Muscat: The 7th edition of ahlibank’s relaunched Graduate Development Program, Himam, saw the induction of the new batch into the prestigious two-year program at a formal ceremony held on Wednesday.

Under the new identity of ‘Himam’, the established Graduate Development Program will prepare a fresh batch of young graduates with skill-building exercises that are in tune with current requirements of the job market, and further, provide them with opportunities to work at the bank itself. Designed as a career intensive module, it will equip chosen candidates to better understand the complexities of the banking sector and handle challenges with hands-on experience from professionals in the industry.

“We have structured our pioneering Himam program to reflect Oman’s youth development goals, and branded it as a gateway for a promising career in the banking sector. Our primary objective is to empower our young graduates to make responsible career choices and seek opportunities that help build their faculties for personal growth and national development. The comprehensive two-year program is designed to develop management and leadership skills of participants. It will acquaint them with the current requirements of the industry and equip them to undertake leadership roles in the future,” stated Mohammed Al Mufargi, AGM-Head of Human Resources, ahlibank.

Explaining further, Hanaa Mohammed Al Kharusi, General Manager-Head of Corporate Banking and Chairperson of Talent Committee at ahlibank, said: “The success of our Graduate Development Program, now renamed Himam, lies in the scope and approach employed by our team of experts to orchestrate  selective elements of the training process, which includes classroom training on the basics of banking,  on-the-job rotation  skill-refinement activities and one-to-one guidance sessions, among other interactive schedules. Over the years, we have realized the need and importance of ensuring that these elements and initiatives have a long-term impact and therefore contribute to the government’s nation-building exercise. While our intent is to build our candidates’ self-confidence by engaging them in challenging work environments that boost their college education, our focus has and will always be on espousing the goals of Oman Vision 2040.”

Since its launch in 2015, the program has trained and employed 64 candidates in different departments at the Bank. Through its ambitious youth-oriented initiatives, ahlibank is keen to attract passionate, determined and innovative people. It focuses on equipping them to enrich the national workforce with competencies that are capable to contribute effectively to the competitive banking environment.

ahlibank is at the forefront of enhancing the capabilities and competencies of Oman’s youth and its commitment to the ‘Himam’ program ensures the preparation of a generation of young people who will continue to build a brighter and more prosperous future for the Sultanate and support the government’s economic development vision.