ERICSSON has officially launched its ICT Professional Foundation Program in the Middle East covering 12 countries with the ambition of helping graduates looking to join ICT giants such as Ericsson, to be better equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to contribute to this cutting edge business. The two-month online course aims to bridge the gap between academia and the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry. Ericsson has targeted universities across 12 countries (Pakistan, KSA, Egypt, Sudan, Iraq, Oman, Kuwait, UAE, Lebanon, Turkey, Ethiopia and Iran) as a source of diverse talent for its ICT Professional Program. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Ericsson has cooperated with Prince Sultan University for the initiative. "We are living in a digitized world, and in Saudi Arabia there is a stark contrast between traditional and new-age elements that extend to technology. As the youth become increasingly empowered through education, it is our duty to offer them the best tools to enter this dynamic industry," said Dr. Ahmed Yamani, Prince Sultan University Rector, on the occasion. This initiative is directly in-line with Ericsson's vision of a Networked Society where every person and every industry is empowered to reach their full potential. “We are proud to be launching Ericsson's ICT Professional Foundation Program in the Middle East,” said Rafiah Ibrahim, President, Ericsson Region Middle East. “The program will provide students from across the region with unprecedented and exclusive access to emerging communications trends, industry best practices, and ground-breaking technologies. The course is specifically designed to arm them with the tools, knowledge, and acumen required to excel in the ICT field and, more importantly, cultivate a winning vision for the future.” Girish Johar, Vice President, Human Resources, Ericsson Middle East added, “The program allows us to widen the talent pool here in the region and help shape the next generation of ICT leaders. At Ericsson, we support and celebrate diversity and inclusion and we welcome all qualified candidates to apply. It is our goal to promote an environment which supports the widest range of knowledge, skills and experiences; therefore we are providing equal opportunities to all candidates regardless of their gender and difference in background.” With approximately 115,000 professionals and customers in 180 countries, Ericsson combines global scale with technology and services leadership. — SG
