduates - whether fresh out of secondary school, college or university. The talent development department includes a special graduate development programme aimed at building future business leaders under the Qtel Scholarship program. The latter will enable promising Qatari students pursue a higher education (Diploma or Bachelor Degrees) from accredited local or overseas educational institutions in IT, Finance, HR, Law and Telecom Engineering disciplines. The IAD programmes will allow our people to top-up their skill sets in areas that will broaden their competencies across a wider field of expertise."
Qtel also runs a Telecom Technician Programme that helps young graduates kick-start their careers in the telecoms business.
Recently, Qatari Technician Trainees Group underwent an 18-month long training programme in two phases.
Phase 1 focused training on Computer, English language, Mathematics for Technician Level I and II, DC+AC Electricity and Electronic Workshop Level I and II. In Phase 2, the team learnt Advanced English language, Electronics and Electronic Workshop Level III, Telecom I and Telecom II module.
The combination of these skills and on-the-job training will equip them for long careers in the Qatari telecommunications industry.
© The Peninsula 2007
