MAFAZ International Development Company
Education in the Middle East, like in any other part of the world, is highly valued, seen as the means by which nation’s can progress towards sustainable economic development. This is particularly true in Saudi Arabia where demand for skilled labour is increasing, largely due to very aggressive growth plans.
Currently, 15% of the highly skilled workforce in the Kingdom is foreign, and the majority of foreign workers, however, are employed in lower skill level positions. With an official unemployment rate of 10% and a youth unemployment rate of 32%, the government needs to seriously reduce the nation’s dependency on non-Saudi’s and provide opportunities for their nationals. One in two Saudi’s is under 15 years of age and 60% of the population is under 20.
The government is taking direct action to improve the employment prospects for its youth by offering higher education opportunities delivered by innovative colleges and universities, as well as private sector organizations.
With the government forcing corporations to increase the percentage of Saudi nationals hired (when compared to expiates), specialized skill development and maintenance for Saudis is emerging as a pressing concern
MAFAZ International is helping build greater access to education and training opportunities in the Kingdom and has engaged NAIT to assist in evaluating the overall education and training business opportunity. NAIT will be working with MAFAZ International Development Company during February 2007 to conduct a thorough industry needs assessment, culminating in a detailed report that will provide the market intelligence required to make decisions about the specific education and training needs of Saudi Arabia, the physical facility required for effective delivery instruction, the equipment (administrative and instructional) required to support skill development and the type and number of instructors necessary to deliver the various courses. Then it’s on to phase 2 - making it happen.
MAFAZ International Development Company is involved in a diverse array of industries including agriculture, construction, water and wastewater technologies and much more. NAIT brings an abundance of experience in these industries, making partnering with MAFAZ a success for all those involved. |
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The Autobiography of Sam Lacoste
Global Enterprise Solutions Manager for Resources & Service Delivery, Sam Lacoste joined NAIT October 2, 2006 from Red River College (RRC) where he was the Manager of Contract Training. To add to his Certificate in Management (CIM) from the University of Manitoba, Sam is currently working on a Bachelor of Arts Degree for Business and Management Studies from the University of Winnipeg.
Starting his career right out of high school, Sam joined the Canadian Armed Forces to become an Instrumentation Electrician, and after a year of basic and aerospace training, he had his first aircraft posting in Edmonton, Alberta. He officially began his career in 1982 as an Instrument Electrical Technician on the C130 Hercules, and after eight years Sam ventured to other parts of the country seeking more knowledge and experience on other aircraft. |
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| Sam Lacoste, Manager, Global Enterprise Solutions and Dorothy Lacoste, TCI Operations Assistant |
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Sam and his family arrived in Yellowknife in February 1991 where he was part of a detachment of Edmonton’s 440 Squadron. It was there that Sam worked on the Twin Otter aircraft and after 2 ½ years he was accepted into the flight engineer training program and was on his way back to Edmonton in July 1993. Less than a year into his new duties, there was news that the Edmonton airbase was closing, sending Sam, his family and 435 Squadron to Winnipeg, Manitoba in May of 1994.
While in Winnipeg, Sam completed various military instructional courses and began developing and delivering aerospace courses to junior aerospace technicians. Two years later, the Canadian Armed Forces had a Force Reduction Plan (FRP), sending Sam into early retirement and an aerospace teaching career.
After joining Red River College’s (RRC) Market Driven Training department in June 1996, Sam developed and delivered CAMC (Canadian Aviation Maintenance Council) accredited Gas Turbine Repair & Overhaul training, a program specifically geared to educate probable new hires for Standard Aero Limited. His roles as instructor, coordinator, consultant, program manager, and manager greatly influenced his presence and contribution to Red River College. With over 10 years tenure, Sam’s focus on business development allowed him the opportunity to work alongside government, industry, and associations to provide advanced customized training programs that would meet the needs of generations to come.
