SASO's Governor, Dr. Sa'ad bin Othman Al-Kasabi, launched the Saudi Professional Programme (SPP) which aims at qualifying and training students and young professionals to work in the standardization field. The programme provides trainees with the skills of developing and managing the standards projects, mechanisms of adopting the international and regional standards, methods of forming the technical committees and the work mechanisms of these committees. It also introduces them to the concept of standardization at the national, regional and international levels and indicates the role of standard specifications in the economic and social development. Moreover, this programme helps professionals recognize the concepts of conformity, measurement, calibration and accreditation besides the quality marks for products. In addition, it clarifies for them the role of laboratories in implementing standards and inspecting and testing products in order to encourage them to participate in the work of technical committees to develop Saudi standard specifications besides the work of different standardization fields.

     SASO's Deputy Governor for Standards and Laboratories, Eng. Abdullah bin Awad Al-Qahtani, delivered a speech, on behalf of SASO's governor, in which he expressed his hope that this programme contributes to building the capabilities of professional youths and be an influential incentive to create a brighter future for this country. He stressed that this programme confirms that youths are the components that can lead this country towards development, growth and a civilized shift that continue the excellence and leadership achieved for the Kingdom by ancestors. Furthermore, he indicated that education and training are some of the tools that countries seek to consolidate in order to prepare future generations to bear responsibility and lead countries, achieving the desired growth and economic development. "At SASO, we deeply realize that education and training are of the most important basics that we should pay attention to, enhance and provide to the community, especially that standardization and quality fields still need more educational efforts and professional and academic integration," he said.

    For his part, Eng. Wa'el Al-Theyab, director of SPP, illustrated that SASO aims, through this program, to provide the tools that help meet the needs of future market of young professionals working in standardization fields. He also pointed out that SASO seeks to increase cooperation and communication with the concerned national, regional and international bodies of the same specialization, in the fields of education and industry. Moreover, he explained that the programme pursues to introduce young professionals to the standardization concept at the national, regional and international levels, and the standardization role in economic and social development. Besides, he mentioned that the programme allows young professionals to view the work of technical committees in order to ensure maximum participation in national, regional and international standardization work. According to him, the programme  gives young professionals the opportunity to participate in the work of technical committees to represent their institutions and Saudi Arabia. He demonstrated that the programme also motivates universities and technical colleges to adopt programmes and curricula in various standardization fields and helps them.