Oracle stresses the power of education to create change in Saudi Arabia

Speaking at the Oracle CIO Executive Summit 2008 in Riyadh, Sergio Giacoletto, Executive Vice President, Oracle Europe, Middle East and Africa, commented "Much of the Kingdom's economic progress is linked to education, and it is critical for the future of Saudi Arabia. The best way to give today's fresh graduates a competitive edge in the global marketplace is to offer them indispensable training in the world's fastest-growing and leading technology base."

Oracle believes in the power of education to create change, and is committed to using technology and resources to advance education in innovative ways to promote diversity and enrich the life of the communities in which it does business.

The Oracle Academy, available to students in Saudi, is part of Oracle's commitment to education.

The program helps students develop database design, programming, and professional skills, and provides teachers with world-class training and professional development, and grants software, curriculum, professional development and certification resources to secondary and higher education institutions.

In Saudi Arabia, the Oracle Academy has been implemented in 27 educational institutions, involving 13,630 students and representing an in-kind value of $81m.

'Tawtheef', Oracle's educational initiative in Saudi Arabia, specializes in training fresh Saudi national graduates from key universities as part of the company's commitment towards the Kingdom's IT industry.

The training, offering courses in Oracle technologies, runs on a monthly basis. Graduates acquire key skills that are in high-demand, ensuring have the edge to succeed in the global IT marketplace.

Oracle runs 'Tawtheef' in the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, and King Saud University, and more than 70 graduates have taken advantage of the program within the first six months.

Oracle further intends to assist Higher Education in the Kingdom in evaluating and reviewing the IT plans for the universities and to advice on best practices for Data Consolidation, e-Services Infrastructure and Oracle Applications.

Oracle's has also initiated a COOP Program for job training for students from leading universities in the Kingdom to train their students on Business Environment. Under this program, Oracle sponsors students for 28 weeks and pays a fixed stipend during this period.

"The ability to use technology to learn and succeed in the 21st century has become a 'new basic' for all students, and can help secure bright futures for Saudi nationals," Mr. Giacoletto commented. "Oracle has created a family of education programs that leverage our core competencies in information technology and the Internet. Our commitment to furthering IT education in the Kingdom is ongoing."