In an effort to support Oman Vision 2040 and the National Program for Digital Economy, the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology is partnering with the Ministry of Labor to offer an upskilling program designed to prepare Omanis for various freelancing opportunities.
Under the National Digital Upskilling Initiative, the Makeen Nanodegree Program aims to enhance technical skills and empower job seekers, especially those who are interested in freelancing.
The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, and the Ministry of Labor is proud to extend this opportunity to more than 4,000 job seekers across Oman under the execution of Udacity.
This fully-funded program is open to all Omani job seekers who are interested in developing their career in the fields of UX Design, Business Analytics, Data Fundamentals, or Front-end Development Fundamentals.
Upon completion of the technical Nanodegree program, learners will have the opportunity to further pursue their freelancing career through a 1-month Digital Freelancing Nanodegree program followed by a 3-month Freelancer Partner Program.
The Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology of the Sultanate of Oman, along with the Ministry of Labor, is collaborating to provide upskilling and certification programs for Omanis who aspire to work in various self-employment platforms. The ministry‘s mission through the Makeen Nanodegree Program is to:
Equip learners with the necessary technical skills to thrive in the digital economy
Unlock freelancing opportunities through the exclusive and comprehensive Digital Freelancing Nanodegree Program and Freelancer Partner Program
Prepare learners to be updated with the latest market trends and market demands
Attain highly demanded tech skills in the market with an access to industry experts and real-case scenarios with the flexibility to learn at your own pace
Get access to a free 1-month Digital Freelancer Nanodegree Program after your technical certification to kickstart your freelancing career
Enroll in a Freelancing Partner Program (FPP) and search for your freelancing gig while enjoying free access to our partners' premium features
It is a 3-month program in partnership with freelance marketplace partners exclusive for Udacity graduates who want to become paid freelancers. Learners will unlock exclusive perks from our partners whilst receiving access to experienced freelancers, educational content, webinars and community support.
Time: 3 Months
Objective: Practical program including support from gurus for learners to explore available freelancing gigs
Prerequisites: Successfully completed and graduated from the technical Nanodegree Program of interest and the Digital Freelancing Nanodegree Program
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
Submit the online application form here
Omani National
Holds a minimum qualification of a Diploma or a Bachelor’s Degree
Interested in freelancing and starting an independent career
Jobseekers and those seeking an independent stream of revenue
Completes and passes the technical assessment as part of the Udacity application
Applications opened on January 13, 2025, and will close on February 24th, 2025.
This fully funded scholarship program is available to all eligible Omani job seekers. Applicants need to successfully meet the selection and prerequisite criteria as well as pass the application and technical assessment on the Udacity website. The program consists of a 3-4 months technical Nanodegree, a self-guided learning journey, followed by a 1-month Digital Freelancer Nanodegree offered to successful graduates of the technical paths. Graduates of the Digital Freelancer Nanodegree are entitled to take part in the Freelancing Partner Program (FPP) to help them land their first paid freelancing gig.
Each Nanodegree has a set of defined knowledge areas or prerequisites. You can access the details of each Nanodegree on its dedicated webpage. The Digital Freelancer Nanodegree is only eligible for those who graduate from the tech paths with no other prerequisites. You will need access to a reliable internet and know basic computer skills.
We will contact you via email on March 13, 2025. Please use one email for everything during the program, and make sure to check your spam folder to see if you received emails from our side.
Unfortunately, this is not possible. Only candidates who are interested in pursuing a freelancing career should utilize this opportunity. Candidates should commit to attending all three phases of the program including the technical Nanodegree, Digital Freelancer Nanodegree, and the Freelancing Partner Program (FPP).
All candidates who graduate from their technical Nanodegree Programs will have access to the Digital Freelancer Nanodegree (DFREEND). You will find some guidance in your classroom about the program and enrollment process. Graduates will receive an email with all the required details later on.
The Digital Freelancing Nanodegree provides a freelancing certificate while equipping you with the essential skills to succeed in the digital freelancing marketplace. You’ll master freelancing basics and key business skills, and after graduation, you will gain access to our exclusive Global Freelancing Partner Program (FPP). This program offers a sponsored paid membership on Freelancer.com - one of the leading freelancing platforms - empowering you to start earning as a freelancer, boost your income, and enjoy the flexibility of remote work.
The Freelancing Partner Program (FPP) is an independent, Udacity-driven initiative designed to enhance your global freelancing experience. This program connects participants from diverse countries, enriching engagement and collaboration. Its primary goal is to support Udacity graduates in landing paid online freelancing gigs.
As part of FPP, you’ll receive a sponsored paid membership on Freelancer.com - one of the leading freelancing platforms - along with mentorship support and additional benefits to help you succeed.
Note: This program focuses on gig placement and crafting effective proposals for freelancing opportunities.
After graduating from the Digital Freelancing Nanodegree, you'll be eligible to apply for the Freelancing Partner Program (FPP). Keep an eye on your inbox - we’ll send you an email with details and instructions before the global cohort launch. Stay tuned!
You'll receive a free unlocked membership along with various other perks once you're accepted and qualified for the program! These perks may include membership discounts, access to talent managers, exclusive webinars, and much more.
IMPORTANT NOTE: these perks will not grant you a gig; you will still have to work very hard to land your gig.
As part of the Executive Program for Digital Industry in the National Program for the Digital Economy, the Competency Rehabilitation Initiative (Makeen) aims to create income-generating opportunities for Omani youth in the digital sector by 2025. This initiative is in line with the ministry’s objectives in the tenth five-year plan and involves partnering with leading local and international educational institutions in the communications and information technology sector.
By collaborating with top companies and institutions in the field, Makeen aims to equip 10,000 Omanis with digital skills by 2025, addressing the growing demand for technical competencies in the market and providing the labor market with qualified national talents. The initiative identified the areas of qualification and rehabilitation mechanisms for 5,000 young people when it was launched.
The program is fully delivered in English where content and concepts are to be viewed in English with the option of having Arabic captions. Any project submissions should be in English too. Session Leads assigned to the program are bilingual (Arabic and English) which will allow candidates to gain the English skills needed to succeed, while also allowing them to supplement their understanding of the concepts learned in the classroom in their native tongue.