After being away from family and friends for 12 years, the Lacoste family returned to Edmonton, leading both Sam and his wife Dorothy to NAIT. Wanting to stay within the realm of post secondary education, Sam successfully applied for a position with Global Enterprise Solutions and Dorothy secured a spot with NAIT’s Technology and Curriculum Innovation unit – a perfect fit for both the Lacoste’s and NAIT. |
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Alberta Technical Institute Goes Global to Address Labour Shortage
With an extremely tight labour market in Canada and abroad, new and innovative ways are being created to attract and enhance worker skill. With technologies and job descriptions changing rapidly and a growing number of skilled workers reaching retirement, the skills gap facing business and industry is greater than ever. At the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), their enterprise unit continues to be innovative in coming up with “people solutions” for business. |
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| Jeffrey Sundquist, Dean, Global Enterprise Solutions |
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NAIT Global Enterprise Solutions partners with business and industry to ensure manpower and skill development needs are met. NAIT Global Enterprise Solutions takes a one-stop shopping and full solutions approach for its clients in Alberta, Canada and around the world. Its motto – “Training, Developing, Resourcing” – encompasses the entire Global Enterprise Solution advantage.
“We position ourselves as part of the human resource team for our clients. We work closely with our clients to assist them architect and prioritize training programs and help them execute on those training programs,” says Jeffrey Sundquist, Dean of Global Enterprise Solutions. “We work together to ensure they have the most productive and safe workforce possible.”
To ensure a productive workforce, companies must spend their training and skill development budgets wisely. Every dollar spent on staff training delivers $30 to company profits. From pipefitting to information technology, NAIT Global Enterprise Solutions offers the level of training and expertise anytime . . . anywhere industry needs. And NAIT’s expertise can be delivered on-campus or on the job site through mobile shops. They’ll bring the knowledge to you.
Reaching Alberta’s Under-represented Groups
“We have a significant role to play in Alberta, particularly in the aboriginal community where a lot of the economic activity is there and yet there is significant under-representation in the workforce by the aboriginal people,” says Sundquist. “We’ve got a very strong team that takes the program to the people because that is where we see the best success, rather than bringing the people to the program.
”Terry Drabiuk, manager of Industry Training at NAIT, concurs. “We are people solution providers,” says Drabiuk. “Whether it’s workers coming from across Canada or from around the world, we’re working on bridging and training aboriginal people as well. We offer an intensive aboriginal program where we combine training and industry, so, when they go through the training, they actually get jobs. We’ve done this successfully in four provinces and two territories.”
In addition to the 8 campus locations in Edmonton and Northwest Alberta, NAIT Global Enterprise Solutions maintains operations in Bonnyville/Cold Lake and Peace River. The Global footprint extends to the offices in Beijing (China), Baroda (India), Vancouver, Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates), and Cairo (Egypt). Global Enterprise Solutions has taken a focused and strategic approach to locate operations and build relationships in emerging markets where the demand for NAIT’s world-class competency-based training is strong, and the need for higher skills most urgent.
“As we grew the relationship in Egypt, it was practical for us to put a staff on the ground to help manage that relationship,” says Sundquist. “It allowed us to learn more about the Gulf region, particularly in the energy sector. Right now, you can’t argue with the need of the energy sector for people and skill development.”
The Global Enterprise Solutions program revolves around four key tenets: the organization, their infrastructure, the course instruction and the course curriculum. NAIT has developed this knowledge over 40 years and industry now reaps the benefits.
“It really shows how NAIT as a strong institution can assist other regions, governments, industries in creating that capacity,” says Sundquist. “You need to have a good understanding of what makes a good organization tick. We have that expertise and it is that knowledge that business and industry want to invest in and engage us to assist.”
(As originally published in the Spring issue of Alberta Oil Magazine) |
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Global Enterprise Solutions Job Opportunities
Have you ever wanted to work in an exotic location? Do you enjoy experiencing other cultures? If you have instructional and/or managerial experience, contact NAIT Global Enterprise Solutions for international employment opportunities.
Human Resources Director
Global Enterprise Solutions requires an individual to develop a training center for a client in Muscat, Oman. Aside from having a good business acumen, the successful candidate will have extensive experience in the oil and gas industry and be capable of teaching one or more of the following: operations, electrical, instrumentation, mechanical.
Instructors, Instrumentation, Process Operations, and ESL
The Global Enterprise Solutions team is looking for quality instructors in the fields of Instrumentation, Process Operations, and ESL. Opportunities currently exist in the United Arab Emirates, one of the most exotic locations in the world.
If you are interested in either of these opportunities or know someone in the oil and gas industry with a background in either discipline, we’d like to hear from you. Please contact Terry Maik at phone 780.378.5053 or email tmaik@nait.ca
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