The Middle Management Program: Rebuilding Egypt’s Human Calibers

The Middle Management Program: Rebuilding Egypt’s Human Calibers

In accord with Egypt Vision 2030; the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources under the patronage of Minister Eng. Tarek El Molla, has been revamping the oil and gas sector by an efficient, sustainable and modern strategy; also known as the Modernization Project.

Launched in 2016, the Modernization Project strives to develop a coherent, methodical energy sector, bringing it to the international standards. The project aims to develop the oil and gas sector in all aspects whether under technical or managerial prospects.

Middle Management Trainings

The Modernization Project has seven pillars that cover all the sector’s needs, ranging from structural and human resources development, passing by upstream and downstream performance enhancement, or to information technology. The third pillar of the project is centered around the human resources, which aims to develop existing calibers and to attract young graduates to the sector. As a part of the ministry’s initiative to advance in human resources management; the ministry launched the Middle Management and Young Professionals Program in 2017. The program provides equal opportunity to all applicants and primarily focuses on empowering professionals and future leaders to efficiently manage the oil and gas sector.

The Middle Management Program is divided into three phases; the first phase began in December 2017 by announcing the program’s criteria and giving an equal opportunity for a wide range of candidates to register. This resulted in receiving over 3,000 applications from candidates across the sector. The second phase consists of assessing, shortlisting, and selecting high calibers through a careful screening of all applicants. The third phase is a talent development plan through on-the-job training, secondment, and coaching and mentorship. Out of the 3,000 applicants, 462 candidates were chosen and grouped into three different tracks; the fast track, the management track, and the technical track.

In 2019, a total of eight international oil companies (IOCs) were a part of the fast track axis including; Schlumberger, BP, Eni, Halliburton, Baker Hughes, Total Co. Apache, and Saipem. Over 500 participants began their trainings provided by these companies in different areas of the world in Egypt, the Uk, Italy, Germany, Kuwait, and France.

The fast track consists of two main axes; the first one being the Foundation Program which focuses on the field of upstream technologies. The program is done in collaboration between the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources and Schlumberger, In 2019, through five rounds of trainings, 107 trainees were chosen for the fast track-foundation program axis. The trainings are presented using deductive approaches aimed to implement various technologies in the upstream area. Such trainings include – but not limited to – areas of digitization, health, safety, and environment (HSE), as well as introducing the latest technologies used in exploration and production (E&P).

Meanwhile, the second axis is an overseas on-the-job training which is done through a collaboration between the ministry and a variety of IOCs. The second axis offers a great learning experience through dealing with real-life events in the field where the trainees actively engage with the program. IOCs present far greater deal than hands-on technical experience, as through the program, they manage to implement a wide range of training in human resources management, risk management, and leadership skills in addition to providing real-life simulations based on international standards.

The technical track has developed extensively since its first-round launched back in 2017, where it began with 207 trainees. The technical track focuses on a myriad of areas of development on a technical level and a business level in the oil and gas sector. It offers technical courses related to numerous aspects of the oil and gas industry such as; HSE, E&P, Quality, administration, finance, human resources and other integral aspects that sustain the sector. On top of that, the technical track provides a culture change leadership program that ensures the sector is sustainably acquiring calibers.

The last track in the Middle Management Program is the management track. In its initial commencement, the management track consisted of 141 trainees from the oil and gas industry. The track offers comprehensive developmental courses that allow its trainees to enrich their knowledge and experience on leadership and management. Remarkably, the management track is not limited to certain areas in the sector, rather involves various areas such as information technologies (IT), contracts, and procurement.

In 2019, the management track engaged 123 trainees in different IOCs including; Halliburton, ExxonMobil, Schlumberger, and Apache. The ministry collaborated with IOC to elevate the standards and efficiency of the sector, and in 2019, it went the extra mile and collaborated with the American Chambers in Cairo (AmCham) for an executive development program.

Changing Mindsets

The Executive Development Program aims to develop the sector’s managers in order to further sustain and gain human capital and meet the sector’s challenging demands. The program aims to broaden one’s mindset through exploring the domains of innovation, change management, and strategy and leadership. The program offers valuable content that focuses on leading change and innovation through an array of methodologies. Studying theoretical approaches, case studies, and creating business simulation enhance not only the learning process, but also achieves significant results.

Furthermore, the program offers a nimbler mindset of accepting and embracing change through six modules. These modules go by the name of; Business Models & innovation, Influencing Skills, Coaching for Optimal Performance, Leading Change, Strategy Formulation and Execution, and Team Empowerment. By appreciating the value of change and the prosperous future it brings with it to the sector, one can understand the crucial measurements needed to create that change.

It is without a doubt that the Modernization Project has managed to create a cultural shift within the oil and gas sector. Bringing forth a vision of innovation and sustainability through the Middle Management Program will pave the way to more successes in the foreseeable future.

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