Director: Daniel C. Levy

 

Saudi Government Promotion of Private Higher Education

(Summary by Prachayani Praphamontripong)

PROPHE Summary

Saudi Arabia emphasizes its budget commitment to education and manpower development and private higher education is part of the picture. Funded by the Royal family and government, Taif Private University is a major example. Cooperating with the University of Arizona and UNESCO, it will be launched in February 2005 with four colleges focusing on health fields. Additionally, the government has approved the conversion of another two private colleges to universities and the establishment of 38 market-driven private and public colleges.

For the full story (shown with permission), see Arab News, December 2004. "Taif Private Varsity Set to Open Gates in February," by P.K. Abdul Ghafour.
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1&section=0&article=55886&d=11&m=12&y=2004&pix=kingdom.jpg&category=Kingdom

PROPHE Observation

Governmental promotion of private higher education fits a regional tendency including Gulf states. The use of private colleges is common, followed sometimes by ascension to university status. Typically, government policy has much to do with promoting access and national development while joining private and public money. But whereas typical private investment in private higher education focuses on inexpensive fields like business administration, the Saudi Taif initiative concerns health fields.