Muscat – The University of Technology and Applied Sciences (UTAS) branch in Shinas on Wednesday hosted the first edition of the “Tamkeen” (Empowerment) initiative, aimed at helping university graduates enter the industrial sector labour market.

Implemented by the Office of the Wali of Shinas in cooperation with UTAS, the initiative targets 50 engineering graduates from four universities in North Al Batinah Governorate.

The initiative seeks to familiarise graduates with the work environments and requirements of the industrial sector while creating direct channels of communication with industry specialists and experts.

It features a qualification programme combining training, dialogue sessions and field visits, giving participants first-hand exposure to industrial workplaces, the skills required in the labour market and career opportunities available in the sector.

Sohar Aluminium hosted the inaugural programme, which included three dialogue sessions covering professional qualification, employment opportunities and the transition from university life to the workplace.

The programme also featured sessions by OQ on the fundamentals of manufacturing and production, Sohar Industrial City (Madayn) on artificial intelligence (AI) applications to enhance operational efficiency, and Sohar Port on developing career paths in the industrial sector.