Arab News Japan

TOKYO: A leading Japanese project management expert, OGAWA Takahisa, has just wrapped up the dynamic “Project Management Training 2025” program at King Saud University.

Ogawa shared with Arab News Japan that he led the core sessions of the project management course in early December, culminating in a keynote lecture and a celebratory award ceremony attended by Japanese diplomats at King Saud University.

Japanese Ambassador to Yemen NAKASHIMA Yoichi gave a talk on Kaizen and 5S to help explain the Japanese mindset, methodology and behavior as they relate to project management.

Ogawa has experience working on projects in person and remotely. “I’ve gained a wide yet deep perspective of multicultural business practices,” he told Arab News Japan. He has taught the course in Saudi Arabia, India, Thailand, and Japan.

Ogawa worked on the project with teachers from the Japanese Language Department at King Saud University: Professor Shihab Faris, Dr. Yazed Aldulaimi, Dr. Tariq Hakami and Dr. Haitham Alrasheed, a Saudi consultant and quality expert who has worked with PMI and artificial intelligence. Dr. Haytham T. Bakri, the university’s Vice Dean for Academic Affairs, has made remarkable contributions toward the realization of this initiative.

The course is designed to help manage and assess projects in Saudi Arabia, including feasibility. “It aims to create a system so that Saudi Arabia can train project managers by itself,” Ogawa said.

The training continually evolves to keep pace with market and technology trends. This year, participants explored a fresh topic: harnessing AI for smarter project management.

The course inspires students to think independently and excel in collaborative projects. Graduates are encouraged to become future trainers and step confidently into project management roles across Saudi companies.