The Knowledge Economic City (KEC) hosted the fourth conference on education and employment. It was organized by the Institute for Leadership under the aegis of Madinah Gov. Prince Faisal bin Salman. The conference concluded Saturday with a list of recommendations.
Chief among the recommendations was the alignment of educational outputs with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) labor market requirements.
Academics and researchers from around the world took part in the conference. They stressed the need for restructuring education and research programs by providing employment skills and higher education synergies with the local community to meet market needs.
The conference stressed freedom and independence of learning and the need for practical application in programs offered by educational establishments. Graduate programs should concentrate on acquiring language development skills while closing the gap between education, training and unemployment. Graduates should also have access to scholarships and leadership programs.
Furthermore, it was recommended that the Ministry of Labor provide graduates with training programs of six months to one year in pioneering small and medium-sized companies, including a communication channel between job seekers and employers. They also suggested creating a free job market movement between the member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
Other proposals submitted at the conclusion of the conference included requests for employers to organize practical training for students, offer information about job vacancies, create support networks with public and private sectors and establish specialized training centers.
Job-oriented education system recommended
