More details of this event: https://www.visitsaudi.com/en/events/jeddah-promenade​

More details of this event: https://www.visitsaudi.com/en/events/gergean-run​​

The annual event, organized by the UN, focuses on addressing policy issues related to internet governance.

Discussions will focus on how governments, the private sector, and nonprofit organizations can collaborate to face future challenges.

The Kingdom has been enhancing its capabilities in communications, information technology and digital governance as part of Saudi Vision 2030.

Last year’s edition of the IGF was held in Kyoto, Japan. Date of publishing: 25 March 2024

More details of this event: https://www.arabnews.com/node/2482386/saudi-arabia​​

Saudi Arabia has launched an educational visa issuance service for international students wishing to study in the Middle East nation.

To facilitate procedures for students wishing to study in Saudi Arabia, the “Study in Saudi Arabia” visa program was launched by Saudi’s Ministry of Education (MoE) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) during the Human Capacity Initiative conference in Riyadh on February 29.

The visa will be issued through the “Study in Saudi Arabia” platform, specifically designed for international students who aspire to study in Saudi universities. In addition to this, it will also simplify the application process for the students.

The platform provides selection of educational opportunities, spanning from short courses to extensive academic programs, meeting the needs of different academic interests and career goals. It encourages collaboration in academia and culture, supporting Saudi Arabia’s dedication to enhancing the education sector and attracting skilled individuals for the goals outlined in Saudi Vision 2030.

More details of this event: The Economic Times​

Saudi Arabia has the largest – and most in demand – higher education sector in the Gulf and will need an extra 800,000 seats by 2030 to cope with surging requirements, a new report has found.

Many of those seats will be for university places in specialized courses covering technology, artificial intelligence and sustainable energy amidst a future shift towards a cleaner – and more technologically-driven future.

Mansoor Ahmed, director for healthcare, education and PPP at Colliers International, which has unveiled its latest report on the educational landscape in the Kingdom, said Saudi Arabia’s higher education sector stands as the largest individual education market across the Arabian Gulf region with a staggering two million students enrolled in 2022.

Notably, 95 percent of these students are enrolled in public and semi-public institutions, underlining a significant reliance on the public sector for higher education, he said.

This reliance is attributed to the perception of higher quality and job prospects offered by public institutions.

Colliers’ market report: ‘Higher Education in KSA: Changing Demand in line with Vision 2030’ delves into the current and projected size of the higher education market in KSA by 2030, shedding light on the shifting dynamics of higher education aligned with Vision 2030, and emphasizing opportunities for investors, developers and operators.

As part of Vision 2030’s economic transformation, the Saudi government aims to increase private sector involvement in higher education.

Ahmed said: “As economic transformation and diversification programs under Vision 2030 and the Saudization drive are expected to spur demand for higher education, Colliers foresees a shift in demand from traditional offerings towards Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotic sciences, nuclear energy, sustainable energy, renewable energy, solar energy, etc.”

“The demand is expected to shift towards evidence-based Research & Development (R&D) studies, taking into consideration the economic transformation agenda under Vision 2030 and the changing market dynamics, rather than traditional fields of study, to overcome the mismatch between the degrees, skills and requirements of the employment market.”

Expecting a future demand surge in health, hospitality and SME sectors, Colliers emphasizes the requirement to cultivate local talent, especially in technical roles.

With the Saudization drive gaining momentum, the report advocates for a concerted effort to meet the escalating demand for skilled professionals, particularly in healthcare and hospitality.

The report projects the total demand for higher education to reach 2.75 million seats by 2030, stressing the need for additional seats – an increase of more than 800,000 compared to 2022.

Colliers suggests that the private sector, akin to the UAE and Egypt, should consider establishing branch campuses of international universities within the Kingdom, targeting institutions hosting a significant number of Saudi students.

More details of this event: Alarabiya News​

With one of the fastest-growing higher education systems in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia offers a number of world-class institutions. Sixteen Saudi universities are ranked in the QS World University Rankings®, and the nation claims 24 of the top 100 universities in the Arab region, in the QS Arab Region University Rankings.

As in many countries worldwide, universities in Saudi Arabia offer bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees, generally lasting four years, two years and three to four years respectively. While international students are generally accepted into the leading Saudi universities, restrictions among other lesser-known universities are likely to vary, and admission for female students is limited to a select few universities and women-only institutions.

Facilities at the leading universities in Saudi Arabia are second to none, thanks to the nation’s ongoing and significant investment in higher education. The wealth invested comes largely from the country’s vast fuel resources – including approximately 20% of the planet’s oil reserves – which has powered the nation’s rapid development over the last half-century, with a strong impact on trade, business, tourism, education, technology, transport, architecture and culture, particularly within the key cities.

Given the importance of the energy sector to the country, it’s no surprise that Saudi universities are especially well-renowned for oil and gas engineering degree programs. Those who wish to stay on and work in the country will also find lucrative graduate career prospects offered in these sectors.

Students new to the country and culture should note that all Saudi universities uphold Islamic laws and beliefs as enforced by the state.

King Abdulaziz University

King Abdulaziz University (KAU) was founded in 1967 and has more than 82,000 students, with separate campuses for men and women. These are located in the city of Jeddah, and designed by well-known English architect John Elliott.

King Abdulaziz University features in the top 120 of the QS World University Rankings by Subject for mechanical engineering, agriculture & forestry and pharmacy. It also offers faculties in a wide range of subject areas, including art and design, humanities, sciences, medicine, pharmacy, business, law and dentistry.

As well as offering a range of on-campus undergraduate and graduate programs, King Abdulaziz University also teaches a distance learning program.

King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals

King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals was established in 1963. It’s located in the city of Dhahran, an important center for the country’s oil industry, and has a current enrollment of more than 7,000 students. Female students are not admitted.

Despite its name, King Fahd University in fact offers courses in a wide array of subjects, covering traditional disciplines as well as engineering, science and business. It does perform particularly well for those subject areas though, and in the QS World University Rankings by Subject, it’s ranked among the world’s top 25 universities for mineral and mining engineering, as well as the top 100 for chemical, electrical and mechanical engineering.

King Saud University

Established in 1957, King Saud University is of a similar level of prestige to King Fahd University, however it has more of a focus on the life sciences alongside engineering. In the QS World University Rankings by Subject, King Saud University is ranked among the world’s top 150 for mechanical engineering, agriculture and pharmacy.

Located in the capital city of Riyadh, King Saud University currently enrolls a total of 51,000 students, of which more than 1,100 are internationals. Female students are admitted.

Other universities in Saudi Arabia which feature in the top 50 of the QS Arab Region University Rankings are: Umm Al-qura University, King Khalid University, King Faisal University, Alfaisal University, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University (IAU) (formerly UNIVERSITY OF DAMMAM) and Prince Mohammad bin Fahd University (PMU).

More details of this event: https://www.topuniversities.com/where-to-study/asia/saudi-arabia/guide​