Infrastructure consulting firm AECOM said on Tuesday that it is partnering with the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) to deliver project management and leadership training to the local community of AlUla in North West Saudi Arabia. 

The firm said in a press statement that the partnership would support RCU’s strategic mission to develop the region’s human capital and build a thriving economy. 

“RCU is one of our key government clients with whom we are partnering to transform the country under Saudi Vision 2030,” said AECOM’s Soner Keskinel, Vice President, Program Management and Construction Management (PMCM) in Saudi Arabia. “As we develop the heritage-rich AlUla into a world-class destination for nature and culture, an important responsibility is ensuring the local people have the skills that will prepare them for success in the modern job market, enabling them to be active participants in the region’s economic and cultural development.” 

The statement said the programme is being delivered virtually using AECOM’s global learning management platform, with content developed in close collaboration between RCU leaders and subject-matter experts from AECOM’s local team, as well as regional and global resources.  

Designed with careful consideration to the needs of the local community, the program consists of seven leadership and project management modules that combine guided, expert-led sessions with self-study and online assessments, ending with a case study assessment. 

Mohamed S. Alshamari, Chief Economic and Social Development Officer at RCU, said at the heart of establishing AlUla as a vibrant cultural destination is developing the community’s skills-base, creating new economic opportunities and improving their quality of life.  

“Such large-scale transformation is best achieved through public-private partnerships similar to the collaboration between RCU and AECOM,” he said. 

The first cohort ran from 21 March to 31 May 2021 with 94 participants. The second cohort will be welcomed in August, the statement concluded. 

(Writing by N Madhura; Editing by Anoop Menon) 

(anoop.menon@refinitiv.com) 

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