This research aims to identify the challenges confronting the delivery of training and development in the context of Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is a country which is currently in a transformational phase, triggered by domestic factors like Vision 2030 and global factors. Through a process known as Saudization, the government of Saudi Arabia seeks to improve the quality of human resource in the country and provide the maximum opportunities to its youth that constitutes a significant part of its population. To this end, the government is heavily investing in training and development programs and the education sector. This study collects secondary data from government documents, databases, articles, reports, books, and previous studies undertaken by the government to measure the effectiveness of its training and development programs. Various findings have been summarised from the perspective of challenges confronting the delivery of training and development programs in Saudi Arabia.

The education sector is crucial to any nation committed to building future human capital. The Higher Education sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is at the centre of transforming the nation's future in a radical move to end oil-dependency. But this is only possible if universities make a decisive change and start working as learning organisations in all employee's levels. The present study investigates the direction of higher education in becoming learning organisations. We collected data from 840 staff members in 20 public Saudi universities. We designed a questionnaire exploring the seven dimensions of learning organisation found in the literature.  Regression analyses were used to assess the impact of those dimensions on the organisational performance. Results showed that universities that adhered most to the learning organisation principles demonstrated a better organisational performance, particularly concerning research and knowledge performance. We recommend that universities should (1) use change agents to help transform effectively and meet rising demands and (2), promote continuous learning for all employees to increase productivity.

PurposeThis article aims to investigate the challenges faced during the training and development (T&D) evaluation process from the point of view of faculty members and HR managers in Saudi Arabian public universities, and to examine the influence of these challenges on the effectiveness of T&D programmes in public universities.Design/methodology/approachExploratory research using semi-structured interviews to determine the challenges faced during T&D evaluation was employed. Participants included faculty members (n = 23) and senior managers (n = 05) working in four public universities in Saudi Arabia. The interviews were transcribed and subjected to thematic analysis.FindingsThe outcome highlights the challenges faced during the T&D evaluation process: a lack of performance measurement and role ambiguity H.R.M. practices. Finally, this study aims to investigate how do these challenges influence the higher education sector.Originality/valueTo the best of the researcher's knowledge, this is one of the first attempts to explore challenges within the T&D evaluation process in Saudi Arabian higher education. The results should therefore broaden the scope of the available literature and fill a research gap, particularly regarding the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) of Nations.

The present case study aimed to investigate challenges in learning in Saudi Arabia’s higher education institutions in the context of the implementation of training and development. A qualitative study design was used, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 75 faculty members and human resource managers working in four public universities in Saudi Arabia. The interviews were recorded, and thematic analysis was applied to the collected data. On-campus and off-campus methods are used to implement training programmes in all four universities, regardless of the flaws of both types of training. Due to a lack of time, the majority of respondents indicated that their heavy teaching workload prevented them from engaging in university training and development. Multifactorial challenges are involved in the higher education institutions of learning with regards to the application of training and development in Saudi Arabia. One of the most significant obstacles that Saudi Arabian institution administrators face in their attempts to innovate and strengthen learning and teaching methods and methodologies is a shortage of qualified and domestic trained faculty. Because of contact breakdowns, hiring highly skilled and technically trained international teachers, for example, introduces language gaps and reduces the efficacy of teaching and learning processes. The key consideration is the execution of preparation and growth; universities have a smaller chance of achieving the goal value. With too much money being spent on training and growth, the question is not what organizations should prepare, but, rather, whether training is worthwhile and efficient.

This paper aims to explore the factors that drive brand love for Apple in Saudi Arabia, which have not been studied previously. The study utilized the PROCESS macro on SPSS with models 4 and 15 to analyze the data collected from Saudi Arabian consumers. The findings confirmed that self-image congruence has both a direct effect, which equals 0.429, and an indirect effect through price perception, amounting to 0.083, on brand love. This means consumers who perceive themselves as similar to the brand in terms of personality, values, and lifestyles are more likely to develop a strong affection for Apple. The study also revealed the negative moderation of prestige sensitivity in the relationship between self-image congruence and brand love. In fact, the effect of self-image congruence on brand love is significantly higher (0.504) among individuals displaying low prestige sensitivity compared to those exhibiting high prestige sensitivity (0.323). However, the results did not support the moderation of prestige sensitivity in the relationship between price perception and brand love. Overall, this paper contributes to the existing literature on brand love, self-image congruence, price perception, and prestige sensitivity. The findings provide valuable insights for marketers to develop effective strategies to enhance consumers’ emotional connection with their brands. By understanding the importance of self-image congruence and considering the role of prestige sensitivity, marketers can better tailor their marketing messages and branding efforts to appeal to Saudi Arabian consumers. This study highlights the importance of cultural differences in consumer behavior and provides a basis for future research. AcknowledgmentThe authors extend their appreciation to the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Khalid University for funding this paper through a large group Research Project under grant number RGP2/407/44.