In partnership with King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), GE (NYSE: GE) has been hosting a number of GE Garages workshops for KFUPM students since 2016 at the GE Saudi Technology & Innovation Center in Dhahran Techno Valley. The workshops continue as part of this year’s GE Garages program – a series of training sessions for students and young professionals covering topics such as Additive Manufacturing and prototyping.
GE’s collaboration with KFUPM is part of the commitment of both partners to support the growing Dhahran Techno Valley ecosystem, as well as the new era of digital industrial transformation in the Kingdom that directly complements the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, which seeks to strengthen the talents of youth in next-generation manufacturing technologies, innovations, as well as drive economic diversification.
A skill-building training initiative that serves as an advanced manufacturing lab for technologists, entrepreneurs and the community, GE Garages is a ‘free space’ environment that aims to spark interest and engagement of Saudi youth and young professionals in prototyping inventions and gain hands-on experience. It aims to transfer the knowledge of modern manufacturing technologies to KFUPM students on the utilization of such technologies, enhancing their understanding of future advanced solutions and manufacturing processes.
Hisham Albahkali, President & CEO, GE Saudi Arabia & Bahrain, said: “GE Garages is a significant learning platform that brings the knowledge-base of GE in additive and next-generation manufacturing to a new generation of Saudi talent. Having successfully hosted GE Garages in the Kingdom over the last couple of years, the 2017 series is an ideal fit for to the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, which focuses on enhancing localized manufacturing, skills, training, and economic diversification. GE Garages underlines our commitment to the Kingdom to strengthen human capital and promote localized innovation by educating young professionals on the latest advances in next-generation manufacturing technologies.”
In addition to training students from KFUPM – a first-of-its-kind initiative by a private sector entity – GE Garages are also open for children from the ages of seven to 14 years, who can be trained on basic coding. Training sessions have also been held exclusively for women as part of GE’s Memorandum of Understanding with the Asharqia Chamber of Commerce.
Nidal Ghizawi, Director of the GE Saudi Technology & Innovation Center, added: “GE Garages serves the fundamental goal of building the capacity of young Saudis and equipping them with the necessary capabilities to keep pace with the rapid advances in manufacturing technologies globally. In addition to offering hands-on insights for KFUPM students on Additive Manufacturing, which are increasingly being applied by the industry, GE Garages also aims to instil curiosity and interest in youth, and nurture the skills of women to have their greater representation in the technical workforce. This is a great example of GE’s focus on knowledge sharing and empowering Saudi youth by building a skill-set suited to jobs in the future.”
Dr. Samir Al-Baiyat, Supervisor, Technology Transfer, Innovation & Entrepreneurship (TTIE) of KFUPM, said: “The jobs of the future are changing and it is important that we train our students today on future industrial skills. This initiative provides support by the companies with a legacy of innovation to our students, and aids them through practical training on these advanced technologies. Over 60 of our students attended the workshops earlier this year, complementing the TTIE at KFUPM program, as well as their studies and entrepreneurial ambitions of designing and printing their own innovative ideas. This further supports their pursuit of technical careers in the industrial sector. Such initiatives are key to strengthening the skills of young Saudis and preparing them for the transformational goals of Saudi Vision 2030.”
During the GE Garages sessions, training is offered on innovative equipment at full-fledged labs at the GE Saudi Technology & Innovation Center, featuring 3D printers, CNC mills, injection molders and more. They learn from GE engineers who share their experiences and views on the future of this emerging market. GE Garages also spark further interest in students on the skills of the future, and foster a culture of co-creation to identify innovative solutions to tackle new challenges.
GE has over 80 years of partnership in the Kingdom and a 2,000-strong workforce, with nearly 50 percent of the talent in highly skilled engineering and technology roles. GE has built an advanced industrial ecosystem that includes a growing local supply chain, with significant partnerships and investments in support of the Kingdom in its economic diversification goals, including building localized manufacturing competencies.
KFUPM is creating a thriving local innovation ecosystem with a growing portfolio of more than 600 patents. Over 1,250 papers have been published in renowned scientific journals in 2016, with areas of research excellence including energy, oil & gas, refining & petrochemicals, water & environment, nanotechnology, advanced materials, corrosion and information technology. KFUPM collaborates with distinguished international universities around the world. Its vision is to be a preeminent institution known for its globally competitive graduates, cutting edge research and discoveries in the energy field and leadership.
