Sohar marks another year of Summer Educational Programme

Abu Dhabi / Emirates Business

Under the patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Ali bin Mishari bin Ahmed Al Shamsi, the Wali of Suhar, the fifth annual SOHAR Summer Educational Programme has come to a close after another hugely successful year. Over 300 students received certificates to mark their successful completion of the programme at the International Maritime College Oman (IMCO), a specialist education and training institute in SOHAR which offers diploma and degree courses for the maritime, shipping, port, transport and petrochemical process industries. In addition, a number of students received special awards for their outstanding achievements as part of the official closing celebrations.
An initiative of SOHAR Port and Freezone, now in its fifth year, the courses are held in partnership with the Ministry of Education. Over three weeks, the Summer Educational Programme is designed to help students in Suhar and the nearby province of Liwa enhance their English and IT knowledge, providing them with vital skills to help increase their employment prospects in the future. The Programme provides an exciting new environment where school students are given the opportunity to participate in workshops, similar to those they would find at colleges of further and higher education.
New SOHAR Port CEO, Mark Geilenkirchen, said: “SOHAR Port and Freezone is committed to creating more opportunities for young people in the surrounding area and the Summer Educational Programme is just one small part of our plans. We believe that investing in education is the best way to build a strong foundation for economic success and shared prosperity. We will continue to work closely with the local community in order to create a thriving and sustainable regional hub in SOHAR, in every way possible.”
The Programme has already helped over a thirteen hundred local school students during the last five years. It aims to arm young people with the skills to help them improve their own livelihoods and generate more long-term, regional prosperity.
With global investments in SOHAR valued at US $25 billion to-date, more and more opportunities are emerging as the Port and adjacent Freezone continue to expand, explains Jamal T. Aziz, CEO of SOHAR Freezone: “The Programme is a great opportunity for young people to enhance their skills and to experience first-hand what it’s like to study at college. The rapid growth of our industries in SOHAR is creating many new opportunities for young, local talents, equipped with the right skillsets. Our Programme allows school students to learn more about our business in the hope of encouraging them to consider training for a career within the Port or Freezone in the future.”