MUSCAT: The Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation and ASYAD Group, on Wednesday, signed a cooperation agreement to finance scholarships in the field of logistics for graduates of the General Education Diploma for the academic year 2021-22 through the Unified Admission Center system.
 
The agreement was signed on the part of the Ministry by Dr. Rahma bint Ibrahim Al Mahrouqi, Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation, while it was signed on behalf of the Group of Masters by Engineer Abdul Rahman bin Salem Al Hatmi, CEO of the group.
 
This agreement comes as a realisation of the two sides’ desire to enhance and develop cooperation between them in the academic fields and in an effort to enhance the labor market with specialised academic outputs in the logistics sector, and a translation of the concept of social responsibility and sustainability, as education is one of its most important pillars, which comes within the framework of achieving the objectives of Oman 2040 vision towards higher education. Comprehensive and scientific research that leads to a knowledge society and competitive national capabilities.
 
Through this agreement, the ministry seeks to strengthen partnership with private sector institutions and urge cooperation to contribute to providing educational opportunities for students of General Education Diploma graduates to study in the Sultanate of Oman.
 
Lara bint Ghassan Obeidat, Director-General of Missions at the Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation, said, “The ministry appreciates the ASYAD Group’s initiative in supporting efforts aimed at creating educational opportunities for students in various disciplines and keeping pace with the rapid transformation of jobs in the world, as these grants will contribute to the development and training of Omani youth.”

“In the logistic sector and preparing them to engage in the labour market, indicating that this partnership comes with the ASYAD Group to sense the important role and the desired effective contribution of the private sector in the next stage, in order to achieve the vision of Oman 2040.”
 
For his part, Abdul Malik bin Abdul Karim Al Balushi, Head of the Human Capital Unit at ASYAD Group, said that this partnership with the Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation comes within the framework of the group’s keenness to make the logistics sector a major partner in adapting education as the main engine for development and innovation in the sector and enhancing its competitiveness in attracting investments. In addition, education is one of the main pillars of the ASYAD Group’s sustainability strategy for 2022.
 
He added, “This step will contribute to reducing the skill gaps in the sector and supplying it with national competencies that meet the continuous developments taking place in the logistics industry. An annual graduate, in addition to other partnerships and initiatives that support youth and their activities launched by the group, for example, the ‘Ibhar Incubator’ and the ‘Tomooh’ program to support entrepreneurship and enhance the role of small and medium enterprises in the growth of the contribution of the logistics sector, in addition to providing opportunities for on-the-job training.”