His Royal Highness Prince Bandar bin Saud bin Khalid, Secretary General of the King Faisal Foundation and Chairman of the Executive Committee at Alfaisal University, inaugurated the university's annual Career Days event at its Riyadh campus. This event, held in the presence of the university's president, Dr. Mohammed Al-Hayaza, serves as a vital platform for building strong bridges of communication between students and graduates and leading companies and institutions in both the public and private sectors.
The importance of a strategy that aligns with Vision 2030
Prince Bandar bin Saud affirmed that "Career Days" is no longer just a traditional job fair, but has become a pivotal milestone in the professional journeys of young Saudis. He explained that this event represents a crucial transition point from academic life to actual integration into the labor market, which aligns directly with the objectives of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 aimed at developing human capital and enhancing the participation of national talent in economic development. These initiatives are gaining increasing importance in light of the economic transformations taking place in the Kingdom, which necessitate aligning educational outcomes with the needs of promising and emerging sectors.
Background and context of the event
Alfaisal University, a private, non-profit academic institution founded by the King Faisal Foundation, has been organizing this event annually, driven by its commitment to its students and the community. Historically, career fairs at Saudi universities have served as a key tool for bridging the gap between academic theory and practical application. In recent years, these events have evolved to become more specialized and focused, no longer limited to job postings but now including cooperative training programs, summer internships, specialized workshops, and career guidance sessions, thus enhancing graduates' readiness to compete effectively in the job market.
High-quality opportunities and broad economic impact
This year's edition witnessed broad participation from leading companies and institutions across diverse and vital sectors, including technology, industry, healthcare, consulting, law, and finance and banking. His Highness noted that this diversity reflects the scale of the transformation underway in the national economy. The event offered over 400 job opportunities and 100 cooperative training opportunities, in addition to specialized "career clinics" providing one-on-one mentoring sessions and mock interviews, aimed at honing students' skills and equipping them with the tools necessary for success. At the local level, this initiative contributes to supporting localization efforts and supplying vital sectors with qualified talent, thereby reducing reliance on foreign labor and enhancing the sustainability of economic growth.
The university's role in building a professional future
For his part, Dr. Mohammed Al-Hayaza, President of Alfaisal University, explained that the university aims, through this initiative, to create a clear career path for young men and women, empowering them with skills that enhance their competitiveness. He emphasized that the university is committed to building strategic partnerships with employers to translate academic knowledge into tangible, practical experience. He added that these efforts strengthen Alfaisal University's position as a key driver in providing the national economy with qualified professionals capable of contributing effectively to achieving sustainable development, thus serving the ambitious goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030.
