A number of local and international experts in the field of education discussed at the 2nd scientific session today, within the activities of the International Conference and Exhibition for Education (ICEE) 2022, the best practices in the quality of education outputs and alignment with the sustainable development goals. President of King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals Dr. Mohammed Al-Saqqaf, explained the importance of compatibility between higher education programs and the requirements of sustainable development at the university, indicating that education has become dependent on digital technologies and early specialization to keep pace with the labor market. He further said that scientific research should aim to serve the community and national fields, and develop industries and industrial sectors and their localization by transforming research into practical applications, as the university seeks to promote sustainable development in the Kingdom, support the economy, digital transformation, and entrepreneurship, pointing out that the need to invest in people, and to graduate Saudi cadres with knowledge and skills appropriate for the 21st century and the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The Executive Director of the National Center for Measurement of Education and Training Evaluation Authority Dr. Abdullah Al-Qatei, confirmed the importance and necessity of improving education outcomes to keep pace with the requirements of the labor market, by enhancing the basic, creative, technical, cognitive, personal and social skills of students, noting that teaching skills and training teachers contributes to developing basic skills in general education. For his part, Director of the Education and Skills Department at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Dr. Andreas Schlanker said that the future holds many challenges, and that global trends shape the skills of the future, pointing to the importance of harmonizing the skills taught by students with the requirements of the labor market, especially digital and social skills in education as well as the skills of arts and innovation in the economic and industrial field in the future. The Director-General of Data Times for Higher Education in the United Kingdom Duncan Ross, also talked on how to present the sustainable development goals in the United Nations within the framework of education, the importance of collecting data from and to universities to support the achievement of university education development goals and sustainable development goals, and the need to qualify and train graduates academically and practically. He praised the success of Saudi universities in achieving the goals of sustainable development, citing the advanced ranking of a large number of them globally in this field, especially in women's empowerment and economic development. For her part, Dr. Rosina Shaheen from Effat University addressed the need to find aspects of cooperation between higher education institutions and the dynamics of the labor market in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, appreciating the Kingdom's interest in investing in the human element, enhancing skills, developing students' capabilities in university education, and the importance of selecting male and female graduates for appropriate specializations in the labor market.
