The National Industrial Training Institute (NITI) was recently inaugurated in al-Hasa, where Saudi youths will be trained to help fill the more than 1 million jobs needed in the Kingdom’s energy sector. The inauguration was held under the patronage of HRH Prince Saud Bin Nayif Bin Abdulaziz, Governor of the Eastern Province, who was joined by HH Prince Badr Bin Muhammad, Governor of al-Hasa; HE Khalid A. Al-Falih, the Minister of Health and Chairman of Saudi Aramco’s Board of Directors; HE Ali N. Al-Ghufais, Governor of the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC); HE Abdulrahman M. Al-Ibrahim, Governor of the Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC); and Amin H. Nasser, acting president and CEO of Saudi Aramco. Nasser said a three-element formula is required to address the challenge of providing thousands of job opportunities in the Kingdom. They are:
- Providing training and qualification based on market needs
- Reasonable and competitive wages to allow young Saudi employees to support and start a family
- An appropriate work environment and job security.
NITI began last year with the enrollment of 655 young Saudis under “train-to-hire” contracts with Saudi Aramco and its joint ventures. “The main challenge facing many national and international companies wishing to invest in the Kingdom and meet the Saudization percentage is finding qualified national employees,” Nasser said. "By doubling the number of trained Saudis in technical and professional jobs for the Saudi energy sector — which requires about 1 million jobs — these training centers and institutes will have come a long way in meeting those needs. “Successful Saudization will give us local strategic power as the basis for international competitiveness,” he said. “We need to increase local content in the energy sector, including support services and industries, and Saudize the workforce in all companies forming a direct or indirect component of this sector's supply chain.” Energy Sector Training Board Prince Saud also sponsored the signing ceremony of a joint memorandum of understanding (MOU) establishing the Energy Sector Training Board, which came to fruition thanks to the efforts and cooperation of Saudi Aramco, TVTC, and six major Saudi energy companies. The MOU was signed by representatives from TVTC, Saudi Aramco, Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu, SWCC, Saudi Basic Industries Corporation, the Saudi Electricity Company, the Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma’aden), and the Council of Chambers of Commerce. NITI in Figures
- NITI can enroll 2,500 trainees from several private sector companies
- The institute includes 191 classrooms and laboratories, as well as 59 training workshops
- NITI provides 12 different specializations based on the requirements of sponsoring companies. These specializations are oil and gas operator, chemicals operator, instrumentation technician, communications technician, electrical maintenance technician, electrical systems operator, machinery maintenance technician, winch operator, AC technician, welding technician, pipe fitter, and chemical laboratory technician.
- NITI has housing facilities to accommodate 1,000 trainees, a mosque for 1,000 people, and a 14-bed clinic