Latest news with #HumanCapabilityDevelopmentProgram
Time of India
6 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
Saudi Arabia to teach AI in schools from 2025, aiming for a future-ready workforce
Saudi Arabia to introduce AI curriculum in schools from 2025 onwards/Representative Image TL;DR: Saudi Arabia will introduce a comprehensive AI curriculum across all public schools starting in the 2025–2026 academic year. Earlier pilot 'Introduction to Artificial Intelligence' elective targeted over 50,000 grade‑12 students this year. Designed by NCCD, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Communications & IT, and SDAIA, blending age‑appropriate modules with practical, ethical learning. Part of Vision 2030's Human Capability Development Program, driving digital literacy, innovation, and education reform. In a landmark educational reform aligned with its Vision 2030 goals, Saudi Arabia has announced the integration of artificial intelligence education across all public school levels, beginning with the 2025–2026 academic year. The curriculum, created jointly by the National Curriculum Center, Ministry of Education, Communications & IT Ministry, and the Saudi Data & Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) is designed to build progressive AI literacy from early primary stages to secondary education, equipping youth with foundational digital skills, ethical awareness, and innovation capacity for the future workforce and digital economy. Official Framework & Strategic Partners Saudi Arabia's Human Capability Development Program, a core pillar of Vision 2030, frames this initiative as part of a broader agenda to modernize education and prepare the next generation for global competitiveness. The curriculum was developed through a collaborative effort involving: National Curriculum Centre Ministry of Education Ministry of Communications & IT SDAIA These institutions contributed to curriculum design, platform infrastructure, and national deployment strategy. Pilot Phase: Testing the Waters Earlier in 2025, Saudi Arabia piloted an 'Introduction to Artificial Intelligence' elective for third-year high school students, engaging over 50,000 students across the Kingdom. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Live Comfortably: 60m2 prefabricated bungalow for the elderly in Kapuk Pre Fabricated Homes | Search Ads Search Now Undo The elective features a digital learning platform with interactive multimedia modules, teacher-supervised projects, and real-world applications in sectors such as healthcare, transportation, and cybersecurity. Curriculum Design & Learning Pathway The AI curriculum spans all school cycles with age-appropriate progression: Primary (Grades 1–3): Interactive stories and games to introduce basic technology and AI ideas. Middle School (Cycle 1–2): Digital thinking, algorithm awareness, comparison of human vs machine decision-making. High School (Cycle 3): Command engineering, ethical AI design, bias evaluation, problem-solving simulations. Curriculum integrates AI ethics, policy, innovation, and community impact, alongside key technical concepts like data analysis and algorithms. It ensures continuity through the national student performance evaluation framework without adding teaching hours. Why It Matters Empowering Future Generations: By embedding AI literacy into school education, the Kingdom is future‑proofing its youth for high-growth digital sectors. Closing Skills Gaps: The move directly addresses workforce needs around AI, data science, and innovation. Vision 2030 Alignment: Supports Saudi Arabia's strategic shift toward a knowledge-based economy with a technologically savvy citizenry. Inclusive Innovation: Interactive and ethical modules plus teacher training and national assessment frameworks ensure equitable access and consistent delivery. This educational overhaul is part of a strategic pivot under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Vision 2030, which prioritizes AI as a central pillar of the digital economy. Saudi Arabia has already launched the National Strategy for Data and Artificial Intelligence (NSDAI), with aims to become a global AI leader by 2030. By embedding AI awareness from an early age, the government hopes to create a pipeline of local talent capable of contributing to sectors like healthcare, finance, logistics, and energy using home-grown innovation. Saudi Arabia's decision to launch a full-scale AI curriculum in public schools marks a transformational shift in national education. By progressively layering AI education from grade one through secondary levels, and institutionalizing AI-based competencies in assessment systems, the Kingdom is redefining how young citizens learn, think, and innovate. Anchored by Vision 2030's strategic goals, this initiative is positioning Saudi Arabia at the forefront of global education reform, cultivating digital fluency, critical thinking, and future-ready leadership from an early age.
