Expert discusses trends in higher education in Saudi Arabia and beyond

Santiago Iniguez de Onzono, IE University executive president
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Updated 08 July 2023
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Expert discusses trends in higher education in Saudi Arabia and beyond

  • “Behind any major management decision, there’s always a vision of the world, there’s a vision of what is business and how should business be,” Iniguez said

RIYADH: New global trends such as micro-credentials, virtual reality and augmented reality, and artificial intelligence chatbots such as ChatGPT and Jasper, are reshaping the future of higher education in the Kingdom and beyond.

Online learning became dominant after the COVID-19 pandemic, and academic institutions with prior investment in digital technologies emerged as more resilient and agile.

Professor Santiago Iniguez de Onzono, executive president of IE University in Madrid, said: “Legislation here has been reluctant to bring in online education in pair with other traditional arrangements of education.

“But the fact is that we at IE University have experienced that the best methodology for enhancing skills and developing attitudes and upskilling is using the blended format, that combines presence with an online form of education.”

It (Saudi Vision 2030’s Human Capability DevelopmentProgram) will render lots of positive results in future generations.

Santiago Iniguez de Onzono, IE University executive president

Iniguez is a pioneer in business education, actively contributing and participating in various forums and networks to foster innovation and development in higher education.

He was described by the Financial Times as “one of the most significant figures in promoting European business schools internationally.”

According to the professor, among the challenges facing higher education is preparing faculty, traditionally a group “that are difficult to move because they normally hold tenure for life, and they are sometimes quite comfortable doing their traditional research.” That can result in not prioritizing teaching, engaging with students and participating in class.

“I guess the challenge here to embrace these new opportunities for technology is to prepare the faculty to become the orchestrators of the whole learning process and the best possible managers of artificial intelligence,” he said.

The Human Capability Development Program, one of the Vision 2030 programs, focuses on developing a solid education base for all Saudis from an early age, by instilling values, developing current and future skills, enhancing their knowledge, and preparing them for the future local and global labor market.

“My first reaction is of admiration regarding the very ambitious objectives of the program,” Iniguez said.

The program includes early childhood education and the Kingdom now requires and promotes preschool education.

“That will render lots of positive results in future generations. It is already proven how the Chinese young generation has become much more competent, and motivated in areas like math and languages because of this emphasis on kindergarten education,” he said.

The program works to align the education output with labor market needs, which is another challenge facing many countries.   

According to Iniguez, one of the criticisms of the US has been that universities do not prepare graduates to directly join the labor market. However, he believes that “universities should not just prepare employable graduates, but also global citizens, and part of the university has to do with putting and instilling these skills and global feelings, of belonging and respecting basic norms of tolerance to learn from others, to learn from diversity.”

He has closely worked with the higher education sector in the Kingdom as a consultant. In increasing the presence of IE University, Iniguez has worked with Saudi governmental agencies and has attracted several Saudi students to programs directed by the university.

“We are currently already running a master’s degree program, collaborating masters for a number of companies here including Aramco and stc (Saudi Telecom Company),” Iniguez said.

Iniguez was in Riyadh recently to launch his book “Philosophy Inc.: Applying Wisdom to Everyday Management.”

The book revolves around the central idea of management as philosophy in action.

“Behind any major management decision, there’s always a vision of the world, there’s a vision of what is business and how should business be,” Iniguez said.

The book discussions include leadership, the types of leaders the world needs, how to manage uncertainty, and how to make a good atmosphere at work as “two-thirds of our life is spent working, if we are not happy at work, then we have a problem,” he said.

 


Filipino conjoined twins in Riyadh for surgical separation

Updated 57 min 19 sec ago
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Filipino conjoined twins in Riyadh for surgical separation

  • Klea Ann and Maurice Ann Misa are being assessed at King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital

RIYADH: Filipino conjoined twin sisters Klea Ann and Maurice Ann Misa arrived in Riyadh on Saturday and are being assessed for possible separation surgery under the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program.

