NCB introduces IT academy program

As part of a continuous focus on supporting Saudization efforts, the National Commercial Bank (NCB) announced the launch of a new specialized training program under the name Information Technology Academy Program (ITAP). The program aims at attracting young Saudi talents in the IT field and preparing them to undertake work responsibilities in financial IT services.
Designed in collaboration with Hewlett-Packard (HP) and Tamkeen, the program extends over a period of 23 weeks of extensive training, during which participants are trained in a wide spectrum of technical and non-technical skills that bridge the gap between academic education and business practice and pave the way for the smooth integration of fresh talents in the business-as-usual work life of the IT division in NCB.
Saud Sabban, EVP and head of the HR division, said: “ITAP is yet another manifestation of the importance that NCB places on developing and enabling national talents in all disciplines and fields of work in the bank, of which IT is considered the backbone in today’s modern financial services industry.”
Saleh Saleh, head of ITAP and IT portfolio management office at NCB, said: “Information Technology is a very dynamic and demanding field of work, and the demand on national talents in this field is increasing exponentially. ITAP program was designed with this mind to help us attract the best local talents over the coming years, retain them, empower them and help them realize their potential, and so demonstrate the ability of our national human resources to perform competently at the highest standards in this field.”
ITAP comprises three main training phases that together employ a combination of active and proactive learning techniques.
The first class of ITAP graduates included 21 young Saudi men and women who hold Bachelors and Masters degrees in the fields of Computer Science, Information Systems, Computer Engineering, MIS, and Information Technology, from recognized local and international universities.