“TVTC will make a qualitative shift by opening new institutes to train Saudi women in tailoring, fashion design, computing and business administration,” TVTC Gov. Ali Al-Ghafees said in a talk show on Al-Arabia television on Saturday.  Other specializations TVTC is instituting for women include jewelry and Web design. He said 75,000 students including 6,000 women are currently being trained at TVTC institutes across the Kingdom. He also expected a four-fold increase in their number over the next five years.

He urged Saudi women who run beauty parlors or dress designing shops to acquire professional licenses after attending programs organized by TVTC in such trades. TVTC will increase its institutes from 14 to 39, including two institutes for women trainers over the next five years. In another development, Princess Anoud bint Abdullah, wife of Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, opened the first graduation ceremony of the Higher Technical Institute for Women in Jeddah last week.