The Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF) celebrated the graduation of 268 beneficiaries from the Leadership Program. These graduates hail from various organizations across cities and provinces in the Kingdom. The event was attended by the Director General of HRDF, Mr. Turki bin Abdullah Al-Jawaini, the Deputy Dean of the School of Management at Cranfield University, Professor Joe Nellis, along with leaders from both institutions, strategic partners, and training institutes.

In his speech, the Director General remarked, "The success of the program would not have been possible—after the grace of God—without the outstanding partnership and cooperation with private sector establishments and their significant contributions in enhancing outcomes and making a difference. We also extend our gratitude to our strategic partners and institutes, and a special thanks to our partners at the esteemed Cranfield University for their academic expertise and professional skills in achieving the program's objectives."

Al-Jawaini highlighted that since its inception in 2019, the program has graduated approximately 2,275 individuals from over 420 organizations across various regions. The program has become a significant force in shaping competent national leaders in the private sector.

He continued, "The Leadership Program is one of HRDF’s initiatives to support private sector establishments in developing the skills and capabilities of the national workforce across various business sectors. This initiative aligns with our commitment to national efforts and initiatives in developing human capital and equipping it with leadership skills to contribute to the economy and achieve current development goals in line with our nation’s ambitious vision to qualify and build well-trained and qualified national leadership cadres."

In his address at the ceremony, Al-Jawaini explained that the Leadership Program complements HRDF’s other programs aimed at increasing localization rates, achieving job stability, encouraging private sector growth, and enabling young Saudis to seize job opportunities across various levels and activities of organizations.

He noted that the program relies on transferring advanced global expertise and implementing principles of effective leadership through various fields and practical projects. It includes direct mentorship, virtual classrooms, and interactions with globally distinguished experts.

He emphasized HRDF’s commitment to supporting the goals of establishments, ensuring the continuity and growth of their operations, and enabling them to play their vital role in enhancing the national economy by preparing leaders who possess national sentiment and a comprehensive set of expertise, knowledge, and skills. This, in turn, improves the business environment in various establishments, enabling them to expand, spread, and compete effectively.

Deputy Vice Chancellor of Cranfield University praised the joint efforts between HRDF and the university in building leadership competencies and equipping trainees with the skills to lead teams and businesses by utilizing globally applied leadership development models.

At the end of the ceremony, the Director General honored the judging panel for their contributions in evaluating graduation projects and completing the training program.

It is noteworthy that the Leadership Program is based on six stages. The first stage involves nomination, registration, assessment, and selection of candidates for the program. The next stage includes direct training for five days, during which learning application projects are assigned. In the third stage, which lasts six weeks, trainees apply their learning through projects within their workplaces. The fourth stage involves another five days of direct training. The fifth stage focuses on presenting and evaluating the projects by a specialized committee. The final stage involves monitoring and assessing the impact of the training program on the trainees within their respective organizations.