Minister of Education launches flexible learning pathways initiative

Saudi Minister of Education Hamad Al Al-Sheikh

Hamad Al Sheikh, Minister of Education and Chairman of the National E-Learning Center, launched the flexible learning pathways initiative to enhance professional skills for public, professional and higher education.

The initiative will be launched through the National eLearning Platform (FutureX), in partnership with the international platforms Coursera, Edx, Udacity, and FutureLearn. The initiative provides access for stakeholders to more than 10,000 courses, programs, and professional certificates from more than 300 leading international universities and corporates.

Al Sheikh said the flexible learning pathways is a breakthrough initiative in the e-learning and training sector, as it will contribute to building a globally competitive citizen with capabilities and skills related to the needs of the labor market.

In its first phase, the initiative’s learning pathways are divided into three main paths. The first is K-12 Pathway, which is designed to enhance the skills of high school students, targeting 150,000 students. The second is higher education pathway that is designed to enhance the skills of higher education students, targeting 250,000 students. Finally, the Professional Development pathway, which provides flexible career pathways for upskilling and reskilling, targeting 150,000 employees and job seekers.

The initiative covers several key skills, including digital skills (cloud computing, app development, programming, information systems, systems analysis, and cybersecurity), as well as design skills, arts, and music (graphic design, user experience design, product design, music and arts, fashion, and multimedia). It also covers engineering and science skills (civil engineering, robotics, electrical engineering, software engineering, physics, chemistry, biology, and mathematics). In addition, the initiative includes thinking and life skills (critical thinking, psychology, public health, work ethics, emotional intelligence, and thinking design) as well as business skills (accounting, marketing and sales, entrepreneurship, finance, marketing, insurance, financial technology, and banking services).