Batelco delivers professional training & development for staff

The Company's Human Resources Development (HRD) department has carried out a wide range of training programmes so far this year with 58% of staff benefiting from the opportunity to learn a new skill or upgrade a current one.

By the end of July 2006, Batelco HRD had offered training to 920 employees via 370 different programmes, either at the Batelco Training Centre, locally in Bahrain or overseas, depending upon the nature of the requirement. The department is committed to offering training to 80% of Batelco's employees by the end of this year.

Batelco has committed over US$ 2,900,000 for training and developing in 2006, with training being focused on delivering professional programmes linked with Batelco's strategic objectives. The programmes are divided into six categories - Management; Telecommunications; Education; IT; Sales and E-Learning.

"The Company also provides staff with the opportunity to participate in further education such as MBAs, MSc, BCs, and Higher National Diploma in Bahrain, the UK and USA, as well as other professional qualifications," said Batelco Corporate Affairs General Manager Ahmed Al Janahi.

"In order to provide different training methodologies and provide more training opportunities for employees, Batelco HRD has recently introduced E-Learning and plan to launch ten e-Learning programmes by end of the 2006."

Providing work placement opportunities is part of Batelco's social obligation to the community and currently 70 students are gaining work experience in various disciplines throughout the organisation. The group includes students from the University of Bahrain, Bahrain Training Institute, Ministry of Education, overseas universities and other private universities in Bahrain.

Batelco also offers opportunities to those who have recently graduated from university to gain valuable work experience. The graduates are distributed throughout Batelco, occupying various positions with different tasks and duties assigned to them. In the last year, eighteen graduates have been offered permanent jobs in the Company.

Additionally, Batelco supports a number of high achieving students who are the sons and daughters of employees, through the Batelco Scholarship scheme which provides ten places every year to embark on a BSc at the University of Bahrain. At present, fifty students are benefiting from this scheme.