Zain evolves its graduate program to a data science focused initiative called ‘CODE 7’

• Bader Al-Kharafi: “The world continues to change at a rapid pace, and the importance of data science-related disciplines in making organizations future-ready and successful is highly relevant”
• Five graduates will participate in a year-long program that incorporates topics such as big data, artificial intelligence and sustainable innovation
• Zain to establish an in-house Data Science division

Zain Group announces that after five successful years, the company’s progressive Generation Z graduate training program has transformed into an initiative focused on developing cutting edge skills of future data analysts.

The new program, called ‘CODE 7’ targets Kuwaiti graduates who have majored in computer science-related subjects. Five dynamic young people were selected to participate in the inaugural year-long program by Zain Vice-Chairman and Group CEO, Bader Al-Kharafi. These bright young recruits, who will formally commence the program at the start of 2021, will be guided through the year with the aim the intention that they will then go on to support digitization efforts within Zain in areas such as data analytics and data science.

Aligned to the reimagined graduate program, Zain is set to establish an in-house Data Science division that will harness the talents of the participants given the company’s focus on identifying future trends and developing skill sets to match those future requirements.  Ultimately, Zain expects students who pass through its CODE 7 program to grow to become highly sort-after data science professionals who support Zain’s evolution to a digital lifestyle operator and beyond. 

Bader Al-Kharafi commented, “The world continues to change at a rapid pace, and the importance of data science-related disciplines in making organizations future-ready and successful is highly relevant. As such, we believe it is the right time to launch this CODE 7 initiative, taking our graduate program to a new direction. We have every confidence that the efforts we will place in these young talents will result in forging high-performing and successful careers, as well as being beneficial for Zain through the insights they will later be able to offer the company. I encourage the incoming graduates to make the most of this life-altering opportunity and wish them every success.”

The year-long CODE 7 program offers an invigorating selection of topics, subjects, and activities that include:

    •    Creativity and Innovation
    •    Data Science Certification to expert level
    •    Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning
    •    Behavioral Work (life skills, resilience etc.)
    •    Innovative Sustainable Projects
    •    Rotations across Zain operations on digitization
    •    On-the-job applications and case studies

The five successful participants to be selected for the inaugural CODE 7 program are: Omar Saleh; Khalid Al Jassim; Abdullah Al Rasheed; Abdulaziz Khalifa and Sara Al Rabab.

About Zain: Zain is a leading telecommunications operator across the Middle East and Africa serving 48.9 million active customers as at 30 September 2020. Zain operates in Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and South Sudan. In Morocco, Zain has a 15.5% stake in ‘INWI’, through a joint venture. Zain is listed on the Kuwait Stock Exchange. For more information please visit: www.zain.com; www.facebook.com/zain; www.twitter.com/zain; www.youtube.com/zain; www.instagram.com/zaingroup; www.linkedin.com/company/zain