ERICSSON ICT PROFESSIONAL foundation PROGRAM PROMOTES YOUTH DEVELOPMENT IN THE MIDDLE EAST

• Ericsson expands its university program to support building diverse local talent throughout the Middle East for the second year in a row, together with universities across 15 countries
• Ericsson’s ICT Professional Foundation Program targets large groups of students from across the region, to help the maximum number benefit from an opportunity to seamlessly transition from academia to the ICT industry

The program, which first started in 2015, now covers 15 countries across the Middle East and is a gateway for students in the region to explore opportunities in the ICT industry.

The two-month course aims to bridge the gap between academia and the ICT industry for students looking to join companies like Ericsson. The online nature of the course enables Ericsson to target a large group of students at once, and is efficient in terms of cost and logistics. The course supports building a great pipeline of candidates for internship and graduate programs.

In Lebanon, Ericsson has co-operated with the American University of Beirut and the Lebanese American University for the initiative.

"This program is an indication of our acceleration into life in the Networked Society after the deployment of 4G technologies throughout Lebanon. In light of these recent digital events, it is vital that we continue to educate our youth through initiatives such as Ericsson’s ICT Professional Foundation Program.” said Dr. Wassim El-Hajj, Chairman of Computer Science.

"Enriching the minds of students and creating employment opportunities for them is why programs such as Ericsson’s ICT Professional Foundation Program is an important step towards the future of ICT education in Lebanon." Said George E. Nasr, Ph.D., Professor and Dean, School of Engineering, Lebanese American University.

Rafiah Ibrahim, Ericsson’s Head of Region Middle East and East Africa says: “Ericsson is honored to cooperate with top universities across the region to launch the ICT Professional Foundation Program. We aim to prepare the ambitious young students by inspiring them and cultivating their capabilities helping them grow into outstanding professionals and lead in the Networked Society of the future."

Girish Johar, Head of Human Resources, Ericsson Middle East added: “We completed the first successful year of the ICT professional program with about 450 students. We are excited to commence the second phase, confident in the value that the program will bring for youth interested in the ICT industry. Like last year, diversity will remain a focus, so we broaden the talent pool for the ICT industry in the region.”