PSAU continues its efforts in Al-Kharj to prepare graduates with the knowledge and skills needed to compete in the local labor market. These efforts reflect the university’s focus on aligning educational outcomes with national development needs and contributing to the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.
Preparing students for the labor market is a key priority for PSAU, alongside improving the quality of education, advancing scientific research, and building effective partnerships to improve academic outcomes.
The university’s 2025 annual report outlines a range of measures to improve graduate readiness, including updating study plans, integrating technical and professional skills into courses, requiring cooperative training across academic programs, and expanding training and field qualification opportunities in cooperation with employers and the private sector, including the Tamheer program.
To combine academic qualifications with professional certifications, PSAU has incorporated internationally recognized credentials, including AWS, PMP, Cisco, and ICDL, into its educational programs. The number of students earning professional certifications rose from 328 in 2024 to approximately 700 in 2025, an increase of around 110%. The range of available certifications also expanded to 115.
In professional development and career guidance, PSAU delivered around 200 training courses benefiting 5,614 students and graduates. According to national labor data, the full- and part-time employment rate reached 38.35%, while employer satisfaction with PSAU graduates scored 4.25 out of five.
These results accompany PSAU’s improved standing in international rankings. In the 2027 Times Higher Education rankings, the university advanced by more than 70 places to enter the world’s top 450 and rank among the top five universities in Saudi Arabia. PSAU also ranked fifth nationally for scientific publications indexed in the global Scopus database.
