Future Skills Training Initiative

The Future Skills Training Initiative is a Saudi initiative aimed at creating a sustainable model to bridge the digital skills gap between supply and demand in the Saudi labor market, in partnership with government entities. The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology launched the first edition of the initiative in 2020.

The initiative aims to empower beneficiaries with digital skills to keep pace with digital transformation and develop human capacities. It offers training courses in the field of technology, based on digital skills standards recognized by 180 countries, and aligns with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.

The Future Skills Training Initiative, through its courses and programs, aims to build a generation equipped with digital knowledge and skills that align with labor market requirements. It also helps beneficiaries create a professional development plan and provides them with the knowledge needed to make career decisions according to the digital skills framework.

The Future Skills Training Initiative has launched the Digital Skills Framework based on the global SIFA framework. This framework provides a common language in a guide that assists government entities, companies, and individuals in making appropriate decisions regarding digital professionals. It consists of two branches: Career Pathways, which offers seven digital domains and their subcategories divided into several levels according to the career ladder; and Job Skills, which is divided into six categories, each containing sub-skills across seven levels.

The Future Skills Training Initiative offers interactive, live, and online training programs in digital fields, including specialized courses in various pathways, such as: data science, artificial intelligence, and network development. Beneficiaries receive a completion certificate upon finishing the courses.

The initiative enhances the skills of those interested in the digital field, equipping them with the necessary competencies to meet labor market demands in various subjects, including: an introduction to cybersecurity, digital marketing fundamentals, and game development with 'UNITY'. Additionally, the cooperative training pathway offers opportunities in several areas, such as: data science and artificial intelligence, 'NET' development, and Java development.

The Future Skills Training Initiative, through the Future Technology Ambassadors Program, offers several services to beneficiaries, including: meetings and workshops, cooperative training, mentoring and guidance, and various activities and training courses. The initiative also collaborates with several universities to offer scholarships for those wishing to pursue master's and diploma degrees in digital specializations, preparing them for future careers.

The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, in partnership with Saudi universities, launched the 'Saudi CPC' competition, targeting university students majoring in engineering and information technology. This programming competition has multiple levels, with teams of three students from the same university competing. The winning teams qualify for regional and then global competitions.

The first edition of the Future Skills Training Initiative targeted 55,000 trainees and supported the employment of 25,000 individuals through over 3,500 employment partners. The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, represented by the initiative, worked alongside leading companies to qualify and empower national talents in the digital labor market. This was achieved by providing training programs in various pathways, including: the Internet of Things (IoT), infrastructure, data and artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and software design and development.

The second edition of the Future Skills Training Initiative was launched on December 1, 2021, targeting two hundred thousand trainees. It aimed to support the employment of thirty thousand individuals in the communications and information technology sector by the end of 2025. This was achieved by offering a variety of programs in collaboration with global and local partners, including courses and intensive boot camps, to prepare trainees to meet the demands of the digital labor market.