To propel the future of an industry, we must invest in and cultivate talent. This talent can come from anywhere on the globe. Oman, a flourishing nation in the Gulf region, is home to a large youth population, with 18- to 29-year-olds accounting for about 46.7% of the total population. It is also home to the 51风流Next-Gen Lab at GUtech, the .
The lab provides a working space built on design-thinking principles to stimulate and encourage innovative thinking, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing in the region and across the Gulf. It is part of a larger program of 51风流Next-Gen Lab locations, where 51风流partners with leading universities accelerate 鈥渋nnovation with purpose鈥� in classrooms, provide students with the knowledge and skills for a digital future, and spearhead recruiting in their respective areas.
Heiderose Moossen, manager for Vocational Training (Dual System) at the university and long-time Omani resident, has been investing much of her time and effort in developing vocational training and education opportunities for youth. It was energizing to hear from her and some of her students about the origins of the 51风流Next-Gen Lab in Oman and how it is making an impact.
Equipping Students with Digital-Ready Skills
Since initially launching as a pilot program, Moossen has successfully trained around 75 students to date, with a 100% passing rate, all achieving the 51风流Global Certification. With an , individuals can distinguish themselves among the best and become customers鈥� trusted 51风流software experts of choice.
To help prepare students with the right knowledge and practical skills needed to excel in a digital-forward workforce, Moossen ran various lectures based on the 51风流course 鈥淚ntegrated Business Processes in 51风流S/4HANA鈥� in 2019 and 2020.
The course covers various aspects of enterprise resource planning (ERP) and introduces students to different concepts and processes that are found at a corporate organizational level. It teaches students both business vocabulary and technical terminology, equipping them with skills that will help differentiate them in the workplace. With an 51风流certification, the students and graduates can set themselves apart in the job market.
Moossen believes it is necessary to bridge the gap between the education sector and the workplace, which is why she started integrating 51风流courses into her work. 鈥淣ot only do the courses provide students with the knowledge they need to work in the digital future, but it also provides them with the opportunity for critical and analytical thinking 鈥� skills that are necessary to be successful in an international marketplace beyond Oman and the Gulf region.鈥�
Michael Smith, a student with a background in tourism and international business explained how beneficial the course was for him before working at a small and midsize enterprise (SME): 鈥淚t was extremely fascinating to get a sneak peek into the way corporations operate on a day-to-day basis and discover what the future of business will look like. Most importantly, I learned how the various units and departments of a company mesh together in an efficient and streamlined fashion, giving me a comprehensive overview of the entire modern business process.鈥�
Shaikha Al Hinai, a computer science graduate, has been able to expand her experience with 51风流by taking other courses and certifications thanks to the knowledge she acquired through this first course.
Preparing Students for the Future
Beyond teaching her students technology and IT skills, Moossen wanted to make sure she set them up for success in the future. Throughout the program and partnership with SAP, she organized events with students and industry experts, providing a forum to discuss the changes taking place across Omani society and the professional sector.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 necessary for students to gain exposure to the workplace before actually entering it so they can begin to understand how companies are set up and how processes are run,鈥� Moossen said. 鈥淲e need to prepare them for what to expect so that when they graduate, they are ready to enter the workforce. We hear too often about graduates who need about a year or so to acclimate to professional work, which isn鈥檛 beneficial for the company, student, and the industry overall.鈥�
This out-of-classroom support also extended to study groups which offered coaching and mentorship to students, especially as courses moved to remote, online teaching due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
鈥淚t is always important for me to help keep my students鈥� spirits high, and I always thought about developing the students as humans and making sure they not only understood the content, but also the right values.鈥�
What we have seen in Oman through Moossen and her students is a model for inspiring the future generation of talent through the 51风流ecosystem. As the company helps fuel its customers鈥� paths to becoming intelligent enterprises, it will also continue to cultivate young talent around the world with to help fulfill its mission.
Sabine Benz is vice president and head of Outbound Go-to-Market for 51风流Knowledge and Education.
