Saturday 21 / December / 2024
Muscat: MEDRC Water Research’s capacity building training programme in desalination, TAHLYA, witnessed the graduation of the second batch trainees. This unique training programme; which is supported by BP Oman, offers young talented Omanis the opportunity to be thoroughly trained on desalination technology. The initiative is likely to create more job opportunities for fresh graduates, enabling them to take up roles as Operators and Supervisors in the desalination industry.
His Excellency Mohammed Al Mahrouqi, Chairman of the Public Authority of Electricity and Water (PAEW) attended the event as the guest of honor and awarded the graduates with their certificates. “I am truly honored to witness the graduation of these ambitious young Omanis, who have successfully completed this first of its kind training programme in the desalination field. I hope they succeed in fulfilling their professional and national duties to contribute to the development of our nation with excellence and commitment. I also would like to take this opportunity to extend my thanks and gratitude to MEDRC for organising this programme and facilitating its success to achieve the noble objectives,” His Excellency commented.
Congratulating the fresh graduates, Shabib Mohammed Al Maamari, BP Oman Communication and External Affairs Manager commented, “BP Oman is keen on supporting these initiatives as it equips young talented Omanis with the skills to take up important roles in the desalination sector and lead this emerging industry as a future contributor to the national economy. We will continue investing in high quality and sustainable initiatives that drive national growth by meeting socio-economic demands.”
The programme is very intense and renders hands on experience, providing trainees with a practical approach and helping them to acquire valuable skills. The student’s training expedition comprised of theory and practical training at MEDRC’s training plant located in Al Hail area along with a two-week observational internship placement in Seawater Reverse Osmosis Plants, enabling them to experience a real-world operational desalination plant.
The skills and competencies garnered by these graduates enabled some of them to get jobs independently. SUEZ, a globally renowned water management multinational corporation, is in charge of the construction and operation of the Desalination Plant in Barka and will employ a number of graduates from the first batch, which concluded on 16th of April 2017.
“We are happy to see this second batch of trainees graduate from the TAHLYA training programme,” said Engineer RiadhDridi, Head of Training, at MEDRC Water Research. “These students have gained a thorough understanding of the desalination process. They have the knowledge and skill set necessary to begin a career in water and are ready to help to fill the labor requirements of the developing desalination sector in Oman,” he further added.
The focus of the TAHLYA training programme is on the general operation and troubleshooting of seawater reverse osmosis desalination processing systems. The courses cover the whole water treatment process from intake, pre-treatment, reverse osmosis through post treatment. Aside from building technical skills and expertise, the programme also provides personal development and character building opportunities for students delivered by a number of organisations in collaboration with MEDRC. A financial literacy workshop was conducted by Youth Vision, a motivational and leadership workshop delivered by Outward Bound Oman and a professional coaching workshop provided by the International Coach Federation, Oman.
To date, the TAHLYA programme has trained two batches of Operators. The third and final batch, focused on Supervisors started training early July.
