Manama, Bahrain: As part of its agenda to transform banking, ila Bank,
Bahrain’s fast-growing digital, mobile-only bank, launched a Virtual Talent
Development Programme, “The Transformers,” in collaboration with the Bahrain
Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF), on 5th July 2020. The programme is
tailored to transform 20 candidates, including ila’s summer interns, into
digital-oriented professionals equipped with practical skills to transform the
future of banking.
“The Transformers” is an innovative 3-week programme
aimed at university students and graduates, who have recently joined the
banking sector, empowering them to positively impact their future organisations
through a set of innovative and practical digital tools, skills and concepts.
It brings together 20 candidates to participate in an exciting, hands-on
learning experience, preparing them to navigate the next wave of technology and
future-proof their careers in the digital age.
Commenting on the programme, ila Bank Bahrain CEO, Mr.
Mohamed Al Maraj said: ““We are pleased to have collaborated with the BIBF, one
of Bahrain’s most respected professional education institutes, to design a
relevant programme that empowers local talent with essential skills and an
innovative mindset to accelerate digital transformation and adapt to a changing
world. These foundational ingredients will enable participants to embrace
emerging technologies and fast-track the digital journeys of the organisations
they join as well as the Government’s agenda to create a cashless, digital
economy.”
The future innovators will be introduced to five
learning tracks, starting from understanding new digital transformation
concepts to learning how to accelerate their knowledge with design thinking.
Topics include Artificial intelligence (AI), Blockchain, Internet of Things
(IoT), and FinTech. Participants will also learn how to effectively communicate
remotely, which is a key skill in times of crisis.
The programme wraps up with a 3-day hackathon which
will be held to ensure knowledge transfer through an experiential learning
activity. The candidates will be asked to pitch an innovative digital idea or
process improvement to ila’s management team. The winners will earn the
opportunity to intern with ila for a period of two months, starting the third
week of July 2020.
“At ila, we are committed to developing local talent
who will help us fulfil our objective to disrupt banking in the region for the
benefit of society and lifestyles. We attribute the tremendous uptake of our
banking app since our launch last November to our talented workforce, 90% of
which are under the age of 40. Their agility, professionalism and resilience
helped us continue business as usual through virtual channels despite over 50%
of staff working from home due to the COVID-19 reality,” added Mr. Al Maraj.
BIBF’s Director, Dr. Ahmed Al Shaikh, stated, “The
global economy is undergoing a digital
transformation with an increased growth and demand for a digital
economy. This skills gap is now identified worldwide and the BIBF presents
various training and educational solutions to meet market needs in terms of
knowledge and skills related to emerging technologies. Therefore, it is crucial
to develop a digitally-oriented pool of Bahraini talent to meet the
ever-evolving market demands and
help empower the Kingdom’s digital ecosystem.” He also, added, “We are glad to
collaborate with ila Bank, to support the development of young local talent, in
line with its youth empowerment vision.”
Head of BIBF’s Digital Transformation & Project
Management Centre Mr. Ahmed Naeemi, said, “We are committed to supporting the
development of the local workforce throughout their career paths. As we help
individuals stay ahead of the competition by adapting and adopting existing and
emerging technologies, we are also working with organisations to create bespoke
development programmes that build on university qualifications to develop the
next generation’s practical skills and applications through hands-on
experience.”
