Abu Dhabi’s National Professional Training and Development Institute (NPTDI), a subsidiary of MKM Commercial Holdings owners of the Wafi Group, has launched a joint venture with one of Canada’s leading public polytechnics, the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT).
The new Abu Dhabi-based company - SAIT National (ME) LLC - will provide vocational and advanced technical training to the UAE’s oil and gas, petrochemical and power generating industries.
The company was launched at MKM Commerical Holdings’ Dubai office by SAIT’s President and CEO, Irene Lewis, and its Vice President Academic, Dr. Gordon Dixon and Jan Weidershiem, MKM’s Managing Director and its Local Affairs Director Abdullah Ibrahim bin Hussain.
“The UAE’s technical training requirement has increased dramatically with recently established Emiratisation targets,” said Mike Colwill, General Manager NPTDI.
“SAIT National (ME) will assist regional employers build strength in the critically important skilled technician segment of the workforce.”
Specialising in ‘hands-on’ training for technicians and technologists, SAIT provides educational services to over 70,000 students each year, in Canada and worldwide.
“SAIT National (ME) brings to the Emirates SAIT’s significant experience in producing qualified and productive employees for Canadian and international industries over the past 80 years,” said Lewis.
“From Abu Dhabi we will deliver a broad array of training services, including customised technical short courses, long-term training programmes for workforce development, training consultancy services such as Needs Analysis and the development of Task Competency structures, and operation and management of training centres for corporate clients.”
NPTDI has a sister company, National Oil Maintenance Works and Execution also based in Abu Dhabi.
