Tuesday, April 17, 2012 13

King Abdullah patronizes higher education exhibitionExhibit opens new scope for higher education partnerships Riyadh: Arab News

Some 422 top world universities and higher education institu-tions from 39 countries will take part in the 3rd International Exhibition and Conference on Higher Education which opens today at Riyadh interna-tional convention and exhibition center under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah.

The event, which runs between April 17-20, will be joined by more than 80 universities included in the list of the best 100 world universities, in addition, to a number of higher education insti-tutions and internation-al organizations related to education.

Saudi universities, higher institutions, quality and evaluation bodies, academic rating and accrediting agencies, e-education, distance learning and research centers will also take part in the conference.

Meanwhile, Minister of Higher Education Khaled Al-Anqari said participants would include a number of higher education institutions tied to Saudi universities and higher education insti-tutions. He said the event comes to unify efforts of Saudi higher education institutions on how to benefit from international expertise and work out true partnerships with world reputable

universities which, in turn, will help in the development of higher education institutions in the Kingdom.

He said there would be other significant benefits to the event, such as the exchange of experiences among participants both in the scientific and practical fields of the higher education sector

and strengthening the links between them.

The conference will open up new scope for partnerships between Saudi universities and their international counterparts, the min-ister told a news confer-ence on Sunday.

The conference pro-vides an opportunity for students and their par-ents to find out the options available for pursuing higher educa-tion in Saudi universities and abroad, he noted.

Other functions will simultaneously go with the conference such as panel discussions, lectures, training courses, and work-shops, the minister said.

A number of distinguished speakers from major educational institutions all over the world will address the event and share their countries’ experiences to raise awareness of their respective educational systems and procedures. This will help establish positive communications channels with educational authorities in the Kingdom, encouraging them to upgrade their academic and professional capabilities.

Exhibition aims to help raise quality of higher education Riyadh: Arab News

Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Saif, deputy minister of higher education, expressed his utmost happiness and gratitude to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah for sponsoring the 3rd International Exhibition and Conference on Higher Education (IECHE 2012) that kicks off today.

He said this is a great honor to the Higher Education sector. It indicates the importance of the occasion, point-ing out that such annual event is con-sidered as an important step to take higher education in the Kingdom to a greater height while also helping in spreading comprehensive awareness on the issues of higher education and its institutions globally.

It also would result in opening channels of good communication between educational institutions in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf in addition to the higher education institutions in the world.

Dr. Saif affirmed that the exhibition is a fruit of continued MOHE efforts that aims to raise the quality of higher education in terms of providing the true picture of the great renaissance taking place in Saudi Arabia, especially in the higher education sector, in the era of King Abdullah and the Crown Prince Naif.

It also provides opportunities to

introduce to the leaders and officials in the most prominent universities in the world as well as specialists, experts in higher education, on scientific and practical potential that the Saudi uni-versities possess that has made them

rank among the outstanding educa-tional institutions in the world.

He added: The Exhibition and Conference shall open broad prospects for strengthening cooperation and partnerships between Saudi universi-ties and their counterparts in the

world. He stressed that the event has proven over the two past years its effec-tive contribution to promote the exchange of experiences among par-ticipants, both in scientific and general spheres, and strengthen the links between them, through the conclusion of agreements of cooperation and part-nership of the academy.

The deputy minister said that the increased number of participating countries for the past year from 34 to 39, as well as the number of exhibitors of 381 to 422 confirms its global repu-tation and prominent rank with spe-cial reference to scientific and research circles.

Adding that participants strive to take part in the exhibition to display and showcase their progress and devel-opment in higher education to our children and our daughters as well as our universities, which certainly will seek to hold a scientific and cultural agreements with the universities to utilize the advanced expertise and experience and transfer locally.

The Deputy Minister of Higher Education expressed his optimism that the exhibition and conference will achieve its objectives and the results would reflect positively on the higher education sector in the Kingdom in order to achieve the aspirations of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and Crown Prince Naif.

King Abdullah patronizes higher education exhibition

Minister of Higher Education

Khaled Al-Anqari

Deputy Minister of Higher Education Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Saif.

