Latest news with #HumanCapabilityDevelopmentProgram
Arab News
a day ago
- Business
- Arab News
The battle for talent: Saudi Arabia's high-stakes bet on human capital
RIYADH: As Saudi Arabia accelerates its transformation under Vision 2030, a critical question has emerged: Can the Kingdom build a homegrown tech workforce strong enough to power its digital ambitions? From artificial intelligence and smart mobility to fintech and clean energy, the Kingdom's rapidly expanding sectors are creating an unprecedented demand for highly skilled professionals. Yet despite billions in investments and major infrastructure rollouts, supply still lags behind demand. This challenge, however, is far from ignored. 'We are proud to take human capital development to the next level,' said Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Ahmed Al-Rajhi, during the launch of the National Skills Platform in April 2025. 'Technical expertise alone is not enough. Leadership, strategic thinking, and adaptability are equally important, and skilling and reskilling for the workforce is a national priority that all stakeholders should engage in.' The AI-powered platform connects Saudi job seekers to customized learning pathways, marking a shift toward demand-driven education and training. A national priority Education Minister Yousef Al-Benyan, who also chairs the executive committee of the Human Capability Development Program, emphasized the broader purpose behind the Kingdom's reforms. 'Vision 2030 is not just a roadmap for national transformation — it is a model for how investment in people can drive sustainable progress,' Al-Benyan wrote in an April op-ed for Arab News titled 'Vision 2030: Elevating human capability in a changing world.' Citing the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025, he noted that while 170 million new jobs will emerge globally by 2030, another 92 million will be displaced. He warned that 44 percent of core skills are set to change within five years, with digital and AI literacy becoming as fundamental as reading and math. 'Without these,' he wrote, 'individuals are unable to participate meaningfully in today's digital economy.' Scaling up training and inclusion This outlook is shaping some of Saudi Arabia's most ambitious workforce initiatives. Among them is the Waad National Training Campaign, launched in 2023 and supported by more than 70 organizations. The program surpassed 1 million training opportunities in its first phase and now targets 3 million by the end of 2025. Waad's Women's Employment Track has been particularly successful, with a 92 percent retention rate in tech roles—contributing to a record rise in female participation across the digital economy. Waad, Al-Rajhi noted, is an investment in 'the promise of human potential.' Meanwhile, the Future Skills Training Initiative, led by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology since 2020, has provided training to hundreds of thousands of Saudis in areas like cybersecurity, data science, and cloud computing. Supported by the Digital Skills Framework and private-sector partnerships, it has grown steadily. One such partnership — a 2023 collaboration with IBM — aimed to train 100,000 Saudis in AI and machine learning. Talent gaps persist Despite this progress, a 2025 report by Nucamp and the ministry highlighted a 20 percent shortfall between tech job vacancies and qualified local talent. Critical roles such as AI engineers, cloud architects, and data analysts remain in short supply. 'Demand for AI and cloud experts far exceeds supply,' said Ahmed Helmy, managing director for SAP in the Middle East, in an April interview with Asharq Al-Awsat. The result: fierce competition among employers. To meet short-term needs, Saudi Arabia is tapping into international expertise. The Premium Residency Program, launched in 2021, allows skilled foreign professionals to live and work in the Kingdom without a local sponsor. By late 2023, more than 2,600 had taken advantage of the scheme. In 2024, five new visa categories were introduced to attract investors, entrepreneurs, and tech specialists. These include provisions that exempt founders from Saudization quotas for their first three years—providing flexibility to scale teams while supporting local hiring in the long term. 'Such incentives allow skilled professionals to have a more stable life and make long-term investments in their careers in Saudi Arabia,' said Raymond Khoury, partner at Arthur D. Little, in May. Still, officials stress that international hiring is a stopgap — not a substitute. 