-Muscat

Today, the Sultanate Academy of Management launched the National Leadership Development Program “I'timad,” aimed at empowering middle and senior management in the private sector. This program embodies the high interest of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq – may God protect and preserve him – in preparing promising national leaders in the private sector in alignment with future needs and Oman Vision 2040. The program is executed in partnership with Emirates and in collaboration with Columbia Business School, the Tuck Executive Education Program at Dartmouth, and the Executive Education at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
The program highlights the academy's efforts to enhance middle management and develop their skills, contributing to outstanding performance and achieving organizational goals efficiently and effectively. It aims to establish dynamic, modern management systems that align with market dynamics, future expectations, and rapid changes, by leveraging national and international experts who provide best global practices.

This edition of the program includes 202 employees – in two cohorts – from the private sector and entrepreneurs. Participants will embark on a 7-month learning journey, which includes 4 specialized learning modules, practical workshops using simulation, remote learning, leader meetings, group learning projects, and virtual learning. This approach will enhance participants' skills in business digital strategies, financial statement analysis, financial data analysis, creative thinking, leadership of individuals and organizations, innovation, and change management.

Dr. Yasmin Al-Balushi, Director of the Leadership Development Center, stated that the “I'timad” program has showcased distinguished Omani leaders. In previous editions, it contributed to empowering national leaders with renewed competencies working within a comprehensive institutional framework, preparing them with high levels of competence and leadership to face changes. Developing national competencies and capabilities is a key pillar of Oman’s future vision and the program’s goals.

She added: “The I'timad program is a pioneering and ambitious initiative in investing in and developing national competencies, honing their skills to ensure they can lead the private sector and supply the Omani market with capable leaders in the new economy. The program includes various training aspects, such as in-person learning modules, remote learning modules, group projects, leadership camps, and development workshops, alongside monitoring graduates to assess their career progression and encouraging companies to optimally invest in Omani talents.”

The program targets employees with middle management experience, such as department or team managers in the private sector. Participants went through several stages to be selected from over 3,400 applicants, including initial tests assessing their knowledge and skills in various administrative and practical aspects, such as English language tests, aptitude tests, leadership scenarios, and personal questionnaires. Several interviews were conducted for shortlisted candidates as the final step in the selection process.

It is noteworthy that the “I'timad” program has graduated approximately 750 participants from the private sector and entrepreneurs in previous editions, positively impacting the local market with skills that manage various developmental and economic projects in the Sultanate of Oman, aligning with economic development goals and achieving the objectives of Oman Vision 2040.