stc Bahrain announced the launch of the second edition of its training program “Jeel ICT,” one of its prominent social responsibility initiatives offered as a digital enabler. This initiative is in partnership with the Ministry of Labor and the Labor Fund “Tamkeen,” aiming to enhance integration between academic education and practical application, linking educational outcomes with labor market needs.

The “Jeel ICT” program is more than just a training program; it represents a strategic investment in developing national human capital by empowering Bahraini youth and recent graduates with advanced technical and practical skills. It also focuses on developing their capabilities in various fields including business, leadership, and entrepreneurship, aligning with labor market requirements in the telecommunications and fintech sectors.

To reinforce the program’s success, “Jeel ICT” continues to offer permanent employment opportunities to outstanding participants, with 15 graduates from the previous edition employed full-time at stc Bahrain. This creates a strong foundation for future cohorts and contributes to defining clear career paths for beneficiaries. The program also supports Bahrain’s direction to establish itself as a regional hub in information technology and digital transformation.

In this context, His Excellency Mr. Yousif bin Al-Hussein Khalaf, Minister of Legal Affairs and Acting Minister of Labor, emphasized the importance of preparing and qualifying job seekers professionally in line with labor market requirements, especially in the telecommunications and digital technology sector, which is promising, vital, and attractive to citizens. He praised stc Bahrain’s initiative targeting the training and employment of Bahraini university graduates.

Khalaf explained that the launch of the second edition of the Jeel ICT program, in cooperation with the Ministry of Labor and the Labor Fund (Tamkeen), is part of a community partnership to support efforts in developing national human resources. This contributes to refining the core skills of program participants and providing them with direct practical experience in the telecommunications and IT environment. He confirmed that such programs enhance the ministry’s efforts to link training and education outputs with labor market needs.

For his part, Eng. Khalid Al-Osaimi, CEO of stc Bahrain, said: “We are proud to launch the second edition of the ‘Jeel ICT’ program this year, reflecting our ongoing commitment to supporting Bahrain’s future and empowering Bahraini youth. This program represents a real opportunity to develop national competencies, enhance employment opportunities, and prepare a new generation of leaders in digital technology. We also deeply appreciate our key partners – the Ministry of Labor and the Labor Fund (Tamkeen) – for their vital support and fruitful cooperation, which played a pivotal role in the continuity of this program.

Investing in Bahraini youth skills and preparing opportunities for their employment in advanced work environments directly contributes to driving the digital economic growth in the kingdom. The results of the first batch have proven the potential of national competencies, and we look forward to seeing more leaders contributing ideas and initiatives that shape Bahrain’s digital future.”

This partnership aligns with Tamkeen’s strategic priorities for 2025, which include enhancing the status and competitiveness of Bahraini citizens in the private sector, equipping them with suitable skills for career development in the private sector, and prioritizing the growth, digitization, and sustainability of institutions.

In response, Her Excellency Ms. Maha Abdulhameed Mufiz, CEO of the Labor Fund “Tamkeen,” said: “We are pleased to be part of this strategic partnership aimed at developing the skills of national competencies in the rapidly growing ICT sector in the labor market. Through this partnership, we aspire to bridge the gap between the specialized skills required and the available opportunities in quality and sustainable jobs, which aligns with our ultimate goal of making the Bahraini citizen the ideal choice for employment in the private sector.

We are also pleased to witness the positive results of the program, which included the employment of several graduates from the previous edition in quality jobs, reflecting the program’s effectiveness in empowering national competencies and supporting their career paths.”

The “Jeel ICT” program reflects stc Bahrain’s commitment to community development by building a sustainable system to discover and qualify national competencies to meet the company’s and the ICT sector’s goals in the kingdom. The program is an extension of previous successful initiatives such as the “Graduate Development Program,” enhancing stc Bahrain’s role in nurturing and empowering national cadres to keep pace with the kingdom’s accelerating digital transformation requirements.

Registration for the program is open to Bahraini citizens graduating in the academic year 2024-2025, aged between 20 and 23 years, with a strong academic background in engineering, information technology, or computer science. Applications are accepted via the following link: https://careers.stc.com.bh/jeelICT