'While attracting global talent is crucial, sustainable growth depends on balancing international expertise with local knowledge development,' said Mamdouh Al-Doubayan, MENA managing director at Globant. To that end, foreign hires are increasingly being integrated not just as employees, but as mentors and trainers. Startups adapt with remote models In the private sector, startups are turning to remote hiring to bypass local talent shortages. A 2024 study by Wamda found that many Saudi companies are building distributed teams, sourcing tech talent from Egypt, Jordan, and other regional markets. This strategy shortens hiring cycles and enables around-the-clock operations. The trend aligns with the Kingdom's Telework Initiative, which certifies employers to offer remote roles to Saudis—especially women and those living outside major urban centers. Competitive pressures from giga-projects The hiring challenge became especially acute in 2023. That year, PwC's Middle East Workforce Survey reported that 58 percent of Saudi firms struggled to fill key tech roles. A MAGNiTT report found that 65 percent of startup founders saw the shortage of senior tech talent as their top obstacle. A concurrent survey by Flat6Labs noted that many startups were delaying product launches due to staffing shortages, losing talent to mega-projects offering 30 to 50 percent higher salaries. 'Engineers and product managers often defect to deep-pocketed giga-projects that offer salaries 30–50 percent above startup pay,' wrote venture adviser Aditya Ghosh in a November 2023 LinkedIn Pulse column. Bridging the divide Education leaders are working to close this gap. Khalid Al-Sabti, chairman of the Education and Training Evaluation Commission, said in a 2024 Arab News interview that Saudi Arabia is aligning its curriculum with global benchmarks. 'We must ensure our graduates meet international standards to compete globally,' he said. This includes revising curricula, emphasizing hands-on projects, and embedding industry into the classroom through partnership programs. The Talent Enrichment Program, for example, spans 160 countries and offers global certifications to Saudi learners. Encouragingly, Saudi Arabia's position in the IMD World Talent Ranking improved in 2023. Companies such as STC, Aramco Digital, and Elm are now hiring directly from local boot camps and training centers — evidence that education and industry are beginning to align. The road ahead Ultimately, the success of Saudi Arabia's tech talent strategy will be measured not just by enrollments or credentials, but by how effectively new graduates are absorbed into the workforce. If current reforms continue at scale, the Kingdom may not only satisfy its domestic tech demand — but emerge as a regional hub for digital talent. As Al-Benyan wrote: 'By investing in people, fostering global collaboration, and redefining the future of work, Saudi Arabia is demonstrating that human capability is the ultimate driver of progress.'
Saudi Gazette
a day ago
- Business
- Saudi Gazette
Saudi graduates see record job market entry in 2024
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — The percentage of Saudi higher education graduates entering the workforce within six months of graduation surged to 44.43% in 2024, up from just 13.3% in 2016, according to the newly released annual report of the Human Capability Development Program (HCDP). Youth employment for Saudis aged 15–24 also climbed to 36.2%, compared to 18% in 2020. Launched by Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman in 2021, the HCDP is a key Vision 2030 program aimed at equipping citizens with the skills and capabilities needed across all life stages. The program focuses on aligning education outcomes with labor market demands, while investing in national talent to enhance Saudi Arabia's global competitiveness. In technical and vocational education, the employment rate within six months of graduation rose to 47.81%. The program launched six new strategic academies and activated four local technical colleges, focusing on fields such as tourism and international academies trained more than 150,000 individuals, while overall enrollment in vocational education increased to 30.54%, surpassing the program's 2024 support quality training, more than 130 technical colleges were upgraded with training equipment, and digital platforms were enhanced to expand access across the the entrepreneurship front, HCDP empowered 40 startups through advanced programs in collaboration with Stanford and UC Berkeley. These startups received executive leadership coaching, participated in 220 sessions with global experts, and gained access to Silicon Valley's innovation a result, the supported startups attracted SR42 million ($11.2 million) in venture capital and created 120 new founders were admitted to top-tier international business incubators, reinforcing Saudi Arabia's progress in global innovation program also helped drive momentum in Silicon Valley with 29 entrepreneurial and investment events and four investor days that connected Saudi startups with international financiers. Additionally, 120 university-based startups were supported, over 11,000 students trained in entrepreneurship, and 60 new companies launched via regional accelerators. Three new university-based incubators were also established.
