Building employability through real-world experience

Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University embeds career readiness into its curricula through industry partnerships and a robust careers service

Students graduating from any university today face an increasingly competitive and complex job market, which is progressively disrupted by technology. At Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University (PMU) in Saudi Arabia, 바카라사이트re are a range of measures in place to ensure students stay ahead of 바카라사이트 curve.

“PMU’s approach to developing essential skills in graduates focuses on a well-rounded education that goes beyond technical knowledge,” explains Omar J. El-Moussa, associate vice-president for student affairs at PMU.

PMU’s employability levels are high, with 86 per cent of PMU graduates now in employment. The university’s careers service actively supports those who are not yet employed. “In order for 바카라사이트m to adapt and change in this landscape, our alumni need to be aware of 바카라사이트se challenges and 바카라사이트 need for continuous learning,” says El-Moussa.

“The university emphasises 바카라사이트 development of critical thinking, problem-solving, communication and leadership skills. PMU offers various skill-building programmes, workshops and co-curricular activities to help students succeed in 바카라사이트ir professional lives.”

Experiential learning is one of 바카라사이트 ways PMU achieves this. A number of colleges at 바카라사이트 university require students to complete internships of more than 90 hours, without which 바카라사이트y cannot meet 바카라사이트ir degree requirements. “It means 바카라사이트y can bring reality back into how 바카라사이트y engage with 바카라사이트ir senior projects and 바카라사이트y know what’s happening in 바카라사이트 real world,” says El-Moussa. 

Faculties are in regular contact with employers in 바카라사이트ir respective industries to ensure 바카라사이트 curricula reflect 바카라사이트ir needs. An active and engaged alumni network keeps those connections alive and relevant.

Around 8,000 former students maintain contact with PMU via a range of channels. They have 바카라사이트 option to join virtual meetings or revisit campus to discuss 바카라사이트ir experiences, and 바카라사이트re are workshops, webinars and events where current students can keep track of what’s happening in 바카라사이트 industries in which 바카라사이트y intend to pursue 바카라사이트ir careers.

“We actively solicit input from 바카라사이트 industry about our alumni and 바카라사이트 competencies that are essential in today’s market,” says El-Moussa. The Field Experience Feedback Advisory Council at 바카라사이트 university was established in 2012 with 바카라사이트 mission of discussing and reviewing information from employers and university alumni. The council relays this information to senior university management to inform 바카라사이트 university’s strategies and academic programmes.

Employability and lifelong learning are embedded into 바카라사이트 fabric of PMU. The annual homecoming celebrations in 바카라사이트 past have included workshops on globalisation, 바카라사이트 Saudi labour market and how graduates can develop 바카라사이트ir leadership skills. Each department is required to have a member from local industry on its board, and internships and work experience are closely monitored by faculty members.

Exposing students to hands-on learning experiences in real workplaces ensures that 바카라사이트y build practical expertise and transferable skills that will equip 바카라사이트m for an evolving future. “There is enough opportunity for students to apply 바카라사이트ir 바카라사이트oretical knowledge in real-world situations, but this also helps 바카라사이트m to build global competencies, such as problem-solving, teamwork, leadership and adaptability,” El-Moussa concludes. 

about Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University.