Saudi auto institute in driving seat on youth training

JEDDAH: Saudi high school graduates seeking to specialize in car technology and maintenance can enrol online at the Saudi Japanese Automobile High Institute (SJAHI) in Jeddah.

Opened in 2003 by King Abdullah, SJAHI is the first nonprofit institute in the Kingdom aimed at qualifying Saudi youth to work at the auto maintenance and service centers while contributing towards the Saudization process in the Kingdom.

SJAHI’s entrance exams and interviews with candidates will be held remotely via its website www.sjahi.org, as part of SJAHI coronavirus precautions.

Director Salem Al-Asmari said that SJAHI has set special incentives in order to reach the highest levels of training as it secures jobs for Saudi youth specializing in car industry technologies by granting them certified diplomas after completing the program.

Situated along the Jeddah-Makkah Expressway, SJAHI provides students with training halls and workshops, in addition to training in maintenance centers for Japanese car distributors in the Kingdom.

Al-Asmari said that the institute's mission is to refine human skills by contributing to Saudization, gaining knowledge and technical skills, and enhancing confidence among Saudi youth in 37 cities throughout the Kingdom where Japanese members of SJAHI are located.

Japanese Automobile Distributors in the Kingdom (JADIK) partner companies support SJAHI by paying training cost and monthly stipend to students in cooperation with the Human Resources Development Fund (Hadaf).

Managed by a professionally accredited team with a vision of achievement, SJAHI has the supervision, support and patronage of the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade & Industry, Japan Automobile Manufacturers’ Association Inc., and JADIK to invest in training young Saudi high school graduates and provide job opportunities for graduates at JADIK partner companies.