Gulf Insider
2 days ago
- Science
- Gulf Insider
Saudi Arabia To Introduce AI Curriculum Across All Public Schools Starting 2025
Saudi Arabia will roll out a comprehensive artificial intelligence (AI) curriculum across all levels of public education beginning in the 2025–2026 academic year. The initiative, led by the National Curriculum Center in partnership with the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, and the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), represents a major step in embedding AI literacy into the Kingdom's educational framework. The curriculum, which aligns with the goals of the Human Capability Development Program under Vision 2030, is designed to empower students from early education through higher learning with essential digital competencies and AI fluency. It aims to nurture a generation capable of driving innovation and positioning Saudi Arabia as a leader in emerging technologies. Students will be introduced to age-appropriate AI concepts through interactive and practical learning modules, ensuring continuity and progression throughout the educational journey, from primary school to vocational and university tracks, and into lifelong learning. AI learning outcomes will be formally incorporated into the national student performance assessment system. The new curriculum will instil core technical skills while fostering critical thinking and ethical understanding of AI. The announcement follows the successful pilot of an 'Introduction to Artificial Intelligence' course for third-year secondary students in the general track, unveiled earlier this year at the Human Capability Initiative conference. Developed collaboratively by SDAIA, the National Curriculum Centre, and the Ministry of Education, the pilot laid the groundwork for national implementation.
Zawya
3 days ago
- Science
- Zawya
Saudi Arabia to introduce AI curriculum across all school levels starting 2025
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia will introduce a national artificial intelligence (AI) curriculum across all levels of public education starting from the 2025–2026 academic year. Tthe National Curriculum Center announced nucluding the new curriculum in partnership with the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, and the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA). The initiative aligns with the Human Capability Development Program under Vision 2030, aiming to build a comprehensive educational system that reinforces national values while boosting the Kingdom's global competitiveness and leadership in AI. The new AI curriculum is designed to empower students with specialized skills from early stages, equipping them to engage with the digital age and contribute to innovative solutions throughout their educational journey from primary school to university and vocational training, and continuing into lifelong learning. The curriculum will feature age-appropriate AI modules delivered through interactive and practical learning methods. It also includes a framework to ensure continuity and progression across different education levels, with AI learning outcomes incorporated into the national student performance assessment system. This announcement follows the recent launch of a pilot course titled "Introduction to Artificial Intelligence" for third-year secondary students in the general track. The course, developed by SDAIA in collaboration with the National Curriculum Center and the Ministry of Education, was unveiled during the Human Capability Initiative conference held in April 2025. Officials said this marks a foundational step toward embedding AI concepts into the national education system, preparing a digitally aware generation ready to lead in advanced technology sectors.
Leaders
3 days ago
- Science
- Leaders
Saudi Arabia to Roll Out AI Curriculum across Schools by 2025–2026
Saudi Arabia has decided to incorporate an artificial intelligence (AI) curriculum across all levels of public education starting from the academic year 2025-2026, reported the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). The initiative was announced on Thursday by Saudi Arabia's National Curriculum Center, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, and the Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA). It aligns with the objectives of the Human Capability Development Program (HCDP), one of the key programs under Saudi Vision 2030, aiming to promote a comprehensive educational system that reinforces national values and enhances the Kingdom's global competitiveness and leadership in AI. The AI curriculum will equip students with specialized skills that qualify them to engage with the digital age and develop innovative solutions throughout their educational journey. In the light of this, the new curriculum includes specialized AI units tailored to different age groups, presented through interactive and applied learning methods. It also features mechanisms to connect knowledge across different education levels, ensuring a cumulative and progressive development of skills. Moreover, learning outcomes will be integrated into a comprehensive assessment system for student performance and achievement. The initiative comes on the heels of the rollout of 'Introduction to Artificial Intelligence' curriculum by SDAIA, the National Curriculum Center, and the Ministry of Education, for third-year high school students. This move marks a remarkable milestone toward incorporating AI concepts into educational curricula to foster a digitally-aware generation capable of shaping AI future. Short link : Post Views: 28