The twins were taken to the King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital at the Ministry of National Guard upon arrival at Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Klea Ann and Maurice Ann, accompanied by their parents, were brought to the Kingdom from Manila upon royal directives.

They are the third conjoined twins from the Philippines to be placed on the program.

The program’s medical and surgical team is led by Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, who is also an adviser at the Royal Court and director general of the Saudi aid agency KSrelief.

The twin’s parents expressed their gratitude to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their generous care and warm reception, as well as the comprehensive medical attention they received, SPA reported.

Conjoined twins Klea Ann and Maurice Ann are now undergoing medical assessment for possible separation surgery at the King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital. (SPA photo)

In an interview published on Saturday in Arab News, the twin’s mother, Maricel Misa, said that since her children were born seven years ago, she had been praying that one day someone would help them to live a normal life.

Misa, who owns a small shop with her husband in Lubang Island in Mindoro Oriental province, central Philippines, were unable to afford the expensive operation the twins needed. Her prayers were answered when she got a call from the Saudi Embassy in Manila and was told that the Kingdom was willing to help.

“We saw a post from Saudi Arabia about conjoined twins from the Philippines who had undergone surgery there, and I commented, saying I hope we can be helped too. Someone noticed my comment and reached out to me,” Misa said.

Since its founding in 1990, the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program has separated more than 140 children born sharing internal organs with their siblings. Among them were Filipino conjoined twins Ann and Mae Manz — joined at the abdomen, pelvis, and perineum — who were separated by Dr. Al-Rabeeah and his team in March 2004.

A second Filipino pair, Akhizah and Ayeesha Yusoph — joined at the lower chest and abdomen and shared one liver — were successfully separated in September 2024.

Al-Rabeeah said that the program “reflects the Kingdom’s principles of mercy and human solidarity without discrimination.”


A Saudi chef’s commitment to showcasing Kingdom’s cuisine on global stage

Updated 18 May 2025
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A Saudi chef’s commitment to showcasing Kingdom’s cuisine on global stage

  • Chef Mayram Atiq’s contemporary take on Saudi cuisine is winning hearts with every bite

MAKKAH: In the Kingdom’s burgeoning culinary scene, award-winning Saudi chef Maryam Marwan Atiq has emerged as a trailblazer, celebrated for her creativity and commitment to showcasing Saudi cuisine on the global stage.

With more than 15 years of experience, Atiq presents Saudi dishes in a contemporary, internationally appealing style without compromising its authentic essence. She is currently a member of the team of female Saudi chefs behind Tairat Al-Boulevard restaurant in Riyadh.

To Atiq, Saudi cuisine is not just a collection of recipes, but a “sea of flavors and ingredients” shaped by the Kingdom’s rich geographic and cultural diversity. This depth, she believes, gives Saudi food its distinctive character and its power to act as a bridge between cultures.

Through her participation in local and international exhibitions, Atiq has seen firsthand how Saudi flavors captivate people from around the world.

One of her most memorable encounters, she said, was with a man in his nineties who tasted jareesh for the first time at an exhibition. Deeply moved by the dish, his reaction reaffirmed her belief in the universal appeal of Saudi cooking.

“Food is the ambassador of culture,” she told Arab News. “And combining Saudi flavors and ingredients with international presentation techniques helps convey Saudi cuisine more quickly and accessibly, making it more appealing to international palates.”

Atiq praised the Ministry of Culture and the Culinary Arts Commission for their efforts in documenting and preserving Saudi food heritage. She herself has contributed to documenting traditional recipes from two regions of the Kingdom.

She also emphasized the role of online platforms in promoting Saudi cuisine to a global audience. Atiq called on media professionals and content creators to participate in this “cultural mission” that she is a major part of.

“I will continue my efforts to spread Saudi cuisine — , with our authentic flavors and cultural spirit — across the globe, making it a cultural ambassador worthy of the richness and diversity of the Kingdom,” she said.


Saudi ambassador attends send-off ceremony for Hajj pilgrims from Tajikistan

Updated 18 May 2025
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Saudi ambassador attends send-off ceremony for Hajj pilgrims from Tajikistan

Saudi Ambassador to Tajikistan Waleed Abdulrahman Alreshaidan attended the send-off ceremony for the first group of this year’s Hajj pilgrims departing from Tajikistan at Dushanbe International Airport.

