The University of Business and Technology (UBT) and its Continuing Education Center (CEC) in Jeddah has announced it will soon offer international human resource management credentials from the HR Certification Institute (HRCI), provider of the HR credentials for professionals in more than 100 countries.
Credentials from Alexandria, Virginia-based HRCI include US-based and internationally focused designations that recognize various levels of HR professional excellence in the US and abroad. Providing international HRCI certifications and certification preparation expands the university’s executive education offerings in response to the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 mission to raise the standards of HR performance in the public and private sectors.
“The HR body of knowledge is essential for driving business results through the establishment of performance management standards, employee training and development, leadership development and the creation of work environments that provide equal opportunities for all workers,” said Amy Schabacker Dufrane, SPHR, CAE, CEO of HRCI. “The UBT CEC alliance will greatly expand the reach of HRCI certifications and HR excellence in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East.”
UBT CEC will initially offer the Associate Professional in Human Resources — International (aPHRi) to its university seniors and MBA students with a major in human resources. The university will also make the Professional in Human Resources — International (PHRi) and Senior Professional in Human Resources — International (SPHRi) available to HR professional candidates and senior professional candidates with strategic HR leadership roles.
No prerequisite HR experience is required for candidates to apply for the aPHRi, a knowledge-based certification. The PHRi and SPHRi, which demonstrate knowledge and practice-based competencies, require prerequisite levels of HR experience and education. Certification candidates must also demonstrate HR knowledge and competency by successfully passing HRCI exams. Certification preparation courses will also be available from UBT CEC. “The highly reputed, credible and career-oriented certifications from HRCI will offer significant added value to HR professionals in line with the country’s Vision 2030,” said Amir Dhia, UBT CEC director. “To address the strategies, challenges and changes of work, human resources, more than ever, is a top priority for organizations and management, whether in Saudi Arabia or elsewhere around the world.”
Saudi university teams up with HRCI for Vision 2030
Saudi university teams up with HRCI for Vision 2030
More crop per drop: NADEC and EF Polymer deploy breakthrough technology to cut agricultural water use by 40%
Following a strategic technology-scouting framework led by Universal Materials Incubator, the National Agricultural Development Company has entered into a partnership to launch large-scale field trials of EF Polymer, marking a significant step in deploying deep-technology solutions to strengthen the Kingdom’s food and water security.
The collaboration initiates field trials of EF Polymer’s proprietary solution — a 100 percent organic, biodegradable powder that performs like a “soil battery” upcycled from food waste. Engineered to address water scarcity in arid and semi-arid regions, the material can absorb up to 50 times its own weight in water and gradually release moisture directly to plant roots. This mechanism has the potential to reduce irrigation water use by up to 40 percent, while enhancing crop yield and long-term agricultural productivity.
Beyond water efficiency, EF Polymer improves nutrient retention by minimizing fertilizer leaching, thereby reducing overall fertilizer requirements. After approximately one year in the soil, the material fully biodegrades into organic carbon, organic matter, and trace nutrients such as magnesium, calcium, and nitrogen — contributing directly to improved soil health and long-term fertility.
The solution is affordable, easy to apply, and suitable for a wide range of crops, making it viable both for individual farmers and for industrial-scale agricultural operations such as NADEC’s.
EF Polymer has already achieved significant commercial adoption across multiple global markets, including Japan, the US, India and Turkiye, where it is actively used by farmers and agribusiness operators to improve water efficiency, soil health, and crop resilience under varying climatic conditions.
Its organic credentials are certified by OMRI and Ecocert, reinforcing its alignment with sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices.
The stakes for this alliance are high. By 2030, global freshwater demand is projected to exceed supply by 40 percent. In Saudi Arabia, the challenge is localized but intense: the agricultural sector alone consumes approximately 11.4 billion cubic meters of water annually. This partnership underscores NADEC’s commitment to adopting innovative, scalable technologies that conserve natural resources while supporting resilient food systems across the Kingdom.
Mohamed Al-Rajhi, VP of supply chain sector at NADEC, said: “Strategic agriculture today requires a long-term commitment to soil health and resource circularity. NADEC is leading the shift toward regenerative practices that restore our natural capital rather than merely consuming it. By diversifying our crop portfolio and investing in closed-loop nutrient management, we are insulating our operations against global price volatility and environmental shifts.”
“We are aggressively deploying AI-driven irrigation systems and satellite-based crop monitoring to optimize every drop of water and every hectare of land. This strategic pivot toward agri-digitization allows us to mitigate climate risks in real-time while significantly reducing our carbon footprint. Our commitment to sustainability is our greatest competitive advantage, ensuring that NADEC remains the cornerstone of the Middle East’s agri-food sector for decades to come. These trials focus on strategic scalable crops like wheat and olive trees to ensure the future of the Kingdom’s food security is both sustainable and locally rooted,” he added.
Strategic trial milestones:
- Wheat: Trials have commenced to demonstrate water retention in this water-intensive crop.
- Olive and blueberry: Specialized testing is scheduled for March to evaluate yield improvements and nutrient efficiency.
This collaboration supports Saudi Vision 2030 goals of reducing non-renewable groundwater use by 90 percent.
