SAP Middle East & North Africa has recently formed a strategic partnership with Kuwait University to create the country's first SAP University Competence Center (UCC), a comprehensive certification program designed to support the needs of Kuwait's growing knowledge-based economy. The company said in a statement sent to the Gazette on Thursday that underlining the importance of collaboration between the education and private sectors, the new UCC will equip Kuwaiti students with IT and business process management skills essential to the development of Kuwait's service-based industries. “Education is needed to fuel the Kuwaiti economy and ensure long-term growth. SAP is well positioned to develop a curriculum that will enable our students to learn how to build the best IT framework - one that will enhance Kuwait's competitiveness by laying the groundwork for success,” said prof. Taher Al-Sahhaf, Dean, Kuwait University. Located on-site at the Kuwait University campus in Kuwait City, the SAP University Competence Center will be part of the global SAP University Alliance program, a higher learning initiative that provides hands-on education in a range of SAP products currently being used by companies around the world. Through the development of these sought-after skills, SAP believes that graduates will be prepared for Kuwait's growing modernization and economic diversification, which is creating opportunities for IT services in a range of key industries. “By joining forces with Kuwait University, we are helping prepare the country's next generation of knowledge workers to build the IT infrastructure necessary for Kuwait's diversification strategy to succeed,” said Sergio Maccotta, managing director, SAP Middle East and North Africa. Kuwait's telecommunication, banking and retail sectors in particular are witnessing strong demand for project implementation, managed services and outsourcing as market liberalization and development is encouraging companies to implement solutions that will increase operational efficiency. According to Business Monitor International, the Kuwaiti IT services market is valued at $162 million, with market size expected to reach approximately $258 million by 2012. __
