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JEDDAH: Hundreds of Saudi students on Thursday graduated from a specialized program targeting job creation in the Kingdom’s fast-growing tourism sector.

The Red Sea Global Vocational Training Program, held in partnership with King Abdulaziz University and the Human Resources Development Fund, celebrated the graduation of 466 Saudis, the scheme’s third cohort of students, across specializations including wellness tourism and hospitality.

The ceremony was attended by Jeddah Gov. Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Jalawi and John Pagano, CEO of the Red Sea Development Company.

The two officials delivered a speech highlighting the importance of achieving Saudi Vision 2030 by empowering the nation’s youth, building a thriving Saudi industry, and showcasing the Kingdom’s natural beauty and hospitality to the world.

Pagano said: “We are proud to see our skill development initiative empower youth and transform lives. By providing access to high quality and job-oriented training programs, we empower the students with the tools they need to confidently enter the workforce and contribute meaningfully to the tourism industry of ��������.”

RSG is committed to offering employment opportunities for outstanding graduates within its workforce or with partners, he added.

The graduation, held at King Faisal Auditorium, saw the signing of an agreement between the Human Resources Development Fund and Red Sea Global to train and employ 1,000 young Saudi men and women in specialized fields, including wellness tourism, hospitality, tourism security and technical services.

Turki bin Abdullah Al-Jawini, HRDF director general, said that the fund helped more than 153,000 Saudi men and women find employment in the private sector during the first half of 2024.

Al-Jawini showcased the fund’s most prominent campaigns, and said that the HRDF develops its programs in partnership with various sectors, with the aim of improving job opportunities and developing human capital.

The event also included a keynote address by Raed Al-Basseet, group chief environment and sustainability officer at RSG. He praised the graduates for their resilience, hard work and dedication.

“From the first day you entered the Red Sea Vocational Training Program, you’ve proven to us that ambition has no limits, and that those with determination and passion can go further than they imagined. Your hard work has become an accomplishment. Your efforts are the beginning of a great professional journey, filled with opportunities and successes that exceed our expectations,” Al-Basseet said.

“Don’t stop at this achievement; let it be the beginning of a great and prosperous future. We are always behind you, and we are proud of you.”

Later, graduates Naif Najmi, Mishari Al-Jehani, Ghala Al-Buhairi and Ghada Al-Jehani gave thank-you speeches on behalf of their cohort. They highlighted the importance of the support they received, reflected on their journeys and described their hopes for the future.

The ceremony was full of emotion and joy among students and their parents.

Amer Al-Marawani, a graduate student of tourism security, told Arab News: “I’m feeling really happy and excited for the beginning of my new journey. In the future, I hope I can contribute to the tourism sector of my country.”

Hala Nadri, a graduate specializing in hospitality, said: “After graduation, it is an outstanding honor for us to serve the country, we are really looking forward to join the workforce anywhere in our touristic sites.”

Meanwhile, Jood Majed, a graduate of tourism safety, praised the program’s technical depth and encouraged other Saudi women to apply: “The training programs have been a resounding success and we learned a lot from it. Now, it is our time to pay back our leadership who supported us all these years by working hard, and eventually, we will make our country proud.”

Yousef Al-Amri, a graduate in information technology, said: “I consider myself very lucky to be equipped with these invaluable skills and I am forever grateful to RSG and KAU.”