RIYADH — The Qimam Fellowship program, a top-ranking leadership development program, announced on Tuesday the launch of its the third edition.

Students from across the Kingdom who are participating in bachelor’s and master’s programs in Saudi Arabia or abroad are eligible to apply and the last date for application Feb. 27, 2020.

According to the notification, 50 successful applicants will be notified by March 31 and a two-week intensive program will take place from June 2 and conclude on June 13.

The Qimam Fellowship program was founded by McKinsey & Company and Dr. Annas Abedin, a McKinsey Alumnus and entrepreneur, on the premise that Saudi is rich with untapped local talent with great potential to contribute to the Kingdom’s ambitious transformation.

Qimam was launched to identify, equip and empower the most promising university students in the country with advanced skillsets needed to lead in today’s ever complex world.

The program has seen tremendous growth since its inception in 2018, beginning with 13,000 applicants in the first year and growing to 18,000 applicants in 2019. Last year, 50 percent of the 50 candidates selected were women. Students with a wide variety of scholastic interests and experience apply from all over the Kingdom.

The program provides fellows with one-on-one mentorship from senior public and private sector leaders, leadership training by industry experts and professionals, and visits to the Saudi Arabian offices of top national and international companies. Selected candidates also gain exclusive membership in the Qimam Alumni Network as well as award for their distinctiveness upon completion of the program during a widely attended, high-profile ceremony.

Abdullah Saidan, Associate Partner at McKinsey Middle East said, “Given the vast pool of intellectually-curious, emerging talent in Saudi Arabia, the country’s youth has immense potential to have a direct impact on the transformations underway. Strategic initiatives like the Qimam Fellowship have highlighted the many reasons the nation should be optimistic for its future, as the Program has gone from strength to strength. Nurturing young talent in the Kingdom is an obligation we take to heart. And it’s why it makes me proud to be able to contribute and give back in a way that matters so much to the future of our country.’’

Dr. Annas Abedin, co-founder of Qimam, said: “Qimam offers high-potential university students access to some of the Kingdom’s most prominent industry leaders. The one-to-one mentorship, counsel and professional advice they receive will give them unique perspectives and opportunities to achieve on their tremendous potential.’’

The program targets bachelor’s and master’s students at any Saudi university, as well as Saudi nationals studying for a bachelor’s or master’s degree at universities abroad. Fellows will be selected based on their academic achievements, their level of initiative-taking outside of the classroom, and their efforts or ideas related to social responsibility.

The application form and more details about the Qimam Fellowship can be found on www.qimam.com

In its 2020 edition, Qimam is proud to partner with 30 local and international companies who are working together with Qimam to empower promising university graduates and student leaders in Saudi Arabia. These partners are: Aberkyn, Al Arabiya News Channel, Al-Khaleejiah Advertising & Public Relations Company, Arabnet, Bab Rizq Jameel, Banque Saudi Fransi, Bupa Arabia, Careem, Cisco, Elm, General Electric, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH&RC), Korn Ferry, Saudi Arabian Mining Company “Ma’aden", Majid Al Futtaim, McKinsey & Company, Microsoft, Noon Academy, The Olayan Group, Oqal, Pearson, Qiddiya, Rocket Internet, SAP, Seera Group Holding, Saudi Pharmaceutical Industries & Medical Appliances Corporation (SPIMACO), Saudi Telecom Company (STC), STV, Udacity and Unilever. — SG