After its successful campaign last academic year 2011-2012, the IT Department is once again offering the ICDL training and hardware course to its industry and local community partners, as part of the ShCTs commitment to strengthen its linkage and relations. The ICDL training will run for twelve weeks while the hardware course will be given for three weeks. Both programs were started last Sunday, November 11, 2012. To date, there are 13 participants in the ICDL program: 3 employees from Shadeed Iron & Steel Co., 2 from International Heavy Equipment LLC, 1 from Lonestar Alpha Laboratories Sohar, 1 from Al-Firdous Printing & Packaging, 2 from Oman Fomaldehyde Chemical, 3 from Al-Turki Enterpises Co. LLC, and 1 from Sharq Sohar Steel Rolling Mill LLC. For the hardware course, there are 7 participants: 1 from Sharq Sohar Steel Rolling Mill LLC, 2 from International Heavy Equipment LLC, 2 from Dunes for Industrial Projects and 2 from Al-Turki Enterprises Co. LLC. The ICDL training covers the following modules: Module 1: Concepts of ICT, Module 2: Using the Computer and Managing Files, Module 3: Word Processing, Module 4: Spreadsheets, Module 5: Using Databases, Module 6: Presentation, and Module 7: Web Browsing and Communication. On the other side, the hardware course includes topics on computer hardware components, installation of operation system, installation of application programs, and assembling the computer. ICDL certification exams are administered after the modules are given. In cooperation with the On-the-Job Training (OJT) Department, headed by Ms. Fatma Al-Shibli, the ICDL training is arranged by the ICDL Committee, Mr. Mohammed Kuresh, and Ms. Lilibeth Rivera, and supervised by the Ms. Aysha Al-Jabri, HoS of IT Section, Dr. Mary Jane Aragon, HoS of Networking Section, and Mr. Gharib Al-Matroushi, HoD of IT. Lecturers from the IT department, both from IT and Networking sections, serve as the facilitators of the training. The department is also planning to conduct these ICDL training and hardware courses to non-technical staff members of the college as part of the staff professional development program.