The Engineering Construction Industry Training Board’s (ECITB) International Diploma is being delivered in Oman for the first time thanks to a new partnership agreement.

The International Assessment Centre (IAC), which is headquartered in Middlesbrough in the UK, has become ECITB Global’s newest licensed training provider among almost 200 in 34 countries worldwide.

The company is working in collaboration with approved satellite centre Technical Training Institute LLC (TTI), based in Nizwa, Oman, to deliver the ECITB Level 3 International Diploma in Mechanical Engineering for workers at Petroleum Development Oman (PDO).

The training course has been designed to work alongside the workers’ shift patterns and is approved by the Ministry of Higher Education Research and Innovation (MOHERI) in Oman.

Grace Omit, ECITB Global Senior International Administrator and Provider Support Coordinator, visited the training centre at Nizwa Industrial Estate, Oman, to present a licensed training provider plaque. She was also on hand to see the first cohort of six mechanical technicians from PDO receive their certificates for passing the first core maintenance unit.

The ECITB International Diploma is now being delivered in Oman

The International Assessment Centre (IAC) has partnered with Technical Training Institute LLC (TTI) to deliver the ECITB International Diploma in Oman.

ECITB Head of Commercial Tristan Kemp said: “ECITB Global delivers internationally recognised training and qualifications in key engineering construction industry skills and health and safety programmes.

“We are committed to upskilling workforces and helping to increase site safety in all the countries in which we operate, so it’s great to see our International Diploma being delivered for workers at PDO, which is Oman’s leading energy producer.

“ECITB Global is looking forward to a successful partnership thanks to the agreement between the IAC and TTI.

“We were delighted that Grace could represent ECITB Global to support the launch of the programme and be part of the celebrations with learners, trainers and management from PDO, IAC and TTI on the first day of delivery.”

ECITB International Diploma providing advanced levels of knowledge

The ECITB Level 3 International Diploma is an academic engineering qualification that can be used as a standalone engineering qualification or to complement and support the theoretical component of the ECITB’s ICE vocational programmes to ensure individuals understand the knowledge component of engineering principles.

The first part of the qualification is a module consisting of core technical elements which is relevant to all learners, followed by discipline-specific pathways.

The Level 3 Diploma is the UK equivalent of a Level 6 Diploma within the Oman Qualification Framework (OQF). The classroom-based course, which has knowledge tests in every unit, will be delivered for two years in Oman.

This qualification compliments the ECITB technical testing and ICE qualification the workers have previously achieved, with learners gaining advanced levels of knowledge of mechanical tools, equipment, practices and processes when working on site.

This is the first of a number of training and assessment opportunities TTI is offering as part of the collaborative partnership with the International Assessment Centre.

TTI, which is the training and development arm of Special Technical Services LLC (STS), supports the development of Omani nationals through government-sponsored vocational training programmes for positions within the oil and gas industry.

To mark the partnership launch, Grace met with the six learners from PDO as well as IAC Managing Director Neil Armstrong, TTI Institute Manager Said Al Hadhrami, Ibrahim Alkhusaibi, General manager HR, admin and OD from STS, TTI trainer Mahmoud Youssef, plus PDO’s Repair Contract & SMSPO Lead Hamed Juma Mohammed Harthy and In-House Repair Lead Said Hosni.

Find out more about IAC and TTI via the ECITB Global Providers List.

The first cohort of six PDO workers with certificates for completing the first core unit of the ECITB International Diploma

The first cohort of six PDO workers (above) with certificates for completing the first core unit of the ECITB International Diploma. Below: Grace Omit with the learners, trainers and management from PDO, IAC and TTI on the first day of delivery.

ECITB Global's Grace Omit on her visit to TTI for the first day of delivery of the ECITB International Diploma
Find out more about the ECITB International Diploma