International Journal of

ADVANCED AND APPLIED SCIENCES

EISSN: 2313-3724, Print ISSN: 2313-626X

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 Volume 11, Issue 6 (June 2024), Pages: 194-204

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 Original Research Paper

Future skills and competencies for Industry 4.0 transformation: A Delphi study of the Ha'il region in Saudi Arabia

 Author(s): 

 Mohamed Aichouni *, Mabrouk Touahmia, Serhan Alshammari, Mohamed Said

 Affiliation(s):

 College of Engineering, University of Hail, Hail, Saudi Arabia

 Full text

  Full Text - PDF

 * Corresponding Author. 

  Corresponding author's ORCID profile: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7283-3640

 Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

 https://doi.org/10.21833/ijaas.2024.06.021

 Abstract

Recent advancements in Industry 4.0 technology have introduced significant opportunities and challenges to various economic sectors. These new technologies demand the development of new skills and competencies. By 2030, the job market will require young engineers and leaders to possess different skill sets and operate in a new technological and managerial context. This is particularly relevant to the Saudi economy, which is influenced by the ambitious Saudi Vision 2030 and its associated programs, notably the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NIDLP). This study aims to identify and analyze the key forces driving changes in the Saudi labor market using the Delphi methodology. It predicts the essential skills future graduates will need in this changing professional landscape. Furthermore, the study evaluates how well the Saudi higher education system prepares students to acquire these necessary skills. By identifying potential deficiencies in the current educational structure, the research seeks to offer practical suggestions for future enhancements, ensuring graduates are equipped for the evolving job market demands. The outcomes of this Delphi study are particularly crucial for achieving the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, especially concerning Human Capital Development. The insights from this study help in developing a detailed national strategy for higher education reform.

 © 2024 The Authors. Published by IASE.

 This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

 Keywords

 Industry 4.0, Skills development, Saudi Vision 2030, Higher education reform, Delphi methodology

 Article history

 Received 24 January 2024, Received in revised form 3 June 2024, Accepted 10 June 2024

 Acknowledgment 

This research was funded by the Scientific Research Deanship at the University of Ha’il, Saudi Arabia, through project number RD-21 070.

 Compliance with ethical standards

 Ethical considerations

This study was conducted following ethical guidelines. All participants provided informed consent, and their confidentiality was maintained. The research protocol was approved by the Ethical Review Board of the University of Ha’il, Saudi Arabia.

 Conflict of interest: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

 Citation:

 Aichouni M, Touahmia M, Alshammari S, and Said M (2024). Future skills and competencies for Industry 4.0 transformation: A Delphi study of the Ha'il region in Saudi Arabia. International Journal of Advanced and Applied Sciences, 11(6): 194-204

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 Figures

 Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig. 3 Fig. 4 

 Tables

 Table 1 Table 2 Table 3

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