Box Hill Institute (BHI) in Melbourne (Australia) recently implemented a teacher training program in vocational education and provided training to a group of 37 trainers from the Kingdom. The move comes in the wake of strengthening mutual educational relations between Saudi Arabia and Australia.
The program, conducted for the General Organization for Technical and Vocational Training (GOTEVOT), ran for 12 weeks from early April to late June, said James Stafford, executive manager in international at BHI.
BHI has a strong track record in teacher training, having successfully trained over 12,500 teachers. This includes over 1,000 international trainings for clients such as the Malaysian Department of Education, the Indonesian Ministry of Education and Middle East clients in the UAE, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
BHI provided additional services to their Saudi guests for the GOTEVOT teachers’ training program. Besides delivering the internationally recognized training qualification, the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (TAE40110), each participant had a personal coach for mentoring and an additional subject matter expert “buddy” to guide them through class work and activities.
BHI has significant expertise in organizing and managing professional development programs for international vocational education and training teachers. An example of pre-departure preparations included videoconference briefings with Saudi participants to cover items such as telecommunications, traveling and living overseas, as well as cultural expectations and likely challenges.
Tips on weather and what to wear were also among points of discussion, as the shift from a Saudi summer to winter in Melbourne can take some by surprise. Welcome packs were provided on arrival, including tickets and information on public transport, halal restaurants and food supplies, as well as the location and prayer times of local mosques.
BHI also organized visa assistance, medical insurance, transfers, accommodation, on-site prayer rooms and English language testing and tutoring.
Feedback on the program was overwhelmingly positive and trainers successfully completed the course.
Saudi technical teachers complete training in Australia
Saudi technical teachers complete training in Australia
Jazan honey exhibition helps boost sustainability
JAZAN: The honey exhibition, which is a highlight of the annual Jazan Festival, showcases the biodiversity and agricultural richness in Saudi Arabia’s southwest.
Some 60 local beekeepers are this year presenting nearly 10 tonnes of honey across more than 15 premium varieties unique to Jazan’s mountains and plains, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.
Beyond serving as a premier marketing platform, the exhibition underscores beekeeping as a sustainable activity supporting ecological balance and food security.
By empowering local producers and attracting thousands of visitors, the event integrates Jazan’s natural resources into the Kingdom’s broader tourism and economic landscape.
Held at the cultural center in Al-Edabi governorate, the event features exhibitor booths and sales outlets which have experienced strong demand from visitors drawn to high-quality local products and exclusive offers.
Suleiman Al-Ghazwani, the exhibition’s executive director, said the event aimed to highlight the quality of local honey and its derivatives while encouraging beekeepers to expand production through new marketing opportunities.
He added that the exhibition featured activities for all ages, including a children’s theater and bee-themed games, while providing the opportunity to take home a variety of gifts and prizes.
Al-Ghazwani added that the exhibition provided an engaging educational experience and introduced visitors to beekeeping as a key part of Jazan’s tourism landscape and a promising contributor to its future development.
