In the professional world, a basic education coupled with academic achievement is really just the bare minimum for opening the door to starting a career. If a worker is to excel and perform on a truly professional level, which means meeting and exceeding the standards of the profession, it is imperative that he engages in a continuing education program that nurtures constant practice, a dedication to improving skills and a commitment to keeping abreast of the latest developments in the field. As the Kingdom makes strategic preparations for a prosperous future of growth and development, Vision 2030, which places the responsibility for this progress squarely on the human element, is becoming the de facto map to the future. Leadership is needed and that can only come from those individuals who are developing their talents and skills to lead and serve in the Kingdom's professional world. To ensure that the professional cadres meet those demands, a number of institutions focusing on the development of human resources have appeared on the local landscape, one of the most prominent being the Abdul Latif Jameel Academy, which is operated by the Abdul Latif Jameel / Aftersales. Dedicated to instilling the spirit of kaizen – improvement – in its participants and training them to meet the highest of standards in the automotive field, the Abdul Latif Jameel Institute has distinguished itself as a leader in providing its students the requisite skills to thrive in a framework defined by teamwork and excellence. More than half a century ago, the late Abdul Latif Jameel, founder of the Abdul Latif Jameel Company, realized the importance of proper training and the impact it could exert on the individual and on the society as a whole. He also fully understood how it would favorably influence the culture of "Guest First," the principle embraced by the company that ensures that the Guest is always first and foremost in company's ethos. Abdul Latif Jameel Academy specializes in training qualified staff in state-of-the-art techniques, not only in the technical trades but in administrative fields, as well, to ensure that guests are provided with the best possible service at all levels of interaction with Abdul Latif Jameel. "The Academy's vision is based on empowering Saudi youth with technical and managerial skills that will enable them to engage in their professions with the highest possible level of expertise," said Eng. Louai Fathi, Executive Director Abdul Latif Jameel Academy. "By doing so, and arming them with the latest in technology, we will be able to significantly raise the standards of the Kingdom's automotive industry, in general. We will do this through conventional training tools such as workshops and classes in addition to employing advanced methods such as those in use at the Dojo facility which provides a simulation of Abdul Latif Jameel service and maintenance centers." Over the years, Abdul Latif Jameel Academy has trained more than 5,000 persons. In 2016 alone, the Academy provided more than 50,000 hours of training in various administrative and technical fields. Many of the participants have gone on to serve in senior management roles at Abdul Latif Jameel. Until recently, the academy was called the Abdul Latif Jameel Center of Continuous Learning and provided courses and training programs that had been developed and prepared by external institutions. Today, the Academy develops its own programs in-house, updating them as required to stay current with the requirements of each specialization. As the Academy expanded to meet the needs of Abdul Latif Jameel employees, it became apparent that it could play a valuable role in addressing the job skills needs of Saudi society. This led to the creation of a special program to train young Saudis in automobile maintenance, spare parts and other automotive-related trades. The goal is to prepare and qualify them to enter the local labor market. Since the inception of this program in 2008, more than 1,000 young Saudi men have been trained for positions in spare parts, car sales, auto mechanics repair, bodywork and painting. Benefiting from its strong relationship with Toyota, Abdul Latif Jameel has incorporated Toyota's global standards in the design of a large number of training courses and requirements for certification. The training itself is provided by 30 specialized trainers uniquely qualified to conduct training sessions in a variety of automotive specialties. The renowned relationship between Toyota and Abdul Latif Jameel was established more than half a century ago, and has grown to become one of the remarkable automotive forces in the Kingdom. Abdul Latif Jameel is also one of the largest independent certified Toyota dealers in the world. Under its principle of putting the guest first, and its commitment to achieving excellence in all it has to offer, Abdul Latif Jameel supports the widespread use of Toyota vehicles in the Saudi market through an extensive network of sales and maintenance centers strategically located around the Kingdom to provide peace of mind for their guests, wherever they may be. — SG
