Amman, May 10th, 2010 -- Microsoft Jordan and the Information Technology Association of Jordan (int@j) announced today the launch of the Community Technology Skills Program (CTSP), which is part of the Graduate Internship Program (GIP). Microsoft will provide int@j with a grant value of $130,000 to train and certify up to 200 higher-education students using the latest innovations from Microsoft, and which could ultimately reach up to 500 students through live meeting and broadcasting training sessions.

The CTSP was launched under the Patronage of His Excellency Dr. Ibrahim Omoush, Minister of Labour (MoL) and His Excellency Marwan Juma, Minister of Information and Communications Technology (MoICT). The ministries are the main funders of the Graduate Internship Program, which was launched in cooperation the USAID Jordan Economic Development Program (Sabeq), as well as int@j and Jordan Computer Society.

The Graduate Internship Program is helping graduates find suitable employment within the private sector, subsidizing 50% of each student's salary during the first 12 months of their employment and 25% during the subsequent six month employment period. The GIP is managed by the National Training and Employment Project (NTEP), which, until today, has benefited 446 graduates and 107 private sector businesses.  

USAID's Jordan Economic Development Program (SABEQ) provides soft skills training courses to the beneficiaries of the GIP and has also assigned a technical supervisor to evaluate the program and map out the necessary procedures to ensure its success, as well as an outreach and awareness program aimed at increasing the participation of more companies in the project.

As part of the GIP, Microsoft Jordan provided free training courses to help develop the IT skills of graduates hired under the Program and better prepare them for their careers in the IT industry.

His Excellency Marwan Juma, Minister of Information and Communications Technology, stated, "We value Microsoft's initiative, which encourages as many private sector companies as possible to employ fresh graduates and allows each and every beneficiary of the program to benefit from Microsoft's sponsorship."

His Excellency Dr. Ibrahim Omoush, Minister of Labour, stated "This program is an example of the solid partnership between the public and private sectors in overcoming the challenge of unemployment among the youth. The ministries, SABEQ, and the private sector are working and in hand to transform this program into a success. Microsoft is training and certifying the interns, which will definitely be an added-value to the program as a whole".

Mr. Ayman Mazahreh, int@j Chairman, stated, "int@j was founded as an industry-support association for Jordan's ICT sector and we are making every effort to place Jordan as a leading regional ICT hub. To that effect, we are supporting the Graduate Internship Program and collaborated with Microsoft to provide fresh graduates with the necessary skill set to grow and prosper, and ultimately help advance the ICT sector in Jordan."  

Rula Ammuri, Country Manager of Microsoft Jordan stated, "As part of our ongoing commitment to enhancing the IT skills of recent graduates and to meet the increased demand for employees with Microsoft certificates in the market, the Community Technology Skills Program aims at providing graduates with the technology skills required in IT infrastructure and development to prepare them for long-term job opportunities in the private sector as soon as their internship is completed." 

She added, "We launched the CTSP in collaboration with int@j to support the Ministry of ICT and the Ministry of Labor with the Graduate Internship Program that was launched last year, and to that effect we will be providing the students and fresh graduates hired under the program with training and certifications on the latest Microsoft technologies that will help increase their employability opportunities."

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© Press Release 2010