Saudi crown prince launches education reform to teach global values

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman says he hopes it will teach people tolerance, dedication and skills to compete globally

Vision 2030 is championed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Presidency Press Service / AP

The world's biggest oil exporter is undertaking a slew of reforms as part of Vision 2030, an economic overhaul plan aimed at lowering the kingdom's dependence on oil income. Reuters

Visitors walk through the ancient rock heritage site at Al Ula, Saudi Arabia. Bloomberg

Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman shakes hands with Klaus Kleinfeld , appointed as NEOM's chief executive. Reuters

The Vision also aims to encourage more women to participate in the workplace. Reuters

Researcher Michelle Havlik of Australia retrieves a piece of equipment as she dives during a research trip in the Red Sea offshore of the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) near the city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Reuters

Shores of the Red Sea in Gizan, Saudi Arabia, where the kingdom plans to boost tourism as part of Vision 2030. Courtesy: flydubai

Saudi Arabia will work to restore, conserve and sustainably manage a billion hectares of land by 2040. Riyadh Green Project

The kingdom is overhauling its economy under Vision 2030, a roadmap unveiled in 2016 to help wean the kingdom off oil income. AFP

Saudi women at a factory in Sudair Industrial City. Modon

The site of the $500bn Neom project in the Tabuk Province of northwestern Saudi Arabia. Courtesy SCTH

The lush greenery of Jazan resembles the rice terraces of Bali. Courtesy of Consulum 

Qiddiya City, an entertainment development located on the outskirts of Riyadh, will be home to the kingdom's first theme park. Courtesy Saudi Tourism

Jack Nicklaus will design a signature championship course at Qiddiya, Saudi Arabia. Courtesy Golf Saudi 

Qiddiya City is an entertainment development project due to be built in Riyadh as part of Vision 2030

Qiddiya City is an entertainment development project to be established in Riyadh.

The Twilight Gardens land at Six Flags Qiddiya. Courtesy Qiddiya

Saudi women work on pots in a workshop in Al Ula, Saudi Arabia. Reuters

Fish swim above a coral reef in the Red Sea offshore of the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) near the city of Jeddah. Reuters

The Red Sea Project will turn untouched coastlines into one of Saudi Arabia's biggest tourism projects where conservation is key. Courtesy The Red Sea Development Company. 

An illustration of the Amaala mega-project - one of a number of coastal and tourism schemes Saudi Arabia is developing under Vision 2030. Courtesy of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Natural Heritage 

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Wednesday night launched a major programme to shake up education, teach the values of global citizenship and adapt the kingdom to a changing world.

The Human Capability Development Programme (HCDP) is part of the kingdom’s ambitious Vision 2030 reform programme that aims to change everything from how people live and work to how they access health care and interact with the government.

The HCDP goal is to change education from nursery level to university and lifelong learning with 89 initiatives aimed at achieving 16 strategic objectives included in the Vision 2030, state media reported.

It is based on three pillars – to develop a resilient and strong educational base; prepare for the future labour market locally and globally; and provide lifelong learning opportunities.

The crown prince said he hopes the HCDP will give Saudis the skills needed to compete globally in the 21st century, including creative thinking, data analysis, technical capabilities as well as emotional and social skills.

"Because of my confidence in every citizen's capabilities, this programme has been developed to meet the needs and aspirations of all segments of society, beginning from childhood, all the way through universities, colleges, technical and vocational institutes, and the labour market,” Prince Mohammed said.

“The goal [is] preparing citizens for the future, as this contributes to building a solid economy based on skills and knowledge with human capital at its core."

He also said he hopes the programme will instil the values of moderation and tolerance, determination and perseverance, discipline and expertise in Saudi citizens.

"The Human Capability Development Programme represents a national strategy to enhance the competitiveness of national human capabilities locally and globally to be ready for the current and future labour market with capabilities and ambitions that compete with the world,” Prince Mohammed said.

“That is through instilling and promoting values, developing basic and future skills, and developing knowledge.”

Through partnerships with the private and non-profit sectors, the kingdom aims to achieve a set of specific benchmarks in the coming years.

These include boosting nursery enrolment from 23 per cent currently to more than 90 per cent and getting two Saudi universities into the global 100 rankings by 2030.

The kingdom is keen to help its citizens develop "a passion for knowledge, pride in values, success at work, leadership and competition locally and globally, and continuous development of their skills and capabilities", state media reported.