RIYADH: The Hadaf Excellence Academy, which aims to prepare future leaders in the private sector, was launched in Riyadh on Monday. Ahmed Al-Rajhi, minister of labor and social development and chairman of the governing council of the Human Resources Development Fund (Hadaf) inaugurated the academy at the fund’s headquarters, in the presence of Rayan Fayez, executive committee member, member of the board of trustees and chief executive of Banque Saudi Fransi, and Mohammed bin Ahmed Al-Sudairi, director-general of the fund.   Al-Sudairi said that the academy relies on activating principles of leadership through practical projects, teaching the best universal practices, guiding, following-up and talking to world experts. He said that the academy helps to create effective leaders capable of taking companies to excellence and competitiveness in the Saudi job market, as well as to support and promote lifelong learning opportunities, strategic thinking and planning and problem-solving, and enable guidance, oversight and orientation skills to achieve administrative excellence. The first phase of implementing the program for leaders at the academy includes registration, assessment and selection of applicants. The second phase consists of training applicants, while the third phase requires the return of trainees to their work for four to six weeks to apply what they have learned. The fourth and fifth phases involve presentation and discussion of projects, and the graduation ceremony. Conditions for joining the academy’s training programs are: Applicants must head a private-sector institution, hold a bachelor’s degree with a minimum of five years’ experience and no less than two-year experience in supervision or management, and with a good command of English. Jobs portal Saudi business owners have been urged to post employment openings and career opportunities on the National Labor Gateway Taqat, the new portal that serves both those seeking jobs and private sector employers. Hadaf also called on employers to outline qualification and training support paths to enable Saudi manpower in the labor market. Taqat facilitates employment by matching job vacancies in the private sector with job seekers’ qualifications.  It also provides a wide range of integrated services that include registering mechanisms, CVs management and matching applications to career opportunities. Other services include taking advantage of programs, managing customer service, managing training services, electronic harmonization services and managing recruitment channels. Hadaf is run by the Ministry of Labor and Social Development in collaboration with the Kingdom’s private sector. It offers training programs and workshops to improve job seekers’ skills and help them find opportunities in the labor market. It also allows candidates to manage their CVs and job applications. Services focus on linking job seekers with employment opportunities in the private sector, which are offered through several channels that align with the needs of the labor market.