Alreshaidan said that serving pilgrims is “an honor and a source of pride for the leadership of the Kingdom and its people,” the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.

A’lem Zadah, deputy chairman of Tajikistan’s Committee of Religious Affairs, thanked the Saudi government for the facilities it provides to pilgrims, the SPA added.


Saudi Arabia highlights museums’ growing role in heritage preservation

Updated 17 May 2025
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Saudi Arabia highlights museums’ growing role in heritage preservation

  • The session illustrated how museums can serve as dynamic platforms to showcase intangible heritage through immersive experiences

JEDDAH: The Saudi National Museum hosted International Museum Day celebrations in Riyadh on Saturday under the theme “The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities.”

The event brought together cultural and heritage experts, artists, and enthusiasts for a day of dialogue, workshops, and interactive sessions, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

It opened with a panel titled “Living Heritage in Rapidly Changing Communities,” followed by a thought-provoking session on “Museums and Change.”

Speakers discussed how museums can evolve to reflect and respond to the fast-paced transformations shaping modern society.

A highlight was an interactive session on “Saudi Storytelling and Performing Arts in Museums,” emphasizing the power of narrative in preserving cultural identity and passing values to younger generations.

The session illustrated how museums can serve as dynamic platforms to showcase intangible heritage through immersive experiences.

Another panel, “Technological Challenges in Cultural Heritage,” explored innovative ways to safeguard and share heritage using digital tools.

This theme was further explored in the workshop “Craft and Technology: The Art of Digital Weaving,” where participants examined the intersection of traditional crafts and modern digital techniques.

Throughout the sessions, participants stressed the importance of community engagement, reinforcing museums’ role as inclusive spaces for education, creativity, and cultural innovation in a rapidly changing world.

The event also featured additional panels and workshops on museums’ evolving role in preserving identity and addressing contemporary challenges.


Saudi artist preserves Al-Qatt Al-Asiri art over decades

Updated 17 May 2025
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Saudi artist preserves Al-Qatt Al-Asiri art over decades

  • Al-Qatt, Al-Katba, or Al-Zayan, received international reognition in 2017 when it was registered on the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage

RIYADH: For more than three decades, Saudi visual artist Ibrahim Al-Almaai has devoted his time to documenting Al-Qatt Al-Asiri, a vibrant, centuries-old art form traditionally painted by women on the walls of homes across the Asir region.

In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency, Al-Almaai emphasized that for the past 33 years, not a week has passed without him visiting a village in the eastern, western, northern, or central parts of the Asir region.

His mission: to seek out the remnants of this heritage art in homes, many of which have been lost to time and weather.

Despite the challenges, he has documented more than 1,200 variations of Al-Qatt patterns and colors.

The traditional art, known as Al-Qatt, Al-Katba, or Al-Zayan, received international reognition in 2017 when it was registered on the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

But long before, Al-Almaai had been tirelessly cataloging the artwork, oftenn navigating harsh conditions, including dilapidated buildings and the threat of snakes and poisonous insects, to reach the artworks.

Almost every visit revealed intricate designs made using natural pigments sourced from the surrounding environment.

He explained to SPA that there are four key components of a typical heritage home adorned with Al-Qatt. Al Shabaka (the Network) are single-colored, interlaced lines that create the structural foundation of the design.

Al-Hanash (the Snake) are serpent-like motifs inspired by the Coluber snake, winding rhythmically across the walls.

Al-Khatmah or Al-Akhtam (the Seal) are a form of visual closure at the end of a design.

Al-Qatt (the Lines) are the horizontal strokes layered beneath the primary art, referred to as Al-Katba (the Writing), Al-Naqsh (the Inscription), or Al-Zayan (the Adornment) depending on the local dialect.

Al-Almaai’s lifelong dedication underscores the importance of preserving Saudi Arabia’s artistic and cultural legacy — one painted wall at a time.