Abstract:

In this paper I’ll talk about the successful outcome of the biggest government training project in the Middle East.
Overview & Background
The ‘National IT Training & Awareness Framework Initiative (NITTA) is a government, nation-wide eOman initiative aimed at developing ICT skills capability and increasing ICT awareness within the government and the community. The Initiative aims to provide ICT training opportunities to the citizens of Oman in order for them to fully participate in a digital, knowledge-based society. In achieving its goals, the Initiative will also contribute to Oman’s transformation to a digital society, to the development of a local ICT industry and in creating employment opportunities for the youth of Oman.

About GITTC
GITTC is a place where a variety of ICT services are provided to the general public of the Sultanate. It serves youth and adults. A primary benefit of a GITTC is its educational offering. GITTCs offer services for individuals of all ages and provide a place where individuals are introduced to computer technologies as a first step toward bigger participation in the eOman initiative.
The main objective of establishing GITTC is to:
• Train around 100,000 – 120,000 citizens by 2014 on IT basic skills in order to reduce IT illiteracy and to bridge the digital divide.
• Train and recruit more than 200 unemployed IT graduates, and develop them to be international recognized IT trainers.

In my paper I’ll point out the challenges we faced during the project, and the most important lessons learned from the project related to all phases (initiation, planning, execution, and closure).

Keywords:

Government IT training and certification GITTC, Oman.