Saudi Firm to Train 5,000 Workers Yearly With Indian Uni

Finding skilled workers is getting easier for one major Saudi Arabian company, thanks to a groundbreaking partnership with an Indian university designed specifically to prepare students for real jobs.

Expertise, a Saudi firm working in petrochemicals, oil and gas, steel, and power generation, announced plans to collaborate with Telangana's Young India Skills University (YISU) at the World Economic Forum in Davos. The company needs about 5,000 skilled workers annually and sees the university as the perfect training ground.

"We would like to partner with the Skills University and kickstart training the workforce in all the crafts we require," said Mohammed Ashif, the company's president and CEO. He met with Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and IT Minister D. Sridhar Babu to discuss the partnership.

YISU stands out as India's first university with fully industry-led management. Instead of traditional academic approaches, the school offers hands-on practical training and curricula designed by actual industries that will hire the graduates.

Chief Minister Reddy explained that the university was created specifically to close the frustrating gap between what students learn and what employers actually need. The goal is simple: students should graduate ready to work, not needing months of additional training.

The university's approach includes foundational learning, advanced skills training, apprenticeships, mentorship programs, and entrepreneurship support. These elements align with Telangana's ambitious vision to become a $3 trillion economy by 2047.

The Ripple Effect

This partnership represents more than just one company finding workers. The collaboration validates a new model for higher education that could transform how students prepare for careers across India and beyond.

Minister Sridhar Babu noted that YISU's innovative approach has attracted tremendous interest at the World Economic Forum, particularly from skill-intensive industries struggling to find qualified workers. When education directly prepares students for real jobs, everyone wins: companies get trained workers, students get employment, and economies grow.

The success of this model could inspire similar universities worldwide, creating a future where the anxiety of "Will I find a job after graduation?" becomes far less common.