Fully-funded Makeen Nanodegree Program

Get the technical skills you need to kickstart your career

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. 

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Your Makeen Nanodegree Program Journey

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Who Can Apply to the Makeen Nanodegree Program?
This opportunity is available to Omani job seekers who have an interest in advancing their tech knowledge and abilities with an interest in pursuing a freelancing career

What is the Makeen Nanodegrees 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

Why Join the Makeen Nanodegree Program?

The skills you’ll earn are the same skills most leading companies are looking for
when hiring freelance talent around the world.
Learn From Experts

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

Freelance-driven Career

Get access to a free 1-month Digital Freelancer Nanodegree Program after your technical certification to kickstart your freelancing career

Access to Freelance Mentors

Enroll in a Freelancing Partner Program (FPP) and search for your freelancing gig while enjoying free access to our partners' premium features

What is the Digital Freelancing Nanodegree Program?

The goal of the Digital Freelancer Nanodegree Program is to prepare learners to enter the digital marketplace by teaching key skills to create a successful digital business. Learners will explore freelancing basics and essential skills as well as how to build their personal brand to start their successful online business in the global freelancing marketplace.

Time: 1 Month

Objective: Educational Nanodegree Program equipping learners to unlock the Freelancer Partner Program (FPP)

Prerequisites: Successfully completed and graduated from the technical Nanodegree Program of interest

What is the Freelancer Partner Program?

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

FAQs

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What are the eligibility criteria to enroll?

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

  • Jobseeker, fresh graduate or university students eligible for “On Job” training.

  • Completes and passes the technical assessment as part of the Udacity application

When will the applications open/close?

The applications will open on 5th January 2025 and will close on 23rd February 2025.

What does this program entail? What will my learning journey look like?

This is a fully funded scholarship program available to all eligible Omani job seekers, fresh graduate or university students eligible for “On Job” training. 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, 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 of the Freelancing Partner Program (FPP) to support them land their first paid freelancing gig.

What are the prerequisites for enrollment?

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 a foundational one with no prerequisites. You will need access to a reliable internet and have knowledge of basic computer skills.

How will I know if I am accepted for the scholarship?

We will contact you via email on August 05, 2024. 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.

Can I join the Technical Nanodegree Program only?

Unfortunately, this is not possible. Only candidates who are interested in pursuing a freelancing career should utilize this opportunity. Candidates should have the commitment to attend all three phases of the programme including the technical Nanodegree, Digital Freelancer Nanodegree and the Freelancing Partner Program (FPP).

When will I get access to the Digital Freelancer Nanodegree program?

All candidates who graduate from their technical Nanodegree Programs, will have access to the Digital Freelancer Nanodegree (DFREEND) and 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.

Why is it important to graduate from the Digital Freelancing Nanodegree program?

The Digital Freelancing Nanodegree will grant you a freelancing certificate. Besides equipping you to enter the digital freelancing marketplace by teaching you the key skills that create a successful digital business. You will learn freelancing basics and essential skills as well as have access to our Global Freelancing Partner Program (FPP) after you graduate. This is an exclusive program for the two-phase graduates.FPP grants you a sponsored paid membership on Freelancer.com (one of the top freelancing platforms) which will help you become a paid freelancer, increase your income, and enjoy the perks of remote work.

What is the Freelancing Partner Program (FPP) & what is its objective?

This is an independent program driven by Udacity. It is a global program that can include participants from many countries to enrich your experience and engagement. FPP’s objective is to support Udacity graduates in landing a paid freelancing gig (online project). FPP grants you a sponsored paid membership on Freelancer.com (one of the top freelancing platforms) in addition to mentorship support and many other perks.N.B: Please note that this is program focused on gig placement and proposal submission.

When will I get access to FPP?

Once you graduate from the Digital Freelancing Nanodegree, you become eligible to apply to FPP. You will be receiving an email from us before the global cohort launch date so you can apply then. Stay tuned!

What are the perks that we will receive on Freelancer.com?

You get to have the membership plus unlocked for you for free in addition to many other perks that will be defined once you are accepted and qualified for the program! Examples of perks will be in the form of membership discounts, access to talent managers, exclusive webinars, and many others.

IMPORTANT NOTE: these perks will not guarantee you a gig; you will still have to work very hard to land your gig.

What is Makeen Initiative?

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 has already identified the areas of qualification and the rehabilitation mechanism for 5,000 young people when it was launched.

What is the program language?

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 on 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 learnt in the classroom in their native tongue.

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