Towards Building Academic Entrepreneurial Programs at Saudi Universities: Predicting Future Jobs in Light of the NEOM Project

Abstract

The purpose of the current study was to examine the type and form of future jobs, in light of the modern technological trends of the NEOM project. To achieve its objectives, the study utilized descriptive statistics with the Delphi method. The researchers convened a sample of ten experts in the fields of Science and Technology, Human Resources Planning, and Educational Administration and Planning, who participated in three scientific rounds. The findings from these rounds provide a suggested model for future jobs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in light of the modern technological trends of the NEOM project. This proposed model consists of twenty types of future jobs expected to achieve high degrees of importance over the next decade. Examining the study hypothesis yielded no statistically significant differences at the level (α ≥0.05) between the second and third scientific-round averages, confirming the stability of the experts' responses and their approval of this list of future jobs. The study recommends directing Saudi universities to develop academic programs to meet the needs of the NEOM project in the disciplines of Mechatronics Engineering, Using Technology in Surgery, and Software Engineering. Building academic programs with specific learning outcomes will ensure that graduates can acquire the necessary entrepreneurial skills, especially in disciplines such as Computerized Quantity Encrypted Engineering, Virtual Reality Technologies Design, and Three-Dimensional Printing Specialization. These programs will reduce acceptance of traditional academic programs that do not match the future requirements of the labor market, the Saudi 2030 Vision initiatives, and projects such as the NEOM project. The benefit from seats in more closely related programs will include the development of all programs in various universities and colleges to be entrepreneurial, supporting the new and expected technical trends in the labor market and all promising sectors of investment, such as the NEOM project.