NCST Signs Key Agreement with Bahraini Tamkeen

Tamkeen and Nasser Centre for Science and Technology Partner to Launch the Apprenticeship Program with a Focus on Engineering Specialties

Nasser Centre for Science and Technology and the Labour Fund (Tamkeen) establish a partnership agreement as part of the Tamkeen’s Apprenticeship Program with the purpose of empowering Bahraini youth in engineering specialties, offering them training and career development opportunities and enabling them to enter the labor market with vocational qualifications.

The agreement was signed by Her Excellency Ms. Maha Abdulhameed Mofeez, Chief Executive of the Labour Fund (Tamkeen) and Dr. Abdullah Naser Al Noaimi, Chief Executive Officer of Nasser Centre for Science and Technology. This partnership underpins the shared goals between the two organizations to support education and vocational training in Bahrain by offering specialized training programs aimed at equipping national talent with the skills required to enter the labor market and compete in it across a wide range of specialties.

This partnership is aligned with Tamkeen’s strategic priorities for 2025, which focus on enhancing the position and competitiveness of Bahrainis in the private sector, equipping Bahrainis with suitable skills for career development in the private sector, and prioritizing enterprise growth, digitization, and sustainability, and supporting the development of the ecosystem surrounding the labor market and private sector. 

Commenting on this initiative, Her Excellency Ms. Maha Abdulhameed Mofeez, Chief Executive of the Labour Fund (Tamkeen) emphasized the importance of this program in preparing Bahraini talent to enter the labor market and thrive in it. She stated: “this program offers a unique opportunity for Bahrainis to gain the skills required in the market and get access to on-the-job training opportunities that empower them with the practical knowledge necessary for their career growth. The program is aligned with our objective of making Bahrainis the employees of choice in the labor market and providing them with training opportunities that facilitate their employment and enhance their competitiveness through upskilling in alignment with the market’s needs”

Dr. Abdullah Naser Al Noaimi, Chief Executive Officer of Nasser Centre for Science and Technology highlighted the role of apprenticeship in fostering a highly competitive and qualified national workforce that caters to the rapidly changing requirements of the labor market. He continued, emphasizing the effectiveness of the apprenticeship model in providing enterprises with a skilled workforce equipped with the practical knowledge and expertise they require. He added: “Through this partnership with Tamkeen we will offer a comprehensive vocational training experience that combines academic learning and practical training, thus empowering Bahraini youth to gain advanced technical and industrial skills”

Dr. Al Noaimi expressed his enthusiasm to work closely with Tamkeen which will help in better understanding the market and connecting with key stakeholders across various sectors to evaluate their workforce requirement and create tailor-made training programs that address their needs. This approach will help in qualifying Bahrainis for the labor market and providing enterprises with the workforce needed for their sustainability and growth.

The Nasser Centre for Science and Technology training arm will collaborate with private sector enterprises to facilitate on-the-job training as part of the program. This will encourage enterprises to employ Bahrainis as apprentices and provide them with opportunities to gain in demand practical knowledge in various areas such as electrical work, welding and plumbing. The program will allocate 30% of the apprentices’ time to academic training and 70% of their time to on-the-job training across a period of 36 months to ensure their readiness for employment. NCST will announce the opening of applications for the program at a later stage.