Fullbridge has announced that it will run its intensive, coach-led month-long career preparatory course as a core component of Prince Sultan University's (PSU) cooperative education programme (Co-Op) in Riyadh.

Fullbridge's partnership with PSU will facilitate a successful transition into the workplace for its students, a statement from the university said.

"When global youth population is the largest in world history, and global youth unemployment is at a record high, forward-thinking institutions of higher education must address the career-readiness of their students head-on," said Peter Olson, co-CEO and co-founder of the Fullbridge Programme and former CEO of Random House.

"We know PSU began the Co-Op programme for seniors in order to prepare them for immediate employment upon graduation.  By adding Fullbridge into the Co-Op, we are helping PSU take the next step and enabling PSU students to excel in the workplace."

During the seven-month Co-Op, students experience paid, full-time work with an employer in a professional environment. A large percentage of these assignments convert to full-time job offers for the students and many are in the top 100 Saudi Arabian firms.

This January, Fullbridge coaches - experienced business practitioners with MBAs from top universities, such as Harvard and Stanford - will lead 18 women and 18 men through a rigorous course of study.

The programme focuses on finance, business analysis, teamwork, and communication; participants work together in close-knit teams under time and real-world context constraints.  These 36 PSU students will emerge from the programme with a better understanding of the needs and expectations of top-tier international corporations and organisations.

"The Fullbridge Programme has helped students from some of the most prominent schools in the world move towards their career goals," said Candice Carpenter Olson, co-CEO and co-founder of the Fullbridge programme and former founder and CEO of iVillage. "American students attending Harvard University and MIT have found the Fullbridge programme an invaluable experience. We're excited about the opportunity to work with Prince Sultan University to give many of its students a head start on their careers." – TradeArabia News Service