Ooredoo Celebrates First Graduates from Digital Educational Programme, FURSA

Mobilk - Ooredoo is celebrating the first chapter of its digital educational programme, FURSA, with the graduation of the first wave of participants. A special online ceremony was held under the auspices of Sheikh Salah Al Mawali, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Oman Academy for SME’s, and Ian Dench, CEO of Ooredoo. A total of 20 candidates who were carefully selected out of a total of 481 applicants, graduated the programme, which aims to generate and nurture small businesses in the digital sector.

Ian Dench said, “We offer huge congratulations to our graduates on their success, which marks another important milestone in our 16-year journey. Through providing educational opportunities including FURSA and many others, we are developing national talent, empowering the next generation of job seekers, and promoting digital innovation. Moving forward, we will continue to support our graduates with their business ventures right up until they go to market.” 

Sheikh Salah Al Mawali added, “We’re delighted with the results of the first FURSA programme, which is just one of many initiatives we are involved with as part of our commitment to create innovative and meaningful programmes for SMEs. We saw a lot of promising ideas come out of the first batch and look forward to the participants taking them out into the world and contributing to the growth of the nation, while inspiring others to do the same.”

Conducted fully online, the FURSA programme took participants through a customised simulation of starting and running a company that equips them to build their company effectively, from the ground up. At its conclusion, the graduates have created a total of eight companies, which will now move to the incubation stage, supported by Ooredoo and the programme’s stakeholders.

Part of Ooredoo’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, Ooredoo Goodwill, FURSA is aimed at combating unemployment and filling gaps in the Omani economy, in particular the telecommunications sector. As a leader in the Sultanate’s digital transformation, Ooredoo continues to find new ways to support SMEs in the modern, digital world and empower Oman’s thriving entrepreneurial community. Other similar initiatives include the popular Springboard and Spring Forward programmes, as well as incubators for women.