Tuesday, April 17, 2012 14

Riyadh: Abdul Hannan Tago

It is not unusual to sit in a café in Riyadh and be sur-rounded by people all glued to their smart-phones. Saudi Arabia is at

the leading edge of smartphone consumption, with mobile sub-scriber penetration set to reach an incredible 216 percent by 2015, according to a recent report on researchandmarkets.com. the Kingdom is also among the top three large markets for mobile language learning applications along with Hong Kong and thailand.

Vocabulary, grammar and lis-tening are often identified as the most difficult elements for learn-ers to improve when learning a language. It is commonly acknowledged that without suffi-cient vocabulary and grammar structures, it is difficult to convey a lot of mean-ing. Learners also realize that an ability to listen well is key to com-munication. With so many demands on their time in the class-room, teach-ers often leave the responsi-bility of mas-tering these three areas to the student and most practice and learning take place outside the classroom. Mobile learning pro-vides a wonderful opportunity for learners in this respect.

the key advantages of mobile phone technologies are well docu-mented, especially the possibility for “anywhere, anytime” learning, of transcending the barriers of a classroom, and having access to an “always on” device. Mobile phones provide an efficient use of waiting time for spontaneous and fun just-in-time learning activi-ties. these aspects of mobile learning encourage high-level learning, as the users are able to apply the information right away — something particularly useful for language learning where rep-etition and use are key to long term retention.

Neil Ballantyne recently carried out a small-scale case study with learners of English in Hong Kong to

find out more about how language learners use and perceive mobile phones for education. As the case study progressed, it became clear that language learning was taking place aided by the tools on the phones. However, it was not just the obvious referential tools that pro-vided learning opportunities and specific language learning tools; there were strong links between learning and social networking tools as well as incidental learning through other non-language spe-cific applications.

the British Council has been working on ways to help learners improve the key areas of listening, vocabulary and grammar for some time and now has a range of English language learning appli-cations available from Apple, Android, Ovi, Bada and Blackberry marketplaces. Just search ‘british council’ on your marketplace to see what is there. the popular

LearnEnglish E l e m e n t a r y Podcasts app. is a series of English learn-ing apps. for learners to download and listen to on their phones and is avail-able on all devices. Big City Small World is an audio soap-opera that fol-lows the lives of a group of regular cus-

tomers at a café in London. there are several series and the cartoons that accompany them are good fun. these help learners build lis-tening competence.

two new applications have been released recently that directly address learners’ concerns about mastering vocabulary and grammar.

MyWordBook 2 is an innovative new language learning tool from the British Council and Cambridge University Press that provides learners with the most important vocabulary for their personal needs. Learn, Practice and Review sections provide learning opportu-nities with words presented with audio, images, example sentences, definitions, notes and Arabic translations. the application is free to download and comes pre-installed with three packs of sam-ple words at elementary, interme-diate and advanced levels.

Riyadh Colleges of Dentistry and Pharmacy meet challenges Riyadh: Arwa Rikabi ARAb news sTAff

ON the occasion of the upcoming Higher Education Fair, Arab News interviewed Professor Abdullah Al-Shammary (rector of Riyadh Colleges of Dentistry and Pharmacy). Here are the excerpts:

How many students have graduated from Riyadh Colleges of Dentistry and Pharmacy since its beginning?

the total number of students is 484. 196 male students and 288 female graduates.

What sets your colleges apart from other health education institutions in the country?

Riyadh Colleges of Dentistry and Pharmacy is one of the first private educational institutions in the Kingdom. We are an accredited training center for Saudi Dental Board Programs in various spe-cialties. We also offer five various bachelor degree programs.

What have been the colleges' achieve-ments in terms of academic research, dis-ease prevention and public health aware-ness?

Riyadh Colleges is dedicated in teaching, excellent training, outstanding research and provision of quality care for the society. Its vision is to become one of the most pre-emi-nent higher educational institutions of learn-ing locally, regionally and internationally. We provide competent health professionals to meet the needs of the society as well as participate in integrated services in health specialties to the society. In addition, we engage in scientific research in health disciplines that will benefit the society. the colleges provide graduate study programs in health specialties and develops disease prevention and health promotion pro-grams for the community in cooperation with other health professionals. Moreover, we pro-vide continuing education programs for health

professionals in various specialties through conferences, meetings and workshops.

