Education & Training
From The Report: Saudi Arabia 2022
View in Online Reader

In recent years Saudi Arabia’s education sector has received the highest proportion of government spending of all areas of the economy. In line with the goals of Vision 2030, the country’s overarching development strategy, the government has rolled out multiple reform programmes aimed at raising the quality of teaching and curricula, and improving student attainment levels. The education system is being revamped to better prepare the national workforce to compete in the increasingly technology- and information-driven global economy. Instilling technological proficiency alongside critical thinking, problem solving and analytical capabilities will be key to equipping the population to thrive in a shifting global economic landscape.

This chapter contains an interview with Hamad Al Sheikh, Former Minister of Education.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Bright future: A raft of reforms and restructuring of the education system boosts technological proficiency and equips students to thrive
OBG
plus

In recent years Saudi Arabia’s education sector has received the highest proportion of government spending of all areas of the economy. In line with the goals of Vision 2030, the country’s overarching development strategy, the government has rolled out multiple reform programmes aimed at raising the quality of teaching and curricula, and improving student attainment levels. The education system is being revamped to better prepare the national workforce to compete in the increasingly technology-…

Interview

Steady reform: Hamad Al Sheikh, Former Minister of Education, on boosting innovation and facilitating a culture of entrepreneurship among students
OBG
plus

Interview:Hamad Al Sheikh Where do you identify key challenges and opportunities in the development of education? HAMAD AL SHEIKH: The key challenge for any education system is to ensure that all children are learning and can reach their full potential. Education systems need to foster a love for learning at an early age. The Covid-19 pandemic was a formidable challenge that threatened to dismantle much of the progress made in learning; however, it also presented opportunities for building…

Analysis

Targeted changes: Updates to curricula, teaching methods and the academic calendar are set to boost the standard of secondary schooling
OBG
plus

The ongoing, comprehensive overhaul of the Saudi schooling system saw a raft of reforms introduced at the start of the 2021/22 academic year. At the heart of initiatives related to secondary education is the drive by the Ministry of Education (MoE) to prepare students for both tertiary education and the labour market. Changes to the curriculum and teaching methods are designed to support enhanced student-teacher interactions and, in turn, student outcomes. Meanwhile, structural changes to the academic…

Analysis

Positive outcomes: Saudi universities climb in international rankings as steps are taken to boost the sector’s competitiveness
OBG
plus

Saudi Arabia’s tertiary education segment is steadily deepening its contribution to the country’s push for higher competitiveness via applied research and the alignment of educational outcomes with economic needs and labour market realities. This improvement is apparent in the expanding presence of Saudi universities in international rankings. The 2022 edition of the Academic Ranking of World Universities, also known as the Shanghai ranking, includes seven Saudi higher education institutions…

Analysis

The metaverse in education: Building a digital landscape in institutes of higher learning
OBG
plus

In a bid to expand access and widen their reach, educational institutions are increasingly exploring the possibilities of the metaverse and associated extended-reality (XR) approaches. The metaverse comprises a range of technologies which immerse users in a virtual environment. It denotes a 3D medium that combines virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) into a new digital realm, sometimes known as XR. These environments are accessed through VR headsets and are typically immersive, interactive…