200 young women to receive training in British venture

Two hundred young Saudi women will be trained in English language, and in art and design under a private partnership between the Kingdom and Britain.
A memorandum of understanding for the program was signed yesterday between Prince Abdullah bin Saud bin Mohamed Al-Kabeer, chairman of the Institute of Creative Routes, and Shaf Hussain, director of Central College of Nottingham, in the presence of the deputy chief of mission of the British Embassy Roddy Drummond at the British Ambassador’s residence. Commercial Counselor of the British Embassy Chris Innes-Hopkins was also present at the signing ceremony.
Prince Abdullah said the idea of the program is to empower women to fit into suitable vocations in line with the Saudization program of the Kingdom.
Hussain said that the course begins in September.
He said there will be five levels of courses to suit the capacity of the students. The program will also offer two more courses of one year duration each — international foundation course for business and the program in management and economics. Two-year courses will also be conducted in developing skills in art and designs, he added.
The director said these courses will be university progression courses for their further education.
Hopkins said the MOU was signed on the sidelines of the The Best of Britain-Saudi Arabia 2013 show. More than 30 companies are displaying their products and services at the show.
The Best of Britain-Saudi Arabia 2013 exhibition is a showcase of the best of British brands in the creative industries sector in which the UK has a global reputation.
“The vibrant retail market in the Kingdom provides a great opportunity for further Saudi-UK cooperation in the creative services sector,” said Hopkins. Among product sectors represented at the exhibition are luxury automobiles, leading fashion brands, beauty products, leather goods and training providers.
A spokesman from the Creative Routes said the institute offers worldclass training to fast track students to the world’s top universities in association with Central College Nottingham.