Do you believe there is a need for more faculty members? If so, why is there a lack?

Riyadh Colleges are always ready in seeking

featured faculty members but there is a lack or rare polarization especially in the dental edu-cation. According to the large number of the dental government colleges around 26 dental schools in the KSA in addition to the dental private colleges, faculty choose government colleges as their preference. On the other hand, Riyadh Colleges is hiring this academic year different specialists and some have already arrived.

How are faculty members and departments evaluated academically?

they are evaluated by the chairman of their departments and student surveys.

How did governmental support to higher education reflect on Riyadh Colleges in terms of: Output, research, qualified fac-ulty, buildings, labs and general logistics?

Riyadh Colleges received the approval of the Ministry of Higher Education in 1424H/2004G and since that time it has converged all the

encouragement and support through scholarship programs.

Are you participating in the upcoming higher education fair? What are you offering in it?

Yes we are, and we have stable and regular exhibi-tion for health awareness to give introduction about the colleges’ programs and requirement for it.

How would you evaluate your colleges compared to other Saudi universities, as well as compared to the international standard?

Riyadh Colleges have been subjected to the national and international panels with good results since it has applied all the rules and regu-lations for private higher education.

What do you think are the obstacles on the path of advancing higher education in the Kingdom, specifically in health education?

the rare polarization of the faculty members especially in the dental education.

Prof. Abdullah Al-Shammary

The key advantages of mobile phone technologies are well documented, especially the possibility for “anywhere, anytime” learning, of transcending the barriers of a classroom, and having access to an “always on” device.

english at the tips of your fingers

Higher education makes great strides in universitiesRiyadh: Arab news

ARAB News discussed higher edu-cation in the Kingdom with vari-ous Saudi personalities that are directly involved in academics and administration. Our first

question to Abdulaziz Al-Dakhil, Ph.D (assistant professor of social work in King Saud University) was about the latest devel-opment in his department, which led him to explain to us the difference between social science and social work since they are often used alternately to mean the same thing, while in reality they are two different fields.

He clarified that social science studies social phenomena and problems, while social work is a practical profession that aims to assist people in improving their social performance. I don’t know why in the Kingdom these two fields are still merged while in most universities in the world they are independent of each other

Al-Dakhil also spoke of distance learning, where he sees it as potentially beneficial, but the fact remains, most of the educational output in this kind of learning is sub par. Naturally, he is specifically talking about those outputs in social science and social work. He believes the graduates are often unqualified and can't even answer basic questions in their field. However, and because they have obtained degrees, they demand jobs.

When asked about output of King Saud University, he assured us they are the best in Saudi Arabia.

In addition he spoke about the humani-ties in Saudi universities, emphasizing the importance of these fields: “Humanities fields are indispensable. You can't have a society that is progressing scientifically and technologically without accompanying that with social progress and development.”

He added that humanities research is considered heritage for any university, and for an important one such as King Saud University it is paramount that we empha-size humanities studies and research in order to enrich our heritage and academic accumulation.

Al-Dakhil also noted that knowledge pro-duction in the department of social studies is abundant, adding that there are several research chairs such as Insan Chair for Scientific Research, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Foundation's Chair for Developmental Housing and Princess Sita bint Abdulaziz Chair for Family Research.

On that note, he mentioned that facilitat-ing research for assistant professors is essen-tial for their promotion, which is not cur-rently happening. Giving an assistant profes-sor too much teaching hours affects his abil-ity to conduct research, which is the standard of evaluation for faculty according to the Ministry of Higher Education. He also stated that they are working on a new academic plan in the social studies department based on a study of the community needs. the aim of the plan is to correspond to international standards in the field, graduating students with specialized majors whether in the legal, medical, rehabilitative fields.

