In partnership with AbbVie, a research-based global bio-pharmaceutical company, King Abdulaziz University has hosted an academic workshop to motivate more of its students into pharmaceutical careers after graduation. The workshop offered unique perception into the scientific role of the pharmacist to over 100 male and female students from King Abdulaziz University.

This was the first ever academic workshop to be hosted by King Abdulaziz University in partnership with a international pharmaceutical company. For their inaugural session, they chosen AbbVie to represent the pharmaceutical industry and enrich the students experience and expertise via a sequence of interactive scientific and career sessions.
Speaking about the initiative, Dr. Hani Asfour, Dean of the College of Pharmacy at King Abdulaziz University, said, It was a rewarding experience to see our students take part in this workshop for the first time. With the aid of AbbVie, our students have been in a position to learn more about the promising careers which anticipate them in the pharmaceutical sector. They are now extraordinarily keen and excited about their future prospects. I look ahead to seeing what the future holds for them.

Ashraf Daoud, general manager of AbbVie in Saudi Arabia, said, At AbbVie, we are proud to continue investing in the Saudi national pharmacists of tomorrow. Through our many partnerships with nearby universities, such as King Abdulaziz University, we are enormously devoted to help the Kingdoms goals, as expressed in Vision 2030, and assist our aspiring Saudi pharmacists in reaching their full potential.

To provide the students a first-hand glimpse of what awaits them in their future careers, the workshop included topics, such as an overview of the pharmaceutical industry landscape, the importance of the medical representative role, key advertising ideas in pharma, as well as tips and advice on how to prepare for interviews and CV writing tips. Students also had the chance to communicate to the AbbVie in-field crew of pharmacists who demonstrated to them their own real-life experiences and answered all of their career questions and queries.

Khaled Fageha, HR director of AbbVie in Saudi Arabia, concludes, As a global pharmaceutical company, there is an ever-growing need to attract the brightest Saudi talent and expand the talent pool of pharmacists. There is so much potential in the Kingdom, which we are always striving to unlock at AbbVie. Through initiatives like this, we are capable to equip students throughout Saudi Arabia with the tools and knowledge to assist them thrives in the healthcare industry, as well as ignites their passion for a profession in pharmacy.