Under the patronage of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Prime Minister and Chairman of the Human Capability Development Program Committee, the second edition of the Human Capability Initiative (HCI) conference, themed “Beyond Future Readiness,” kicked off yesterday (Sunday) in Riyadh, with the participation of more than 300 global leaders, policymakers and experts from the academic, private and non-profit sectors, and a global presence from 38 countries.

In his opening remarks, Minister of Education and Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Human Capability Development Program, Yousef Al-Bunyan, said that the second edition of the conference is an extension of previous successes and an affirmation of the Kingdom’s leading role in participating in the global dialogue on the future of human capacity development. He added that the initiative includes the Global Education Exhibition in partnership with the Saudi Ministry of Education, and the conference will also discuss the impact of artificial intelligence on human capacity development.

Al-Bunyan explained that developing human capabilities is a goal to empower future generations, as this initiative is the first global platform of its kind aimed at unifying international efforts and enriching global dialogue in a way that contributes to shaping the future of human capabilities and building a prosperous global economy.

He added that the conference highlights harnessing technological capabilities to develop human capabilities and provide a stimulating environment for lifelong learning, while discussing global challenges and finding sustainable solutions through international partnerships. It also discusses the importance of consolidating societal values ​​as a pillar for growth and prosperity, and dedicating efforts towards building a shared knowledge and human future.

The Minister of Education stressed the importance of shared responsibility to ensure that human capabilities remain at the heart of the shared vision for sustainable economic growth, adding that today’s complexities and challenges require an unprecedented level of cooperation between governments, businesses, educational institutions and communities, and that when we work together we can achieve major transformations.

He pointed out that the conference comes at a pivotal moment characterized not only by challenges but also by enormous global potential, as the world is evolving faster than ever before due to technological leaps, global uncertainty and demographic changes, but amidst all this, the essential thing remains the unlimited capabilities of our peoples.

Al-Bunyan stressed the importance of embracing lifelong learning and adopting flexible systems that enable individuals to develop their skills and abilities throughout their lives, explaining that the Human Capabilities Initiative is one of the Kingdom’s initiatives to promote the human capabilities agenda, and is part of Vision 2030, which recognizes in its essence that only human capabilities development can propel the nation forward.

He said that there are 3 main themes for the conference: harnessing potential to develop capabilities, consolidating values ​​to promote growth, and dedicating efforts to maximizing impact, which are important matters for determining a better path for the future. He pointed out that the participants seek through this conference to be able not only to face the upcoming challenges but to turn them into permanent opportunities, so together we can shape a prosperous and sustainable future for future generations.

Developing teacher institutions and curricula

During the dialogue session, the Minister of Education stressed that a good and high-quality education system can create new industries and therefore new jobs. Thus, education is not just a response to market needs, but we have a responsibility to create new industries through research and innovation.

He said that Vision 2030 aims for a prosperous economy and a vibrant society, and to achieve this it was necessary to focus on developing human capabilities, putting in place the programs we need, and mobilizing the appropriate resources to maximize and develop these capabilities and achieve our goals.

He pointed out that the launch of the National Center for Curricula has been announced, and there must be a mix of knowledge, skills and values, and we must focus on that in the initial programs of children’s education.

Regarding the Kingdom’s developmental vision in the field of education, Al-Bunyan revealed that there is a program that will provide an assessment of the educational system “to ensure that we have diversity in our educational system, in our market, in the workforce, and even in our leadership positions. This is one of our goals in the vision and in the human capabilities development program.”.

Al-Bunyan stressed that the development of teachers’ institutions, which will be the gateways to schools, will be announced to ensure that teachers are ready and trained to deliver the best performance. A vision has also been set for how schools will be in 2030, “and therefore it is necessary to define the future roles of teachers, and this requires different training and different expectations. It is necessary to consider the competency model for current and future teachers, and it is also necessary to measure the performance of teachers in order to ensure that we are moving in the right direction towards achieving the goals.”.

The jobs provided by "foreign" companies increased by 40%

During his address at the conference, Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih emphasized that human capital development is a top priority for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, noting the close link between investment and education. He stated that jobs created by foreign companies in Saudi Arabia have increased by 40% over the past decade, while foreign direct investment in the Kingdom has quadrupled. He also pointed out that the number of investor licenses issued in the Kingdom has increased nine to tenfold, a clear indicator of Saudi Arabia's attractiveness to efficient investments, not just those seeking natural resources.

Al-Falih emphasized that developing human skills in the education and vocational sectors is among the most important investments the Kingdom consistently focuses on, noting that this strategic direction falls within the priorities of Vision 2030. He added that investing in education and skills development forms a virtuous cycle, as they directly impact educational institutions and vocational programs, guiding individuals toward meeting the needs of the market and investors, which in turn creates a talent pool that attracts investment.

Employers are not looking for degrees, but skills

For his part, Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Al-Ibrahim explained during the conference that training and development are the only way to maintain output. He said, “Every job now requires digital skills. Employers are not hiring based on degrees, but rather on capabilities.” He pointed out that automation and artificial intelligence have taken over many tasks, and that “routine-based education is no longer sufficient.” Al-Ibrahim indicated that there are major forces shaping the global labor market landscape, with automation and artificial intelligence reshaping all sectors, necessitating the adoption of flexible education systems that focus on human judgment and agility. Comprehensive digitalization is also essential, requiring skills development across all sectors. Conversely, demographic shifts present economic challenges that can be either an opportunity or a burden, depending on how young people are invested in. In this context, the focus of employment criteria is shifting from degrees to actual readiness, performance ability, and adaptability. Finally, the global movement of talent in an unstable world presents an opportunity for the Kingdom to build an attractive environment for global talent.

A roundtable discussion, 20 ministers, and 100 dialogue sessions

The conference will feature more than 100 dialogue sessions spread across 4 main platforms, aimed at exchanging experiences and discussing the most prominent practices that contribute to enhancing the readiness of human capabilities to keep pace with rapid changes in the world, and reviewing the most prominent future trends, focusing on innovative models to empower individuals and communities, in addition to enhancing cooperation between the public, private and non-profit sectors, with the aim of developing sustainable and effective solutions for the future.

The conference activities include hosting a number of diverse events, most notably a ministerial roundtable meeting with the participation of 20 ministers from several countries around the world, and a meeting of the Board of Directors of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), in addition to hosting a number of agreements and launches in the human capacity development system at the local and global levels.