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Entering a new era of rapid deve
Entering a new era of rapid
development of the country's infrastructure and economy in the early 1970s,
Saudi Arabia devoted special attention to fostering higher education.
Established in 1975, the Ministry of Higher Education embarked on a long-term
master plan to enable the Saudi educational system to provide the highly trained
manpower necessary to run the country's increasingly sophisticated economy.
One of the first objectives was to establish new institutes of higher education
throughout the country and expand existing ones. By 1999, there were eight major
universities and a large number of other institutions of higher education. By
2003, there were also several private institutes of higher education, with more
planned. Another objective was to establish undergraduate and postgraduate
programs in most disciplines at Saudi universities and colleges. As a result,
Saudi students can now obtain degrees in almost any field within the country
and, only if necessary, pursue specializations abroad.
In 1993, the late King Fahd, who had always been closely associated with the
development of education in Saudi Arabia, introduced new provisions for the
Higher Education Council and the University System, with the objective of
further improving the efficiency of Saudi universities by offering programs in
new fields, encouraging greater cooperation among Saudi institutes of higher
learning and increasing involvement of the teaching staff in the operations of
faculties.
By the 2003-04 academic year, there were around 200,000 students at Saudi
universities and colleges, a dramatic improvement over the 7,000 students
enrolled in 1970. Of that number, more than one half are female students
studying at the five universities - King Saud, King Abdulaziz, King Faisal, Imam
Muhammad bin Saud and Umm Al-Qura - that accept both male and female students,
and also at the numerous colleges set up exclusively for women.
King Saud University
The oldest university in the country is King Saud University in Riyadh. When it
first opened in 1957, there were only nine instructors teaching 21 students. The
university now accommodates around 25,000 students in its faculties of art,
science, commerce, engineering, agriculture, medicine, dentistry, nursing,
education, computer science and information science. It offers doctorate
programs in many fields and is particularly noted for its schools of engineering
and medicine.
Islamic University
The Islamic University at Madinah, founded in 1961, serves as a center for
Islamic studies and for teaching Islamic culture. It also offers programs in
Arabic literature and the arts and the sciences. Its graduates include
non-Saudis from 105 countries. Imam Muhammad bin Saud University in Riyadh and
Umm Al-Qura University in Makkah, awarded university status in 1974 and 1981
respectively, offer programs in the various arts and sciences, including
engineering, architecture, science and technology and education, although both
are highly regarded primarily for their Islamic law, history and Arabic
literature. Imam Muhammad bin Saud University has branches in the United States,
Japan, Indonesia, Mauritania, Djibouti and the United Arab Emirates offering
programs in Islamic and Arabic studies.
King Fahd
University of Petroleum and Minerals
The King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, founded in Dhahran in the
Eastern Province in 1963, is considered to be on a par with the best in the
world, offering programs in the modern sciences, including engineering,
mathematical sciences, finance, economics and management and marketing. Its
research institute conducts studies in a variety of fields, notably in petroleum
technology and environmental issues.
King Abdulaziz University
King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah was founded privately in 1967 by a group of
Saudi businessmen who understood the importance of education in national
development. The university developed so rapidly that in 1971, the founders
petitioned the government to assume responsibility for its operation. Since then
it has expanded considerably and is now the largest of the Kingdom's
universities, with over 42,000 students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate
programs in various fields of study.
King Faisal University
The Eastern Province's King Faisal University, with two campuses in Dammam and
Hofuf, offers a range of programs, including medicine, administrative science,
and architecture and urban planning. Founded in 1975, the university is famous
for its outstanding agricultural and veterinary sciences programs. It has
educational and experimental farms in Hofuf and conducts advanced research in
agriculture and animal husbandry.
King Khalid University
The most recent of the public universities is King Khalid University in Abha, in
Asir Province, which opened in 1998 with five faculties of Education, Medicine,
Islamic Law and Fundamentals of Religion, Arabic, and Administrative Studies
To complement their studies in universities in the Kingdom, Saudi students have
the opportunity to pursue graduate and postgraduate degrees in specialized
fields abroad. Supported by government scholarships, thousands of Saudi students
are enrolled in universities outside the Kingdom, mainly in the United States.
One institution that has been instrumental in the development of higher
education in Saudi Arabia is the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology.
Dedicated to research in various fields, including education, it helps formulate
the national policy for the development of science and technology, conducts
applied scientific research and assists the private sector in research and
development.
Further Information
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