Peak body for UK vocational educational and training, TVET UK, is fostering new business in the Middle East and has signed an agreement that will see its members help Bahrain up-skill its workforce, following an important MOU reached in the country last week.
The agreement is with Tamkeen, a government-backed agency dedicated to developing human capital in the country, which has delivered 66,000 career training courses since 2006. TVET’s 75 members will help Tamkeen develop the courses.
“We will be able to access TVET UK’s extensive network of outstanding service providers”
Matthew Anderson, executive director of TVET UK, said: “We are pleased to partner with Tamkeen in this initiative which gives young Bahrainis access to UK technical training, furthering Bahrain’s leading position as a preferred business hub with a highly-skilled national workforce.”
Despite enjoying strong GDP growth in recent years, Bahrain is working to modernise its economy and move away from oil dependency (as detailed in its Economic Vision 2030). Tamkeen was set up to help reform the labour market, its courses covering areas such as skills training and business management.
A further 34,000 courses are due to be rolled out, presenting opportunities for TVET members, which range from UK FE colleges and training providers to equipment suppliers. They will have the opportunity to help Tamkeen improve the courses as well as create more internationally-recognised programmes.
They will also help advance “employer driven” qualifications and training systems in Bahrain, and improve best practice in the technical education sector.
Tamkeen’s acting vice-president for human capital development, Mrs Amal Al-Kooheji, said: “Through this agreement, we will be able to access TVET UK’s extensive network of outstanding service providers to offer even more world-class training options for Bahrainis that are in line with labour market demands.”
