Saudi Arabia to transform 40 colleges into applied colleges to meet labor market needs

Minister of Education Hamad Al-Sheikh

Saudi Council of Universities’ Affairs (CUA), chaired by the Minister of Education Hamad Al-Sheikh, issued a decision to convert 40 theoretical colleges in some provinces into applied colleges (health, technical, and engineering) within the first package, bringing the number of applied colleges in the Kingdom to 75.

The council further rationalized admission to other theoretical academic programs in colleges incompatible with the current needs of the labor market.

According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the decision increased the admissions to applied colleges by accommodating students in more than 80 applied programs aligned with development needs, labor market, and national needs.

The colleges to be converted include some theoretical colleges of humanities, literature and university colleges that do not comply with the labor market requirements, to match the educational and training programs in university education to enhance the speed of qualifying students for available employment opportunities.

The diploma programs at applied colleges have been identified through real labor market needs, and the Saudi classification of professions based on a flexible educational journey, English language programs, geographical connection of the region and their needs, and linking programs with vocational certificates and field training with more than 70 different local and international authorities.