Contributor: Kante Hamed | Editor: Supriyono | Photo: Achmad Jatnika
On October 24, 2024, UIII welcomed the dean of the Institute of Islamic and Arabic Sciences in Indonesia (LIPIA) for a public lecture on Saudi Arabia鈥檚 Vision 2030. The session focused on the Kingdom鈥檚 strategy to achieve economic, social, and cultural diversification, as announced by Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman on April 25, 2016.
Dr. Al-Othman emphasized how the ambitious vision aims to reshape Saudi society, enrich its economy, and cultivate a robust national identity, making Saudi Arabia a regional and global leader. The vision, he explained, is structured around three core pillars: 鈥淎 Vibrant Society,鈥 鈥淎 Thriving Economy,鈥 and 鈥淎n Ambitious Nation.鈥
For the "Vibrant Society" theme, the Kingdom aspires to provide a fulfilling life for all its residents. This involves reinforcing the Kingdom鈥檚 Islamic identity, promoting religious moderation, and nurturing national pride. As part of this goal, initiatives like the establishment of the King Salman Global Academy for the Arabic Language aim to elevate the role of Arabic both regionally and globally.
Turning to the second pillar, 鈥淎 Thriving Economy,鈥 Dr. Al-Othman outlined the Kingdom鈥檚 efforts to diversify its economy through workforce education and training. He emphasized the importance of equipping professionals and workers with new skills to actively contribute to Saudi Arabia's economic growth. Additionally, he highlighted that highly skilled foreign professionals, particularly in academia, must meet rigorous standards to align with Saudi Arabia's high expectations for academic research.
The third pillar, 鈥淎n Ambitious Nation,鈥 is dedicated to enhancing government transparency and efficiency. Dr. Al-Othman shared that this theme aims to build resilient institutions, foster responsible leadership, and encourage civic engagement across the Kingdom. He described how these initiatives support an enriched higher education environment, aligning educational programs with market needs so that institutions can produce graduates ready to meet the demands of expanding sectors.
As part of the educational focus of Vision 2030, Dr. Al-Othman elaborated on the 鈥淗uman Capability Development Program.鈥 This program fosters a flexible and globally competitive education system, aligning with Saudi Arabia鈥檚 goal of creating a skilled and adaptable workforce. One notable initiative is the 鈥淯druss鈥 platform, which streamlines scholarship applications to Saudi universities for both national and international students. Dr. Al-Othman cited the Islamic University of Madinah as a prime example, where 80% of the students are international. He highlighted the university鈥檚 strategic location in the Prophet鈥檚 city, where students can attend religious classes at the Prophet鈥檚 Mosque and receive certifications in religious studies.
The public lecture is part of a partnership of UIII and LIPIA Indonesia鈥攚ith an MoU currently in progress鈥攁imed at sharing best practices on transforming higher education to meet the global challenges. UIII and LIPIA鈥檚 partnership reflects this vision by fostering opportunities for Indonesian students to gain direct access to programs in Saudi Arabia, with the potential for scholarships, hands-on experience, and immersion in Arabic language and Islamic studies.