King Abdulaziz University made a great breakthrough by opening the Faculty of Maritime Studies to female students during admission. The university developed a special agency for female affairs within the faculty. This would actualize the visions of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 in enabling women to take new professions and expand the scale of studies and research in various fields. The plan will also contribute to enhancing the growth rate of the maritime transport and logistics sector in the Kingdom.
According to the dean of Faculty, Dr. Faisal Al-Dhaibani, the move is to invest in Saudi women in the industry of maritime transport skills, thus enhancing overall efficiency and stimulating sustainability. The Faculty of Maritime Studies delivers education and training worldwide on surveying and maritime transport with the intention of developing qualified Saudi professionals and driving the national economy.
Dr. Al-Dhaibani indicated that increased participation of women in all sectors has featured as a main strategy in Vision 2030, notably in the maritime transport sector. Indeed, it reflects a gap and an alignment with the global tendency to be filled by women's contribution to the industry.
Those specializations include marine engineering, maritime navigation, marine surveying, and supply chain management. Graduates will be offered employment in sectors related to the ports, transport companies, and other relevant organizations within the public and private sectors, Vice Dean Dr. Maha Hegazy said at the College of Maritime Studies for female students. She said the participation of women in these specializations is an effort generally targeted at filling gaps in the composition of the workforce of the maritime industry.
