The Transition Gap Between Academic Preparation and Professional Practice in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

The study aims to identify and analyze the gaps between educational outputs and market needs in Saudi Arabia. It identifies the technical and social skills required in the early years of practice, assesses their provision, and compares how graduates and professionals view graduate preparedness to recommend curriculum adjustments. The study employs a convergent mixed-method design. Two surveys were conducted to measure the same variables: one for graduates, the other for professionals. Findings show that graduate and professional perceptions converge on the extent to which architecture programs align with the needs of practice. The lowest-reported area of graduate preparedness was multidisciplinary coordination. The most challenging professional transition area was working within project deadlines. When it came to skill gaps, the largest reported skill gap was aligning conceptual designs with project constraints. The professionals identified six challenges for new graduates entering professional practice: role confusion, regulatory knowledge, coordination difficulties, project management, communication barriers, and market disconnect. The findings indicate that Saudi architecture programs require reforms to align educational outputs with market needs by incorporating more realistic, practice-based projects and courses.