|
Riyadh: Around 44 foreign universities of international repute have approached the Saudi Arabian government seeking permission to open their branches in the kingdom, according to a source at the Ministry of Higher Education. "The government had received applications from several universities from Britain, the United States, Canada, Malaysia and Australia. A majority of these applications, 38 in all, were from British universities and colleges," the source said. The move coincides with the opening up of more sectors to foreign investment following Saudi Arabia's accession to the World Trade Organisation in 2005.
A high-level British delegation, headed by the secretary of higher education, visited Saudi Arabia last week. The delegation, comprising more than 60 British academics and university officials, held extensive talks in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam. "The delegation explored the prospect of making investments in the Saudi higher education, science and technology sectors as well as opening branches in the kingdom. It also presented applications from some 38 British universities and colleges to the concerned Saudi authorities in this respect," the sourcesaid. The universities included the University of Aberdeen, Newcastle University, Middlesex University of West London, and Robert Gordon University. Official figures have shown that nearly 11 per cent of the Saudi workforce, including both citizens and expatriates, are illiterate.
|