And given the importance of social science

in legislation, Al-Dakhil looks forward to more cooperation with relevant ministries such as the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, and Ministry of Economy and Planning. He had previously stated that there should be a social scientist in the Supreme Council of Health since health is defined, according to WHO, as an individual's sound-ness in a physical, psychological, and social sense. He also highlighted the role of MOE in stimulating the social worker's function in schools, which would transform the state of education according to the professor. Moreover, he commended the collaboration between the judicial and the social sectors that manifested in the recent conference held by the Ministry of Justice (Family Issues in the Courts: A Future Vision).

“this is the kind of cooperation that solidifies the organic and complementary bond between various institutions in society.”

On a different note, Al-Dakhil spoke about research incentives, which are limited, com-pared to other Gulf countries. He believes that boosting incentives will reflect well on research productivity. Commenting on the financial attractiveness of teaching in a university, Al-Dakhil said that it isn't a very attractive since a professor relying solely on teaching cannot make ends meet. He rec-ommended that the status of university professors be examined and improved. Additionally, he believes that department committees should be paid since they are the driving force of any department, which would improve performance.

He also applauded Abdullah Al-Othman, Ph.D. (the university rector) for the estab-lishment of the Students Rights Protection Committee, which is an important step in creating a healthy academic environment.

We also spoke to Wafa Al-Nasrullah (director of business administration depart-ment at PSU College for Women). She explained that the most important goal in PSU is equipping students with skills that are needed in the job market. “We con-stantly ask ourselves the question: Can we guarantee a job for them later on?” stated Al-Nasrullah, adding that: “Before establish-ing a program, we survey the market for skills they need and design our program accordingly.” She also highlighted the learning paradigm in PSU that is outcome-

based education, i.e. it empirically measures what the student actually learns as opposed to the traditional educational paradigm that primarily focuses on the resources available to the student.

In her department, Al-Nasrullah said they offer the students a seven months co-op program in collaboration with various insti-tutions such as banks, tadawul, etc…She says the feedback from such institutions was overwhelmingly positive since the first batch of female graduates this semester have been already hired. In addition, what character-izes PSU is the English-medium instruction because that is what the private sector is looking for among other skills.

Al-Nasrullah emphasized that even though PSU is a teaching-based university, there is big funding for research. “the fact that our ratio is one faculty member to 20 students helps because it enhances the qual-ity of teaching as well as gives the faculty more time for research,” she said, adding: “Faculty members who have never pub-lished before in other universities prospered in PSU and started publishing.”

Moreover, our university is a melting pot, with a diverse faculty from up to 23 countries, which enriches the learning experience. As for her department's future plans, they intend to expand their programs to meet the grow-ing needs of the market, as well as gain international accreditation. they have already started the process of seeking AACSB accreditation. “You cannot start this process unless you have maintained a high stan-dard,” says Al-Nasrullah. Prince Sultan University is also seeking “Institutional Accreditation” and “Program Accreditation” from NCAAA. “this process which is essen-tially a self-study helped us identify weak-nesses and mistakes and fix them leading to vast improvements,” noted Al-Nasrullah, add-ing, “We are the kind of university that tackles any problems head on, and in fact all Saudi universities are undergoing this process. Nobody is sitting around not doing anything, and this accreditation process has created a healthy and productive competition among universities.”

She also highlighted the culture of qual-ity assurance in PSU, which has become the norm and all departments are actively engaged in it.

Arab News also spoke to Salwa Nugali, Ph.D. (dean of the women's college) asking her about the development of Al-Yamamah University since its inception. Besides it becoming a university, she said they have established the Deanship of Continuing Education and Community Service that specializes in providing training, research, and consultation services. they have also started the EMBA program and signed sev-eral memoranda of understanding with top tier academic institutions such as Oxford University and Washington State University. As for research, she noted that a lot of fac-ulty members have been able to publish their research.

In addition, the university has established the Investment Research Center in order to provide national and regional markets with highly qualified young entrepreneurs. the university also funds research and supports faculty members in presenting their research in local and international confer-ences.

