Collaborating with Academic Systems in the Gulf Region

For a stronger and brighter future, companies must collaborate with academic institutions to nurture talent and drive innovation. These partnerships go beyond mere alliances; they are powerful unions that combine classroom learning with real-world experience, providing essential benefits for both students and businesses.

Companies and universities have the opportunity to create a strong pipeline of skilled professionals ready to enter the challenges of tomorrow, ensuring that both students and companies thrive in a global economy. At Optimum Partners, this is our vision and promise.

Bridging Academic Systems and Tech Industry for Tomorrow’s Talents

When thinking of the future,  our priority is to make sure that we provide the necessary help to everyone around Optimum Partners, be it a future talent, university, or the country as a whole. So, today’s decisions are nothing more than tomorrow’s foundation.

This is how the story of partnering with universities was born. Universities have a goal of educating the generation with knowledge, but with the speed of technology development in a digital world, knowledge based on theories is not enough. By adding proper training and the correct set of skills to this generation and the youth, we are somehow participating in our country's development. This also will influence reducing the number of young new specialists leaving their countries for job opportunities and would create more chances to build their careers in their homelands. 

So, while the universities are all ready to give theoretical knowledge to students, Optimum Partners suggests a helping hand and offers solutions on a practical level. The areas of studies that we are willing to invest in and work with are diverse, including computer scientists, mathematics, industrial chemistry, graphic designers, and students learning arts and languages to add up programming skills and give great results eventually, and anyone with a big vision and hard work. 

They can learn programming quickly and develop knowledge in the IT field based on their mindset, passion, and skills. Creative students are the potential of future pioneers. 

While very soon finalizing initiated partnerships with several universities in Saudi Arabia, we are eager to expand our collaborations to include more institutions across the GCC. This expansion will enable us to reach a larger pool of students make a broader impact, and make this a successful approach globally. 

Closing the Skill Gaps

The concept changes. Internships are outdated, and not many people take them seriously; we focused on that fact and offered a new solution for internships. Here it is: IT students from our partner universities will join us each semester for hands-on training at our offices. Our training modules will be designed to meet the industry's evolving demands, ensuring students gain relevant and up-to-date knowledge. We give them enough knowledge, not only technically, but on soft skills as well,  preparing them for interviews, teamwork building, professional communication, and more in a very intense way. 

The most important highlight is that some of those students might become future team members at OP,  while others are prepared to become successful candidates for the local & international markets. So, we are not only thinking of our benefits but rather developing talents and investing in the country's growth in the field of IT as well.

The vision we hold for this initiative is huge. We believe that collaboration between companies and academic institutions can shape the next generation of skilled professionals. Our success measurement ensures that over 90% of our program participants have successfully secured jobs within six months of graduation, with many joining leading companies in the tech industry. We aim to guarantee that participants have gained confidence and readiness for their careers thanks to the hands-on experience and mentorship they received.

Mistakes to avoid as a company

Lastly, raising awareness about the common mistakes companies make in the talent development journey is important. After thoroughly observing these processes, we noticed a significant misunderstanding of internships. Many universities send students to companies just to fulfill graduation requirements, and companies often use interns as free labor. However, as a Director of Talent Acquisition and through Optimum Partners training plans, I have worked together with my colleagues to change the concept of internship to the concept of Co-Ops. The young generation is our future, and we need to think of them as raw diamonds.

The key is realizing that they need our guidance, and we need them to build a strong foundation for developing the teams, the company, and the country. Here is a simple approach: I highly recommend avoiding these common mistakes to make a meaningful impact.

1. Don’t overlook the true potential.‍

Let’s agree that each individual has an area where they can be a star. The task is to discover the talent's little spark and let it shine. This means identifying and developing each individual's unique strengths. We can assist individuals in developing their abilities and reaching their full potential by giving them the necessary opportunities and assistance. Encouraging growth and providing guidance for interns are critical stages toward transforming that early spark into a strong, lasting glow. Evaluate them in the right spectrum, see their strengths and weaknesses, and invest in the right areas. 

2. Don’t kill the talent‍

Sadly, this is a harsh reality: companies are busy killing talents during internships instead of nurturing them. Most of the time, internships are perceived as an excellent way to have free-of-charge team members who will help with minor tasks around the office. But what about giving them challenging problems to solve and opportunities to grow? What about keeping them engaged, betting on their potential, and providing all the right tools to put their knowledge into practice while offering a helping hand whenever they fail? We have to become serious about lifting, not killing the talents. 

3. Don't misrepresent the reality‍

When you don’t take students or interns in your company seriously, they will believe what they see. They will create a picture of the future, thinking this is what life will look like when they graduate. The experiences they have during their internships can shape their entire life and personality. If they face neglect or lack of opportunity, it can impact their confidence and career aspirations in the long run. Put them on an equal level of performance as an educated talent that can add value to the company. Therefore, let’s provide meaningful and supportive experiences that reflect the true potential of their professional journey.

Conclusion

Optimum Partners has a clear vision: to overcome skill shortages through strategic relationships with academic institutions. We educate students for success in the workplace by delivering hands-on, practical training that highlights both technical and soft skills. Our strategy goes beyond standard internships to provide a holistic development program that benefits students, businesses, and the country as a whole.