Investing in Egypt's future: The power of strategic partnerships in workforce development

Ashraf Hamasa
Tuesday 8 Oct 2024

Egypt possesses many engines of economic growth, including a young, growing workforce, a rich mix of renewable energy resources, vast lands, and access to shipping routes.

 

This formula is likely to generate new opportunities for business expansion and jobs for the country’s workforce in the next decade. A prime example is the clean energy sector, where Siemens Energy is the global leader. According to a local media report from January, projects on renewable energies will create more than 400,000 jobs within the coming ten years. 

The sustainability of these investments will hinge on human capital, one of Egypt’s most valuable resources. Therefore, the impressively rapid pace of technological advancementnecessitates a balanced strategy that can allow Egyptian public and private organizations to carry out further investments and effectively equip their teams to adapt to future, transformativetechnologies – including but not limited to AI-powered ones – and operational practices across all sectors.

As Werner von Siemens once said, “an innovation’s importance lies in its practical implementation.” Siemens Energy has consistently invested time and resources in developing employee and worker development programs across the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region,including Egypt, where thousands of Egyptian men and women have been empowered to excel in their current roles and prepare for future opportunities.

Our vision for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) was realized in 2016, as we trained 600 Egyptian technicians and engineers between Egypt and Germany on technical and soft skills. These engineers and technicians now lead the operation and maintenance of our mega power plants.

Going the extra mile, we have also engineered other TVET programs upon a foundation of strategic partnerships with government institutions, private companies, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

Siemens Energy and its partners have created a collaborative environment where the best ideas for training employees and workers emerged from collective experiences and diverse perspectives from various teams.

As we worked together, we have identified emerging trends for many industries due to a culture of open dialogue, knowledge sharing, and collective wisdom of our teams and partners in Egypt, ensuring that individuals are well-equipped to build their reputation in local, regional, and international markets. 

In 2018, we joined forces with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and the Egyptian Ministry of Education to develop the Zein El Abdeen School of Excellence based on the German dual education system. We have equipped the school with a set of advanced technological and learning tools, developed the curriculum, and trained teachers.

Moreover, we assisted over 5,500 trainees at The Egyptian German Technical (EGT) Academy in becoming competent for the future through our seven-year strategic alliance with GIZ which was successfully concluded end of September 2024.

Siemens Energy is now overseeing the ongoing operations of EGT Academy. Our company will continue to build on this great foundation and expand the technical and vocational programs at the academy, as part of its responsibility towards societies in Egypt, the Middle East, and Africa.

I am proud to say that we have established a distinctive model and hub for TVET programs, adhering to the highest global educational standards. Siemens Energy has a unique advantage in the MEA region with its EGT Academy, located within the Siemens Energy Egypt Service Center. 

The trainees, including technicians and engineers, will continue to experience first hands-ontraining (80% practical) and learn from Siemens Energy’s expert professionals every day they spend inside EGT Academy. This is a privilege that very few trainees have across the MEA region. 

Moreover, our goals have guided the design of our comprehensive training programs, which cover a variety of topics, including professional skills such as sales or project management, digital skills such as data analytics, and personal skills such as problem-solving, communication, self-direction, self-assessment, and openness to multi-source feedback. Moreover, the academycustomizes programs on decarbonization, female empowerment, people with disabilities supporting a larger spectrum of trainees in various fields.

EGT Academy also offers a broad spectrum of technical training programs, including but not limited to those covering energy technologies and solutions, renewable energy certifications,basic automation, pneumatics and hydraulic, power electronics, machine programming, and bearing and gears. 

As part of our DNA, we aim to encourage more people in Egypt and the region to valuecontinuous learning, develop a growth mindset, and acquire a sophisticated skillset that will enable them to navigate any future transformations within their industries. 

An extensive list of development experiences around the world has taught us that a highly skilled human capital serves as an indispensable ingredient of any prosperous economy, attracting ambitious investors and setting the stage for the rise of innovative ideas one generation after the other. This equation improves the well-being of individuals and societies and helps governments address socioeconomic challenges. 

We believe offering training programs to the Egyptian workforce is more than just a business decision. Instead, we view it as an investment in Egypt’s future, driven by our unshakable beliefin the limitless potential of the Egyptian people.

* The writer is the managing director of Siemens Energy in Egypt.

 

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