The Wire
16-07-2025
- Business
- The Wire
The Human Capability Initiative (HCI) Launches the 2025 Insight Report
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, July 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Human Capability Development Program (HCDP) - one of the Saudi Vision 2030 Realization Programs – has launched the Insight Report from the second edition of the Human Capability Initiative (HCI) 2025, held last April under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Prime Minister. The Report was launched as part of the "Capabilities Dialogue" series, in conjunction with International Youth Skills Day, at The Cultural House – Riyadh Oasis, under the theme "Translating Overload into Opportunity." The HCI 2025 Insights Report captures and synthesizes insights shared at the HCI 2025 conference under the tagline "Beyond Readiness". As a global platform convening diverse leaders across sectors, regions, and disciplines, HCI enables open dialogue on the shifting priorities shaping human capability development. This report presents a multi-dimensional perspective grounded in the contributions of policymakers, practitioners, innovators, and community actors who are advancing capability agendas worldwide. It highlights the rising importance of skills and systems needed to respond to environmental transformation, demographic shifts, technological advancements, and fragmentation. These interconnected forces are reshaping labor markets and social dynamics, underscoring the need for adaptive, resilient, and inclusive approaches to lifelong learning. It is framed around the core themes of HCI 2025: learning, belonging, and action, addressing the critical need to develop human potential in an era of unprecedented global change. The HCI 2025 Insight Report was developed with contributions by HCI Knowledge and insight partners, and the event gathered over 250 decision-makers, experts, and specialists from across sectors. The program featured panel discussions featuring distinguished national role models and renowned international experts. The sessions spotlighted successful experiences and celebrated standout Saudi achievements. Visit the HCI Knowledge Hub, to access the full HCI 2025 Insight Report: NOTES TO EDITORS Media email – media@ HCI Website: HCI social media: • HCI_KSA (X, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, TikTok) • HCIKSA (Facebook) About Saudi Vision 2030: Under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Saudi Vision 2030 was launched by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, Crown Prince, and Prime Minister, with a roadmap to build Saudi Arabia's prosperous and bright future through a vibrant society, a thriving economy, and an ambitious nation. The Vision was cascaded into strategic objectives to enable effective implementation through its Vision Realization Programs. About the Human Capability Development Program (HCDP): The Human Capability Development Program is one of Saudi Vision 2030 Realization Programs with an aim to ensure that Saudi citizens have the required capabilities to compete globally by instilling values, developing basic and future skills, as well as enhancing knowledge. The program focuses on developing a solid educational base for all citizens to instil values from an early age, while preparing the youth for future local and global markets. It also focuses on upskilling citizens by providing lifelong learning opportunities, supporting innovation, encouraging entrepreneurship culture, and developing policies to ensure Saudi Arabia's competitiveness. Photo: (Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PRNewswire and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). This is an auto-published feed from PTI with no editorial input from The Wire.
Saudi Gazette
15-07-2025
- Business
- Saudi Gazette
King Salman chairs Cabinet session, endorses international cooperation and national development initiatives
Saudi Gazette report JEDDAH — The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz chaired the Cabinet session held Tuesday in Jeddah, where the Council reviewed the Kingdom's international engagements, local policy advancements, and approved several key agreements. The Cabinet praised Saudi Arabia's active participation in regional and global meetings, including its commitments at the World Summit on the Information Society in Switzerland, where the Kingdom reaffirmed its support for digital cooperation and sustainable development through modern technologies. Locally, the Council acknowledged achievements under the Financial Sector Development Program and the Human Capability Development Program, noting their role in enhancing financial sustainability and preparing national talent for global competitiveness. It also commended the introduction of artificial intelligence into public education curricula as a strategic step to equip future generations with critical digital skills. The Cabinet celebrated Saudi Arabia's global leadership in international tourism revenue growth during Q1 2025, highlighting the sector's rapid development and growing international environmental matters, the Council welcomed the praise received during the UN high-level meeting on sand and dust storms, particularly regarding the Kingdom's efforts in early warning systems and scientific Cabinet approved an MoU between Saudi Arabia and the UAE in the financial sector, agreements with Somalia on recruitment of domestic and general workers, MoU with Denmark for cooperation in logistics services, and MoU with the Arab Administrative Development Organization on educational assessment and also approved amendments to the Documentation, Arbitration, and Legal Practice laws to align with the Civil Transactions Law. The cabinet approved the Medical Referrals Center Regulation and three-year extension of the Easy Mortgage Program.
Arab News
12-07-2025
- 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
12-07-2025
- 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.