We also asked the dean about teaching in universities and whether it's financially rewarding. She doesn’t think it is, adding: “the allowances offer an optical illusion leading people to believe a professor or lecturer are paid well, while the fact of the matter is if we compare the salary of an employee with a bachelor's degree working in a company with that of the college pro-fessor, the former would surpass the latter after subtracting allowances. the payroll of professors should definitely be revised and adjusted.” She also stated that the university is looking to establish new departments and is collaborating with institutions that study the feasibility of such departments.

Regarding the university's plans, she mentioned preparations for establishing a College of Architecture and Engineering, and a College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Moreover, the university is in the process of gaining “Institutional Accreditation” and “Program Accreditation” from NCAAA. there are also plans for follow-ing up on graduates and ensuring the qual-ity of output. She also highlighted the effec-tive role of the government's support of pri-vate institutions that facilitates their role in offering high quality education.

Work is being done on a new academic plan in the social studies department based on a study of the community needs. The aim of the plan is to correspond to international standards in the field, graduating students with specialized majors whether in the legal, medical, rehabilitative fields.

15Tuesday, April 17, 2012

It is indeed a great pleasure for me to introduce this supplement on third-level education in Ireland to the read-

ers of the Arab News. I am highly gratified that in recent years the number of Saudi citizens studying in Ireland has grown substantially and now covers a wide range of learning in a variety of academic, profes-sional and vocational subjects.

It is probably true to say that nothing can be more important than education in bringing about the achievement of a mature and stable society in any part of the world. It is not surprising therefore that

the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is currently investing so heavily and so wisely in raising the educational standards of its people. the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah, has played a leading role in this regard and the main scholarship pro-gram for Saudis who are studying abroad is very aptly named in his honor.

Ireland has a particularly strong tradi-tion in all aspects of learning and higher education and we are more than happy now to share this expertise and our modern educational facilities with our friends from Saudi Arabia. Already there are estimated

to be more than 2,000 Saudi students in Ireland and I have no doubt that this num-ber will continue to grow as Ireland’s repu-tation as a location combining affordabil-ity with educational excellence becomes ever more widespread. As an added incen-tive, nearly all Saudi applications for stu-dent visas are now completed and issued within one working day.

I am happy to underline that Ireland’s education system is highly regarded inter-nationally. Eight Irish higher education institutions are now ranked in the top 5 percent of institutions globally (according

to QS World University Rankings – which recently also rated Dublin as one of the 10 best cities in the world to be a student).

Furthermore, Ireland’s Institutes of technology are internationally recognised as industry-focused and responsive to enterprise needs while specialist Irish insti-tutions in the field of medicine have always had a global reputation. In addition, Ireland is a leader in the development of national and EU qualifications frameworks and has a highly regarded Government-backed quality assurance agency to regu-late Irish private colleges.

Overall, I can state without hesitation that Ireland and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia meet each other’s needs very closely in the field of higher education. One of our primary objectives here at the Irish Embassy is to ensure that all Saudi stu-dents who come to Ireland will receive a top quality education so that they can return to Saudi Arabia in due course with all the skills and expertise which their country needs.

Niall HolohanAmbassador of Ireland

to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Highlights on Kingdom’s varsities developments and its future plans

Message

Riyadh: Abdul Hannan TagoARAb news sTAff

BASED on spirit, knowledge-based education and Saudi Arabia's strong founding  principle for knowledge rooted more than 1433 years ago when the first verse and chapter of the Holy Qur'an was sent down in Makkah to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was the word “Read” and the name of the chapter was “Pen.” 

It was the first message to the Ummah on the impor-tance of knowledge revealed in the birthplace of Islam. Accordingly, the Saudi government has built its Islamic teachings, which in turn are based on moderation and tolerance.

As such, the directives of successive leaders of the coun-try were very clear on the importance of education. On top of that the directive of Custodian of the two Hoy Mosques, King Abdullah this year to allocate 26 percent or one fourth of the national budget for this purpose in building a bright future for the Kingdom and creating all the constituents of a knowledge-based society. the budget makes the largest allocation to all the Kingdom’s major universities.

this year’s budget for higher education has been the talk

of the major media not only in Saudi Arabia but also outside the Kingdom. the story has been covered and picked up by news agencies that prompted the global media’s attention.

the progress of any nation depends on the extent it achieves in building and developing its human resources. Higher edu-cation represents one of the most important means of develop-ing human resources, which in turn is considered a strategic investment for any country. through higher education pro-grams, every nation manages to fulfill its needs of knowledge-able and skilled manpower forces which labor market needs and its national development requires. Higher education globally witnesses many of the changes, transformations and challenges imposed by the technical and information develop-ments of contemporary civilization.

