Strategic Partnership Institutes in Saudi Arabia

Strategic Partnership Institutes in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a program affiliated with the National Center for Strategic Partnerships. It manages the integrative relationship between the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC), the Human Resources Development Fund (Hadaf), and the private sector to meet the labor market needs in Saudi Arabia for qualified personnel in technical and vocational fields.

The National Center for Strategic Partnerships establishes strategic partnerships with the private sector to operate non-profit training units. It oversees the delivery of specialized training programs aligned with the Saudi labor market's needs. The center also manages the operational processes of the institutes, including issuing and renewing institute licenses, certifying the diplomas of graduates from Strategic Partnership Institutes, and ensuring compliance with the requirements of TVTC.

The center serves as a solution for meeting the private sector's demand for qualified national human resources by training and preparing Saudi youth of both genders. This is achieved through the establishment of specialized institutes in collaboration with major companies or the development of unique programs in partnership with medium-sized enterprises.

The center aims to unify efforts and resources to align with the actual needs of the private sector, and support technology transfer programs in general, and modern training technologies in particular. It seeks to localize technical and vocational jobs within the private sector, enhance the quality of technical and vocational training in the labor market, and attract and disseminate global expertise in these fields. Additionally, the center encourages the participation of business sectors in the planning, implementation, and financing of technical and vocational training programs. Its ultimate goal is to develop a highly trained workforce with creative capabilities, a strong work ethic, and a high-performance discipline.

The Strategic Partnership Institutes Program aims to train and employ job seekers in rare or available specializations within private sector or non-profit organizations. This is achieved through licensed training entities under TVTC (non-profit training entities), based on employment contracts in the private or non-profit sector. The program is supported financially by the Human Resources Development Fund (Hadaf) according to an approved support mechanism.

According to the approved quarterly report for the second quarter of 2023 by TVTC, the National Center for Strategic Partnerships oversees forty-eight training institutes. The total number of enrolled trainees in these institutes reached 12,998. Among these institutes are:

The Saudi Railway Polytechnic seeks to qualify Saudi youth to benefit from the rapid growth of railway projects across various provinces of Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Railway Polytechnic offers long-term training programs that start with employment in various specializations, including train operation, station management and operations, railway communications and control, as well as train and carriage maintenance. Accepted candidates at the Saudi Railway Polytechnic receive several benefits, including employment from the first day at the institute, monthly salary benefits, enrollment in the General Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI), medical insurance, and paid annual leave.

The Saudi Japanese Automobile High Institute (SJAHI) is supported by the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI), Japanese automobile distributors in Saudi Arabia participating under the institute (JADIK), and the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA). SJAHI provides advanced technical training for Saudi youth who hold a high school diploma or its equivalent, specializing in automotive technology and maintenance.

SJAHI is a non-profit institute. Its establishment was funded by Japanese automobile distributors in Saudi Arabia and automobile manufacturers in Japan. The institute was also supported by the Saudi and Japanese governments through the provision of land, equipment, devices, and experts. The operating costs of SJAHI are covered by Japanese automobile distributors in Saudi Arabia and the Human Resources Development Fund (Hadaf).

The idea of establishing the Energy Institute was initiated by the former Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Engineer Ali al-Naimi. His vision was to create a training center to support the petroleum services industry in Saudi Arabia by providing a skilled, capable, and trained Saudi workforce. This initiative aims to significantly reduce reliance on foreign labor, while also contributing to community development, advancing social development programs, and offering specialized job opportunities for Saudi youth enrolled at the institute.

The Energy Institute was established in 2008 under the name Saudi Petroleum Services Polytechnic (SPSP) by the Ministry of Energy, Industry, and Mineral Resources (currently the Ministry of Energy), TVTC, Saudi Arabian Chevron, and Saudi Aramco. SPSP is a fully independent, non-profit organization managed by a Board of Trustees representing the key entities involved in the institute. The petroleum services industry includes a number of contracting companies.

It is a technical and academic organization established as a result of the partnership between Saudi Aramco and TVTC, in collaboration with industry stakeholders funding the academy. It was created to serve as a training center for the drilling and well maintenance industry. The academy adopts regional, national, and international training standards in the drilling training industry. It is a non-profit organization managed by an independent Board of Trustees.

SADA began as a concept proposed by Saudi Aramco in mid-2014 to train and qualify Saudi manpower in the drilling and exploration industry. This initiative aimed to meet the anticipated demand for more than thirty thousand trained specialists in the industry by 2020. The academy welcomed its first batch of trainees in 2016.

The Food Industries Polytechnic was established in 2011 with the vision of developing specialized Saudi technical professionals in the food industries. It supports localization efforts in the private sector by delivering high-quality technical training programs to address the demands of the food industry. These programs include food production technology, farming technologies, and equipment maintenance.

Saudi Mining Polytechnic (SMP) was established in 2012 as a strategic partnership between the Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma’aden) and the TVTC. It is a non-profit institution with legal and financial independence, aiming to qualify and train Saudi youth for technical roles in the mining industry.

SMP ensures that its training program content aligns with client needs while applying international standards to assess graduates' English language proficiency. It also recognizes the demands of the labor market in the mining industry and strives to secure employment opportunities in mining, cement production, manufacturing industries, and supporting industries. SMP offers specialized training programs, including surface mining, underground mining, and operations.

The Higher Institute for Water and Power Technologies (HIWPT) aims to be a vocational institute that inspires Saudi youth to join the energy and water sectors. This is achieved through high-quality training delivered by industry experts. HIWPT offers specialized training programs, including solar power plant operation, thermal power plant operations, and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC).