He said 20 national organizations — universities, research centers and premier companies — are supporting the 21-day programs which will benefit 1,809 students of different academic standards.

“The summer programs are aimed at preparing students to transform the Kingdom into a knowledge-based society,” said Naqadi. The programs, designed by experts in a scientific manner, will help students develop their capabilities.

Naqadi said the program would also help authorities understand the various skills of participating students and provide them with necessary guidance to select their future courses and careers.

He said the students were selected based on tests conducted by Mawhiba, the Ministry of Education and the National Assessment Center. He said the 30 scientific programs to be conducted during this summer would be published on Mawhiba’s website so that students can select the programs suitable for them.

Ahmed Al-Ballouchi, supervisor of the program, said this year Mawhiba has selected best teachers to conduct the summer program and given them necessary training in Riyadh and Jeddah. “This year for the first time Princess Noura bint Abdul Rahman University in Riyadh and Al-Husan Schools in Alkhobar have joined the program,” he pointed out.

Some 20 programs will be conducted for boys and 13 for girls, Al-Ballouchi said, adding that they would include programs to develop thinking and solve problems. They will also cover various areas such as medicine, technology, engineering, mathematics, natural science, nanotechnology, electronics, robotics, physics, computer science, aviation, shipping and renewable energy.

“A variety of social, cultural, sports and entertainment programs will also be held to make the program interesting for students,” he said. Programs for primary level students will start on June 25 while those for intermediate and secondary school students on July 2 and continue for three weeks.

Mawhiba was founded in 1999 at the initiative of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah. It is an independent nonprofit organization based in Riyadh and dedicated to identifying and supporting young gifted and talented Saudis.