Two technical and vocational training colleges have been officially opened by The Lincoln College Group in Saudi Arabia.

Ribbon cutting ceremonies were held at Al Aflaj Male College and Al Aflaj Female College in Layla on Sunday (26^th October) attended by Lincoln College and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) officials including Al Aflaj Governor Zaid Al Hussein and a Director from the Ministry of Education.

The guests attended lessons and watched a presentation by students on the history of Layla followed by a traditional sword dance.

Governor Zaid Al Hussein said the colleges are an exciting development for the area: “We welcome Lincoln College to our community and appreciate their investment. I am impressed by the facilities and it made a pleasant change to see the college at work and observe students in lessons and in other activities.”

Managing Director of Lincoln College International, Simon Plummer, who welcomed guests to the official opening of the male college, said: “Today marks a major milestone in our Lincoln College International programme. We had to compete with some 40 education providers from across the globe to be awarded this prestigious contract and we are honoured to be welcomed into the Kingdom.

“We welcomed the first cohort of students back in September and the colleges are really starting to gather pace. Once they reach full capacity some 825 Saudi students will be trained each year.”

Students and their parents were also invited to take part in the celebrations.

Student Council member Mohammad Obaid said: “The Student Council has played an important part in the early growth of the college and it is great to have a voice and know that our opinion can shape college thinking. The ceremony was a great success and I was proud to see many local leaders here.”

Lincoln College won the £250 million contract to establish three colleges as part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Colleges of Excellence programme, aimed at improving education and training.

The third college, Lincoln Al-Muzahmeya Male College, will open in the New Year.

In year one the students are taught English, IT and Maths followed by two years of vocational training. Courses on offer include Administration and Business, Agriculture and Food, Information Technology and Health Services.

Dean of Al Aflaj Female College Ann Reeves said: “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has ambitious plans for the future of the colleges and we are delighted to be working in partnership with them. Currently, less than 10 per cent of the workforce receives vocational training, but the target is to raise this to 45 per cent.

“Open to anyone over the age of 18 and free to attend, the colleges act as community hubs and learning centres. They offer a broad range of vocational training designed to meet the needs of local employers and help young Saudi men and women to achieve their career ambitions.”

CEO of The Lincoln College Group Gary Headland added: “As a group our central aim is to deliver social value through education and skills which is evidenced here in Saudi Arabia, as well as in the UK.

“Our Lincoln College International initiative will support our work in the UK and opens up exciting opportunities for both college staff and the wider Lincolnshire business community.  We are also delighted to be working closely with Siemens in the Kingdom, echoing our very successful long-standing relationship here in the UK.”

Ends

Notes to Editors

Founded upon a concept of ‘synergy’, The Lincoln College Group comprises a number of like-minded organisations with a shared purpose of providing exceptional education, training and related services to their students.

Currently providing secondary, further and higher education, the group includes Lincoln College (with its campuses in Lincoln, Newark and Gainsborough and operations in China) and two secondary school academies: The Newark Academy and The Gainsborough Academy.  It also encompasses Deans Sport and Leisure, a commercial sports centre based in Lincoln City Centre.

Lincoln College International, a project to develop and run three colleges in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the latest addition to the group.

The Lincoln College Group is also the lead sponsor of the Lincoln UTC which opened in September 2014.