"Al-Tatbiqi" Explores Expansion in Priority Programs and Introduction of Specialized Majors

The Board of Directors of the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training, chaired by Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Dr. Nader Al-Jalal, held a meeting today, Monday, to discuss expanding priority programs and introducing specialized fields such as railways, food security, energy, and sustainability.

In a press statement, the Authority’s Director General, Dr. Hassan Al-Fajam, said the meeting discussed a comprehensive future vision for developing the system of majors and programs to keep pace with economic and technological transformations, as well as current and future labor market requirements.

Al-Fajam clarified that the meeting reviewed an integrated vision for developing the majors system, beginning with an analysis of the status of programs offered for the 2026/2027 academic and training year, and majors for which admissions were temporarily suspended due to a lack of current demand. This led to identifying priority areas in which the Authority can expand, reintroduce, or develop new programs.

He noted that the vision was based on analyzing admission data from the past five years, trends in student interest in various majors, and linking this data with graduate outcomes, career paths, employment opportunities, and labor market needs. This analysis also incorporated results from coordination meetings with the Civil Service Bureau, the Public Authority for Manpower, and government and private entities, with the participation of college deans, institute directors, and the Graduate Follow-up and Labor Market Department.

Al-Fajam added that the discussion covered several future specialized tracks, including a specialized program in railway systems maintenance to train national technical cadres in maintenance, operations, safety, and supporting systems. This aligns with the state’s direction toward implementing the railway project and its associated technical and human resource needs.

He mentioned that the proposed fields included majors in food security and sustainability, energy and sustainability, and resource efficiency. These areas support national priorities, keep pace with transformations in economic and technological sectors, and enhance the capacity of national cadres to work in future-oriented fields.

He pointed out that the vision aims to open new career prospects for graduates of the Applied Authority by developing existing majors, reintroducing demanded programs, and expanding programs proven to meet labor market needs. It also includes reviewing the names of several colleges and institutes to reflect the nature of their programs and future directions.

He highlighted the study of a proposal to merge the Nursing Institute with the College of Nursing, aiming to enhance integration between academic education and applied training, thereby improving the efficiency of the educational and training system and the quality of its outputs.

During the meeting, the Board of Directors of the Authority recommended forming a specialized committee composed of board members to study the future vision, proposals for renaming several colleges and institutes, expanding priority majors and programs, and developing programs linked to development projects and future jobs. The committee will also study the proposal to merge the Nursing Institute into the College of Nursing and submit its recommendations to the Board for appropriate action.