His Excellency Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi, Minister of Social Affairs and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Center for Social Studies and Research, launched the Distinguished Social Researcher Qualification Program. The program is sponsored by Saudi Aramco and supervised by the National Center for Social Studies and Research in cooperation with the Saudi Association for Social Studies. The launch was attended by the Center's Director General, Prof. Dr. Saleh bin Abdulaziz Al-Nassar the Director of Research Enablement, Prof. Dr. Saleh bin Mohammed Al-Sughair Mr. Wael Al-Anazi, Head of the Corporate Social Responsibility Unit in Saudi Aramco's Central Region and Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Dakhil, Chairman of the Saudi Association for Social Studies.

Dr. Al-Nassar explained that the Distinguished Social Researcher Program is an initiative by Saudi Aramco to support social studies and research through a partnership with the National Center for Social Studies and Research, in fulfillment of corporate social responsibility and in service of the local community. The program seeks to qualify male and female social researchers and enable them to acquire the practical experience, skills and tools needed to conduct social research suited to the current needs of Saudi society. Program supervisor Dr. Al-Sughair added that an agreement had been signed with the Saudi Association for Social Studies to implement the program. The program will give eight male and female social researchers an opportunity to strengthen their experience and skills through travel to the United States, participation in an intensive training course in social research methodologies, and visits to specialized social research centers.

A dedicated page has been created to receive applications for the Distinguished Social Researcher Program and includes program information, admission requirements and the application form at:

http://www.dsr-ksa.com/

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