How can taking part in extra-curricular activities at university make you more employable?

Sponsored by Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University  

A degree will not only give you the opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge of your chosen subject, it’ll also help you to develop transferable skills such as communication, presentation and problem-solving, while enhancing your ability to work as part of a team.  

While it’s important to look at the strength and quality of academic programmes when choosing a university, there are elements of choosing a university that are often overlooked, such as extra-curricular activities.  

These activities will help you network and enjoy university life while helping you build these transferable soft skills that employers look for. 

Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University (IAU) in Saudi Arabia was established in 1975 with two pioneering colleges. Almost four decades later, this academic institution has grown into a leading research university with 21 colleges spread throughout the Eastern Province and a student population of over 45,000. Today, it offers a wide range of student activities to help them develop the essential skills they need to be successful in the workplace.  

Here are three examples of student activities that’ll make you more employable: 

Taking part in competitions is a great way to enhance your competitive spirit and consolidate your learning, while developing valuable skills such as teamwork and problem solving.  

At IAU, creative thinking is highly valued. In every aspect of university life, students are encouraged to develop innovative and original solutions to environmental and social problems in a way that contributes to sustainable development. 

As a result, IAU’s students take part in many competitions throughout the year. Students will be presented with challenges where they’ll be expected to apply and use their problem-solving skills to figure out the solution. 

An example of this is the Al-Omran Award competition, which asked students to design a mosque in Riyadh. The students of IAU won many awards in this competition, including the first prize which was to have parts of their design implemented . 

Additionally, the Dammam Valley Company, owned by IAU, invests in innovators and inventors to help them develop ideas. The company hosts programmes to support student and graduate entrepreneurs and intends to continue its work to expand further by engaging with partners and investors.