Conference Programme

	Tuesday,16th May, 2017
08:00	Registration and coffee break
09:00	Conference chairman opening remarks
09:05	Welcome speech
09:15	Keynote address
09:30	Keynote address
09:45	Opening government panel discussion: Saudi Arabia 2030 Vision – How can professional certification trigger a new generation of highly skilled and knowledgeable workers? How can KSA create the next generation of professionally qualified workforce that supports its economic plans? How to effectively build a sustainable partnership with certification and training providers Creating a successful national-level plan for anticipating and building professional competencies for future needs How can KSA ensure broader access to training opportunities for professional certification
10:30	Networking coffee break
10:45	Panel discussion: The role of Saudi organisations in developing a skilled, competent and competitive human capital via professional certification How can organisations create an effective employee orientation towards the right skills development? What are the common myths about professional certification and how can we overcome them? How can supervisors/managers support their employees in acquiring professional certifications? How can certified employees help train other employees and managers within the organisation? Dr. César Baena Dean and Director of Doctoral Research International School of Management (ISM) Jim Kaitz President and Chief Executive Officer Association for Financial Professionals – AFP Samir Noman President Microsoft Arabia
11:30	Panel discussion: Are you certifiable? Aligning your certification programme to the local job market requirements There's good reason why so many Saudi professionals get professional certification. According to the latest salary surveys, those with professional certificates earn considerably more or are prime candidates for promotions. In an interactive discussion, experts discuss how Saudi professionals should prepare for professional certification programmes. What should you look for while choosing a professional certification programme? How can you avoid disappointment by choosing the most suitable certification programme for today’s job market requirements? How to plan for the certification exam? Alex Fraser Chief Executive The London Institute of Banking and Finance Lyndon Bird Chief Knowledge Officer DRI International
12:15	Lunch and prayer break
13:15	Panel discussion : Role of professional certification in bridging the gap between educational programmes and the job market Can certification programmes provide a solution to bridging the gap between education programmes and the job market? In an interactive discussion, this panel will examine how certification programmes offer targeted learning to address specific skills gaps. The discussion will highlight how certification programmes tend to require fewer resources than traditional degree programmes, in the form of time and monetary commitment. How does professional certification develop the knowledge, skills and abilities needed for enhanced job performance in Saudi? How can certification programmes create a sense of confidence in employees who are trained with the knowledge and skills to do their jobs? Learning from worldwide case studies Brian Dickson Senior Vice President, Professional Development & Strategic Relations SHRM Marwan Al Shafie Advisor to the Minister, and Director General, Human Resources Ministry of Labor and Social Development
14:15	Panel discussion: Needs and challenges in the development of professional certification exams Latest studies have shown that a considerable portion of organisations which provide professional certification use informal, improvised mechanisms and processes in the exam development process. The importance of professional certifications and the exams that support them mean that the methods by which tests are created and administered needs to be well structured, uniform and rigorous. Leading experts will share useful insights that will show human resource managers and other leaders how they should carefully pick and choose professional certification programmes they recommend for their staff/organisations. Khaled Elmobkey Human Capital Strategy, Transformation and Change Management Advisor Mihai Toma Head of Professional Practice MENA The KPI Institute Philip Weights Managing Director Enhanced Banking Governance GmbH
15:15	Networking and prayer break
15:45	Panel discussion: Collaboration of the certification providers, government and employers to drive human capital development It is the need of the hour that certification providers, trainers, educators, regulators, employers and other institutions should come together to provide accurate information on the current trends in job market. This will result in students and professionals investing their time and resources in certification programmes that has greater earning potential and better career prospects. Similarly training providers can direct their resources to develop courses and programmes leading to better paying jobs or current market needs. What can employers, training providers and government regulators do to create such a partnership? Dennis O’Donnell Chief Executive Officer Oakwood International Ltd Jason MacKenzie President Chartered Institute of Public Relations
16:30	Keynote Presentation: Selecting the right certification for your career
16:45	Chairman closing remarks and open networking session

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