Talent Management Practices in Saudi Universities During the Post-Pandemic Renaissance

Abstract

The Saudi government has prioritized developing the skills of its citizens, as one of the main objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 is to ensure that citizens have the necessary skills to compete globally. Despite these efforts, the COVID-19 pandemic presents significant challenges in managing and retaining talent to meet labor market demands. This chapter of the book describes the talent management practices adopted in Saudi universities during the post-pandemic renaissance. A mixed-methods design was chosen in which primary data was collected through surveys. 57% of employees felt that TM practices were adopted at their universities to meet skills needs effectively during the post-pandemic renaissance. TM challenges include a lack of motivation to attract talent, strategic misalignment between HR and the organization, lack of understanding of the importance of TM, lack of commitment to employee development, and ineffective performance management. Although it is an emerging issue in Saudi Arabia, universities are striving to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of their workforce.