The Saudi-based Sheikh Ismail Abudawood Training Center (SIATC) has signed a partnership agreement with the University of Business and Technology (UBT) in Jeddah to present a series of workshops to support Saudization by enabling students to excel in the workplace. The workshops are focused on developing and improving students’ soft skills, empowering them to become more effective and productive individuals both on the workfront and in their personal lives. The workshops, to be held at UBT’s campus, are expected to have a major impact in terms of preparing students to secure successful and rewarding careers. The agreement between UBT and SIATC — a non-governmental training institution funded by the Abudawood Group, a major distributor of renowned global consumer products in the Kingdom — is part of the group’s broader Saudization drive. The UBT partnership, which extends over 5 years, will see the training center hosting a series of workshops every semester. Students will pay a nominal fee of 30 percent and will receive a certificate upon completion. The balance of the cost will be borne by the center as part the Abudawood Group’s corporate social responsibility strategy which aims to give back to societies in which they operate. The partnership comes amid an increasing need for qualified young professional Saudi employees who boast both academic knowledge and excellent vocational skills. Through affordable, value-added soft skills training programs, the workshops aim to enhance the quality of life for young Saudi professionals, while also satisfying the need for a well-prepared national work force. Osama Ismail Abudawood, chairman of the Abudawood Group, says: \"We firmly believe that the Saudi youth has huge potential. And because of this fact, we have made it our mission to help them realize their dreams. Sheikh Ismail Abudawood Training Center focuses on making a difference in people’s professional and personal lives. We also believe that this could further result in a positive ripple effect on the economic and societal prosperity of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.\" \"We are pleased to sign this partnership with such a reputable institution. Sheikh Ismail Abudawood Training Center is a pioneer in empowering Saudi youth and preparing them for a better future. We are happy to collaborate with the center in ultimately bringing together academically qualified fresh graduates who are proficient in life skills and potential employers who are seeking best of class prospective employees,\" says UBT Rector Hussein Al-Alawi. Since the center’s inception, more than 16,000 students have been empowered through life skills training programs. This year, Sheikh Ismail Abudawood Training Center\'s goal is to upskill 6,000 Saudi students, and there are ambitious plans to train 50,000 people annually by 2018. After a highly successful, long-standing partnership with King Abdul Aziz University, the agreement with UBT marks the first of a planned series of collaboration agreements with private higher education partners. Source: ArabNews