Assessing the Misalignment

The Vision 2030 of Saudi Arabia is very ambitious in terms of skilled human capital requirements. This study tries to understand the very critical misalignments in the vocational education system of Saudi Arabia with the skilled human capital requirements of Vision 2030. Despite heavy spending on new reforms, the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) has some systematic problems, making it unable to support economic diversification and reliance on foreign labor. This research identifies three major obstacles through an in-depth analysis of the study: a consistent mismatch between what modern industries need and what training provides; a well-rooted misconceived social stigma against such a kind of profession; and, most importantly, a serious deficiency in English language proficiency among graduates. Outdated, teacher-centered pedagogical methods fail to prepare students adequately in the practical, communicative, and problem-solving skills, demanded by globalized sectors such as tourism, renewable energy, and advanced manufacturing. The interview data from both instructors and students reveals several significant issues with the old resources, inadequately prepared foreign language communication for workplaces and safety, as well as inconsistent policy implementation. This means that achieving Vision 2030 requires fundamental reform that involves building a curriculum in partnership with the industry, moving to authentic task-based learning, especially in the teaching of the English language, and carrying out national campaigns to uplift the social status of vocational professions.