RIYADH — Leading global biopharmaceutical company Allergan has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with King Saud University that focuses on developing a robust student exchange program by facilitating training opportunities for Saudi nationals.

The agreement, which was signed by Ramsey Morad, Allergan›s Vice President for India, Middle East and Africa as well as Dr. Aws Alshamsan, Dean of the College of Pharmacy at King Saud University, is in line with the Kingdom›s overall efforts to drive more cooperation levels between the governmental and private sectors with the underlying objective to integrate Saudi nationals into various fields within the healthcare sector.

Under the agreement, Allergan will provide training courses on an annual basis for students of the College of Pharmacy as well as programs to develop their scientific and medical knowledge and align them to international industry best practices. Students will be assessed according to parameters, where the top performers will earn an internship opportunity within the company

In addition, Allergan will run courses for faculty members at the College of Pharmacy with a focus on leadership skills..

Morad said, «We have used practical methods to express our commitment toward the Kingdom and toward the realization of Vision 2030. We are placing a very high emphasis on developing the local capabilities of Saudi nationals within the healthcare sector, and this partnership with a leading university in the region, is one of the steps we are taking. Saudi Arabia is at the heart of our operations in the region, and this MoU represents a key milestone in our efforts to attract the young minds of tomorrow and integrate them as core members of our Allergan team.” Al-Shamsan said, «We are proud to partner with Allergan to implement internationally recognized knowledge-based programs for the development of our students. With this MoU, we are focusing on the enhancement and development of the pharmaceutical sector across the Kingdom. We are guided by the mission to provide students experiences to learn from international best practices and, at the same time, work towards the improvement of the quality of the pharmaceutical sector in the Kingdom.”

Across the Kingdom, Allergan is committed to a wide range of programs with healthcare professionals, patients and national entities. The company›s investments through its Joint Venture, Allergan Saudi Arabia, include the development of medical training centers focused on training healthcare professionals in medical aesthetics. — SG