System: A Study of Undergraduate College Students in Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT. Effective and stable economic and social development relies mostly on good education environment. Such environment includes not only the knowledge and skills but also the personal attitudes of the students, through which education outcomes fit into the economic structures. This study aims to examine the attitudes of the Saudi undergraduate college students toward the anticipated effects of privatization on the employment system of the Saudi privatized SOEs. Using survey questionnaire data collected in May 2002 from 762 Saudi undergraduate college students, the study results reveal varied attitudes. On the one hand, large percentages of the respondents prefer working under close supervision of Saudi management, having a salary based on productivity, being promoted based upon performance (rather than seniority), and adhering to prescribed procedures in executing job tasks. On the other hand, high percentages of the study respondents tend to dislike the concepts of putting forth more effort to meet management’s plans, of working on nights and weekends, and o