Zamil Industrial Training Center emerges as full service training and industrial education provider

Zamil Industrial Training Center (ZITC) has recently developed, facilitated and conducted a wide-range of employee and college student education and training programs designed to meet the needs of the labor market and various Zamil Industrial business units. Dr. Mohamed Abdulla Sharif, ZITC Manager, recently reported on the Center’s achievements.

Newly recruited Saudi employees of both Zamil Steel and Zamil CoolCare participated in four to six month long certificate programs designed to enhance the skills and abilities of the 150 participants. They have successful completed the following programs: Certificate in Welding Technology, Certificate in Fabrication Technology, Certificate in Machine Operation, and Certificate in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technology.

Dr. Sharif emphasized that the program structure for each of the above specializations contained common subjects such as workshop calculation, English language, work ethics, safety and technical drawing. These core studies were specifically included in the training programs in order to help the employees learn the material pertinent to their specialized subjects more efficiently, and to develop a work ethic that meets industrial standards, equipping them to function successfully in their chosen career field.

In addition to the above certificate programs, the Training Center developed, conducted and facilitated a variety of single, specialized training courses for Zamil Industrial employees. More than 540 employees received classroom and laboratory training and instruction. Dr. Sharif stated that the total number of Saudi employees who have attended various training courses and programs during the year 2009 was more than 340 who were given training and development opportunities. He added that in addition to the various training courses and programs that were arranged for the employees during the year, individual training and orientation programs for a total of 36 newly recruited senior employees were prepared and conducted. Participants included Managers, Supervisors and Engineers.

Dedicated to serving the community as well, the Training Center arranged on-the-job summer and cooperative training programs for a total of 70 Saudi students from a number of Saudi universities and colleges. Dr. Sharif also described the factory tours that were arranged for students aimed at introducing them to the practical nature of work in the air conditioning and steel industries. They gained a valuable opportunity to correlate the theory studied in college and university classes with the actual industrial work. Training opportunities were also given to 60 secondary school students to attend a two-month summer training program in order to develop their English language communication and computer applications skills.

He added that student performance was monitored by the Training Center on a continuous basis, and they received a stipend of SR 1,000, which also served as an incentive, upon successful completion of the program.

Finally, Dr Sharif reported that 75% of the construction phase of the new building of Zamil Industrial Training Institute (ZITI) is successfully completed and the remaining 25% will be completed during the second quarter of 2010. Interior design of the building was recently completed, and efforts are currently underway to obtain international accreditation for ZITI vocational programs in cooperation with prominent institutions in the UK.