Abstract
In recent years, there has been a major shift in women’s role in Saudi society, which started by integrating women into all sectors of the economy following the plans of Vision 2030 to achieve higher employments rates for women. On September 26, 2017, Saudi women were granted the right to drive for the first time ever. This is a major milestone for women in Saudi society, one that has been anticipated for many years. It has been a tough journey for Saudi women that started decades ago with those who fought for female education, employment, and empowerment. After decades of low labor participation among women, particularly in practical fields and leadership roles, barriers to labor participation are being removed (Hamdan, 2005). As a result, women entering the workforce will not only need to align their educational interests with potential employment, but they will likely require support to help prepare them for entry into new social roles. This research adopted a case study approach to explore one design program in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This study addressed the following research questions: What are best practices for preparing female design students for employment and leadership roles in Saudi Arabia? What employment demands do female design graduates face in Saudi Arabia? What are students’ perceptions of their workforce readiness upon graduation? The study’s findings key components of successful design programs could serve as a step towards creating a professional field that is welcoming to recent female design graduates.
Presenters
Renad Al SekaitFaculty Member, Interior Design Program / Graphic Design Program Coordinator, College of Architecture and Design, Prince Sultan University, Saudi Arabia
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
The Arts in Social, Political, and Community Life
KEYWORDS
Art, Design, Education, Training