In the context of supporting the efforts of the universities and the institutions of higher education programs to reach advanced levels, the ministry has taken a number of quali-tative initiatives aimed at raising the level of quality in universities that are represented in three major projects. the first is the project of developing creativity and excel-lence of faculty members. the second is supporting the establishment of centers for research and scientific excel-lence in universities, in addition to what is approved in

their budgets. the third project seeks to collaborate with universities in supporting scientific societies.

In order to continue the development of the Saudi sys-tem of higher education, the ministry has initiated the preparation of a strategic plan for the future of higher education over the following 25 years, a plan called Horizons Project.

these developments in higher education in Saudi Arabia reflect the noble patronage and the great interest of Custodian of the two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, Crown Prince Naif and the prudent Saudi government in Kingdom’s educational advancement.

Minister of Higher Education Dr. Khalid Al-Anqari stressed that education is the basis for national develop-ment and progress. the minister underlined the signifi-cance the Saudi government attaches to education, both general and higher education. the minister said that financing of the education systems, including both general education and higher education, has never diminished and that education is still witnessing unconditional support of the wise leadership.

Continued on Page 16

Tuesday, April 17, 2012 16

BITS Pilani: The top destination for engineering education

BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus (BPDC), is the only international branch campus of the reputed Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani (BITS Pilani), India in the

Middle East. It is exclusively dedicated to engi-neering education and according to latest pub-lished statistics, more than forty percent of the students enrolled in engineering programs in Dubai are in BPDC. It is also interesting to note that more than 70 percent of engineering graduates in 2010-11 were from BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus. This clearly indicates that BITS Pilani is undoubtedly the top destination for high school students to pursue higher educa-tion in Engineering and Technology and BPDC is committed to develop technical and scientific manpower in the region.

The institution is renowned for its standards and innovative education, and the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), India has accredited the BITS Pilani, along with its Dubai Campus, with the highest grade ‘A’. BITS Pilani has emerged as the top private Indian technological university in the survey conducted by Outlook and Electronics For You and ranks among the top 10 technical universi-ties of India in the surveys conducted by the India Today, The Week-India, Dataquest etc. in 2011.

The Dubai Campus offers B.E.(Hons.), M.E., M.B.A. and Ph.D. programs in various special-izations and has more than 1600 students including several students from Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It has the largest campus in Dubai International Academic City with an excellent academically conducive infrastruc-ture including a hostel within the campus for the students. The institute has well-experienced,

highly qualified and dedicated faculty and staff who are committed to fulfilling the students’ aspirations and shaping them as competent professionals. It has collaboration with over 380 companies across UAE, India and the US., as a part of its University Industry Linkages, to offer Practice School (Internship) to its stu-dents.

Recently, BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus has received the approval to offer Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Programme and the same will commence from the current Academic year. 

In the year 2011, BPDC students not only won several interuniversity competitions held in the region, they also excelled at international events. Some instances are: First position in the International Aerial Robotics Competition (IARC), held annually at North Dakota, USA; hosted first ever ASME Student Professional Development Conference, held in UAE; were invited by ASME to attend the 2011 ASME SDOB Leaders' Conference held at Dallas, Texas, USA;

hosted the UAE Section IEEE AGM and form one of the largest two student branches of IEEE in the region.

As of date, 1,790 students have graduated from the Dubai Campus, who are either employed in more than 500 prestigious compa-nies around the world — Microsoft, Oracle, Maersk, Siemens, L & T etc. to name a few, or have completed or pursuing higher studies in more than 65 leading universities worldwide. such as Stanford, Cornell, Columbia, Johns Hopkins, Carnegie Mellon in the USA; the University of Toronto, Canada; University of Manchester, UK; National University of Singapore etc.Many graduates are also success-ful entrepreneurs.

