His Excellency the President of Jazan University, Prof. Dr. Mar’ei bin Hussein Al-Qahtani, presented a working paper at the symposium on the Role of Universities in Achieving the Goals of the Human Capacity Development Program. This was at the symposium accompanying the 25^th meeting of the Committee of Presidents and Directors of Universities and Higher Education Institutions in the GCC countries, and was hosted by Imam Abdul Rahman bin Faisal University.

His Excellency stressed the contribution of Saudi universities in graduating competitive nationals, which participated and led the development process during the past decades, indicating that presenting challenges aims to raise efficiency and increase the quality of of its alumni. His Excellency also touched on the role of universities in innovation and entrepreneurship, noting the declaration of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, Prime Minister - may God protect him - for restructuring the research, development and innovation sector, forming a supreme committee headed by His Highness and establishing the Research, Development and Innovation Development Authority, which acts as an enabler, legislator and regulator for the sector.

His Excellency pointed out that supporting the unemployed is a joint responsibility between the Ministry of Human Resources, universities and the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation. He stressed that the unemployed need to be fully convinced of the importance of joining training and rehabilitation programmes.

The working paper discussed three areas, which included: challenges facing universities towards achieving the characteristics of a competitive citizen locally and globally, the role of universities in developing labor market skills and achieving innovation and entrepreneurship, and the joint areas proposed between Saudi universities and the Ministry of Human Resources in assisting the jobless to find gainful employment.