King Khalid University signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Soudah Development Company, for a period of five years. The MOU was signed at the University City in Al-Fara’a.

The university was represented in the signing by the Acting President, Prof. Saad bin Mohammed bin Dajam, while the Soudah Development Company was represented by its CEO, Eng. Saleh bin Ibrahim Al-Arini.

The MOU highlights the two parties' shared responsibility towards the community of Asir, and to achieve cooperation between the Soudah Development Company and King Khalid University, in line with Saudi Vision 2030. As well as enriching cooperation and exchange of expertise in education and training.

The agreement included cooperative student training, working to develop a training program, providing data on students enrolled in the university, including the total numbers of annual graduates.

The MOU also included, cooperation in the field of entrepreneurship and talent development, entrepreneurial paths, which include accredited certificates’ programs for entrepreneurial projects in the coffee industry, handicrafts, heritage fashion, honey production, tourism guidance and hospitality management. It also included cooperation in the field of investment, initiatives, and research, which include the development of tourism, material and cultural heritage, documenting local heritage, and specialized studies in the field of history, culture and architectural heritage.

The two parties also discussed developing a mechanism to train a number of students in the field of restoration and maintenance at archaeological and heritage sites, developing a mechanism to evaluate the rehabilitation and development of archaeological and heritage sites, and apply modern sciences in the field of heritage. As well as producing guides, booklets and specialized publications on cultural heritage, in addition to cooperation in the field of events and activities to organize events between the company and the university that serve the goals of both parties.

It is noteworthy that the Soudah Development Company support the non-oil GDP by more than 29 billion Saudi riyals, and will provide thousands of direct and indirect job opportunities, through its projects that focus on heritage, culture and nature, while King Khalid University has important capabilities in this regard, most notably the colleges of tourism and hospitality, architecture and planning, culture and arts, and engineering. The university has also made culture, arts, heritage, tourism and hospitality a priority in the field of education and learning and scientific research within its 2030 strategy in line with the Asir Region Development Strategy.