News

In the first week of April 2021, the Vice Deanship of Academic Development and Quality at the Faculty of Languages and Translation conducted a series of meetings with the Employer Advisory Board (EAB). The Bachelor of Arts in English program (BAEP) hosted these events to leverage the EAB's insights into labor market trends, in-demand skills, and effective pedagogy. The primary objective of these meetings was to collect feedback to enrich the curriculum and meet the growing need for skilled professionals.

The EAB at BAEP acts as an industrial liaison, enabling continuous evaluation, development, and performance enhancement of our educational offerings. It directly aligns with the regional economic growth and labor market requirements. Therefore, in the April 2021 meetings, as in all prior ones, the EAB reviewed labor needs to ensure that BAEP's Mission Statement, Program Learning Outcomes, Graduate Attributes, and Study Plan are in harmony with the demands of the job market.

The experts on BAEP's Advisory Board include:

• Mushabab Abu Eshi, the current General Secretary at the Abha Chamber of Commerce.
• Musa Ahmed, a vice-principal at a local high school.
• Afnan Al-Qahtani, the Women's Asir Region Supervisor at Saudi National Bank.
• Sultan Al-Qahtani, the Head of Strategy at Aseer Development Authority.
• Hussein Asiri, the Head of the Men's Department of English at the Ministry of Education in Asir.
• Laila Mohammed, the Head of the Women's Department of English at the Ministry of Education in Asir.

The EAB appreciated the program for producing versatile graduates equipped with the ability to critique and analyze written expressions. They observed that these skills provide graduates with the flexibility to work across various industries. The board highlighted the linguistic prowess of our graduates, which aligns with the growing demand for English language proficiency and aids in overcoming cultural barriers in the trade of services, goods, and tourism. EAB members from the Ministry of Education and Abha Chamber of Commerce also recommended an increased focus on practical speaking modules, acknowledging this as one of the four essential communication skills.

Afnan Al-Qahtani from the Saudi National Bank underlined the importance of soft skills alongside technical competencies. She suggested inviting experienced guest speakers to deliver impactful soft skills training, given that employers value graduates who can communicate effectively, take initiative, and work well in teams.

The Aseer Development Authority (ASDA) recommended the incorporation of practical components focused on English for tourism purposes into the current courses. Sultan Al-Qahtani, ASDA Head of Strategy, explained the implications of the newly launched Soudah Development Company's multi-billion dollar investment in regional tourism infrastructure. He stated that the company, owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), will generate thousands of new jobs by 2030, thereby boosting the demand for English language skills in the tourism sector.