A learning initiative, jointly designed by Saudi Basic Industries Corp (Sabic) and US-based Penn State University’s Smeal College of Business, for the benefit of Sabic employees, has been recognised by the Chief Learning Officer magazine, reported Trade Arabia.

The award recognises academic institutions that have partnered with an organisation to tackle a key business issue, the statement said.

The educational initiative was presented with the 2015 Gold (highest-level) award in the category of ‘Excellence in Academic Partnerships’, said a statement.

George Brennan, chief learning officer, Sabic, said: “Our collaboration with Penn State University has not only produced exceptional financial benefits for Sabic, but also given us a repeatable process we can use to even greater benefit across the company.”

“The award is further recognition of both the value of the Applied Learning programme and the strength of the Sabic-Penn State collaboration,” he added.

The Applied Learning programme combines face-to-face learning, applied learning projects, and coaching. high-performers are then selected to enrol in the online Master of Professional Studies in Supply Chain Management Programme offered by the Smeal College of Business and Penn State’s World Campus.

In other news Sabic showcased its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs during the Second World Entrepreneurship Forum organized by The Centennial Fund (TCF) under the theme, Innovation in Social Entrepreneurship, in Riyadh, said the Saudi Gazette.

“We contribute actively to community welfare through the key pillars of our CSR strategy – education, innovation, health care, environment protection, water and sustainable agriculture,” announced Yaarob bin Abdullah Al-Thenayan, SABIC Director, Global Corporate Social Responsibility.

Al-Thenyan also highlighted the many initiatives, projects and programs, which have been sponsored and supported by SABIC. The TCF honored Al-Thenyan for his active participation in the Forum.