The 500 strong ninth batch of students is graduating this year. The Campus Placement Programme has already commenced with the multinationals Microsoft and L&T having visit-ed and recruited students from the campus, offering an attractive salary package. 

As of date, 1,790 students have graduated from the Dubai Campus.

The BITS Pilani Campus in Dubai.

US Education Advising Offices Are You Interested in Studying in the United States? If so, why don’t you contact the Education Advising Office in a location near you in the Kingdom! Whether you are hoping to earn a bachelor’s or master’s degree in the US, are exploring online study options, or just looking for an interesting summer program, we have infor-mation for you!

The Education Advising Offices at the US Embassy and Consulates in the Kingdom are certified EducationUSA advising centers affiliated with the United States Department of State. EducationUSA centers promote US higher education around the world, offering accurate, comprehensive, objective and timely information about educational opportunities in the United States and guidance to qualified individuals on how to best access those opportunities.

Education Advising Offices do not endorse or rank any US college or university, nor do they endorse services provided by companies or organi-zations in the areas of test preparation, admis-sions, placement, language training or visa pro-curement. Best of all, our services are Absolutely FREE! Basic services offered by Education Advising Offices include:

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RIYADH - US EmbassyTel: +966-1-488-3800 Ext. 4505 or Ext. 4207

E-mail: EduRiyadh@state.gov

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Tel: +966-2-667-0080 Ext. 4151

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advising.html DHAHRAN-US Consulate GeneralTel: +966-3-330-3200 Ext. 3044E-mail:EduDhahran@state.gov Website: http://dhahran.usconsulate.gov/dhah-

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www.facebook.com/EducationUSASaudiArabia www.twitter.com/USEmbassyRiyadh

Highlights on Kingdom’s varsities developments and its future plans

Continued From Page 15

Al-Anqari said, “Universities have a scrupulous staff recruitment process in place.  More than 80 percent of faculty members on scholarship abroad have studied at the best universities thus ensuring to build a great segment of faculty that is capable of mak-ing tangible contributions to the development of our education.”

The Kingdom is currently seek-ing to form a world-leading sys-tem of higher education institu-tions, including research-focused and education-focused institu-tions, to achieve the national development end goals, minister said.

He referred to the internation-ally-adopted standard timeframe for national higher education plans which is 25 years and that leaves room for modification, amendment and enhance-ment. He said the ministry start-ed implementation of Wefaq ambitious plan five years ago and has succeeded in accom-plishing  several goals since the first phase of this plan.

The minister affirmed that his ministry is now poised to expand the number of universities so that there will be a university for each region and a university branch at each governorate for providing better access to educa-tion. Al-Anqari added: “The goal is that, by the end of the 25-year plan, we will have 40 universities distributed across the cities and regions of the Kingdom. This is

in alignment with working toward the government-sought ultimate goal that is to build a knowledge-based society with all its seg-ments.”

The ministry is working with universities on supporting aca-demic associations by financing to establish headquarters for these associations. This enables them to provide independent activities and to sustain profes-sional endeavors. Academic soci-eties aim at gathering data per-taining to their fields and to col-laborate in ways that serve their fields. It is worthy to note that

Saudi universities are to host about 70 academic societies.

The four branches of King Abdulaziz University in north Jeddah, Rabigh, Al-Kamil and Khulais, are to be turned into independent universities, the offi-cial spokesman of the Ministry of Higher Education said.

Makkah-based Umm Al-Qura University in the cities of Al-Qunfudah and Al-Laith would be made financially and adminis-tratively independent and each would carry the name of the city hosting it.

In a previous statement, the

spokesman Muhammad Al-Haizan told an Arabic daily that using the provisions of the recently announced general bud-get allotted for higher education, the ministry would implement its plan for higher education during the next 25 years that consisted of establishing new universities, building branches for the existing ones and constructing a number of new colleges. He said an inde-pendent budget would be ear-marked for the Saudi distance-learning electronic university that would be launched at the beginning of the next year.