Mawhiba and the University of Business and Technology sign an agreement to support talented individuals
In a move aimed at strengthening the knowledge and innovation infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba) and the University of Business and Technology (UBT) signed a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement on Monday. This agreement aims to unify efforts in identifying and nurturing talented individuals and to enhance institutional integration between the non-profit and academic sectors, directly contributing to the realization of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals related to human capital development.
The signing ceremony took place at the headquarters of the Mawhiba Foundation, with the foundation's Secretary-General, Abdulaziz Al-Kridis, representing the foundation, and the university represented by the Chairman of its Board of Trustees, Dr. Abdullah Dahlan. This step comes in response to the growing need to link the outcomes of general education, the needs of higher education and the labor market with future skills, particularly in the fields of innovation and entrepreneurship.
Dimensions of the agreement and areas of cooperation
The agreement focuses primarily on the exchange of knowledge and in-depth expertise between researchers and practitioners from both sides. The partnership extends beyond theoretical aspects to include raising the level of national competencies and capabilities in the fields of talent and creativity through joint applied programs. Areas of cooperation include developing an advanced future vision for methods of educating and nurturing gifted individuals, in accordance with the latest international standards.
The agreement also aims to highlight leading national programs and initiatives in nurturing talented individuals, and to shed light, both in the media and scientifically, on their sustainable developmental and societal impact, thereby promoting a culture of creativity in Saudi society.
A national context that supports talent
This agreement comes at a time when Saudi Arabia is witnessing unprecedented activity in the research and innovation sector, driven by the goals of Vision 2030, which places the "knowledge economy" as one of its fundamental pillars. The Mawhiba Foundation plays a pivotal role in this context, having successfully identified tens of thousands of talented Saudis over the years and presented them on global platforms, such as the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), where Saudi students have won major awards, competing against leading industrial nations.
Strategic importance and expected impact
The importance of this partnership with the University of Business and Technology lies in its bridging the gap between talent identification in general education and its refinement and guidance towards entrepreneurship in university education. This collaboration is expected to contribute to:
- Creating an environment that fosters innovators and helps them move from idea to commercial product.
- Providing scholarships and specialized enrichment programs for talented students in business and technology disciplines.
- Promoting collaborative scientific research that addresses real development challenges.
In conclusion, this agreement is a model to be emulated in partnerships between national institutions, as it seeks to develop an integrated and sustainable system for talent and creativity, ensuring the continued flow of creative minds that will lead the Kingdom’s economic and scientific future.
