Professional services firm Deloitte has collaborated with the University of Business and Technology (UBT) in Saudi Arabia, on creating a programme to bring professional and technical skills to university students.

The Deloitte and UBT collaboration includes a range of educational and training events and activities. As part of the initiative, Deloitte is sponsoring UBT’s accounting clubs on both the men and women campuses to develop auditing and accounting skills of young Saudis.

Deloitte is also running awareness meetings and workshops on a range of topics such as career guidance, and auditors, tax and advisory consulting careers.

“We value the UBT partnership as it is integral to Deloitte’s commitment and strategy to develop the professional skills of young Saudi men and women even before they go into the market,” said Mazen Al Omari, partner and nationalization leader, Deloitte Saudi Arabia.

“Our Saudi and expatriate employees also undergo extensive on the job training, classroom led and eLearning development programs in Saudi Arabia, in the region and across the world. We prepare them and support them for professional certification like the SOCPA qualification but also for many others according to their interests and career aspirations. Our global Deloitte University methodology and campuses are not only actual learning hubs but the methodology drives all our professional and leadership training offered in the Kingdom,” added Al Omari.

“We are pleased to have collaborated with Deloitte on this program as it will support our students’ personal and professional development and employability skills. We hope that this collaboration will encourage other private sector organizations to follow suit,” said Dr Lulwa AlMutlaq, vice rector of Sari Campus, UBT.

 “As the largest professional services organization in the world, Deloitte will continue to play its part in the long term economic success of Saudi Arabia through talent development and serving our clients and the markets with world class quality and offerings to help them navigate market challenges and grow and prosper,” noted Robert O’Hanlon, Deloitte practice leader, Saudi Arabia.

“Through our wide-ranging initiatives, including the UBT partnership, we are not only committed to contributing towards the government’s target of 75 per cent of the private sector workforce being Saudi nationals, but we are also as committed to developing careers for Saudi youths whether they join our firm and profession or work in other sectors in the market.” – TradeArabia News Service