The Colleges of Excellence (CoE) has urged Saudis to register for its second semester classes.

Ten colleges have opened their doors for enrollment from Nov. 10 to 18 this year. Saudi students can get information online, according to a statement issued Thursday.

Experts have described the establishment of CoE as a landmark development on the academic front. The project has been developed with the cooperation of colleges of excellence in the US, UK, Canada and Spain.

The CoE admission department said many students have applied for classes, considered the best in their category in terms of international expertise and disciplines.

The ambitious project aims to create a highly skilled national work force and stimulate the development of new national industries in the automotive, aerospace and chemical sectors.

An applicant must be a Saudi or born to a Saudi mother. The person has to pass a general aptitude test conducted by the National Center for Measurement and Evaluation.

In a previous statement to Arab News, Saleh A. Alamr, CoE’s chief executive officer, said the organization would help develop the country's human resources in vocational and technical skills.

He said the first semester was a "tremendous success," with a growing number of students willing to enroll for the second semester. The CoE are targeting more than 450,000 students by 2020.

“We urge our graduate sons and daughters to hurry up and apply before the end of the first phase,” he said. Alamr said the CoE have helped students learn English, information technology, science and communication skills.