RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, December 5, 2024 – U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mr. Michael Ratney, and His Excellency Minister of Education, Mr. Yousef bin Abdullah Al-Benyan, last month inaugurated the Saudi-US Higher Education Partnerships Forum. The event on November 20 was co-organized by the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Education, the U.S. Embassy, and the Institute of International Education (IIE). This forum brought together over 80 leading American and Saudi universities to explore and strengthen educational collaboration.
Strengthening Bilateral Ties
Ambassador Ratney praised the longstanding historical ties between the two countries and reaffirmed the U.S. government’s commitment to international education. He noted that the Memorandum of Understanding signed during the forum marks a historic milestone, enabling American graduate students to study in Saudi Arabia for the first time.
Rafiq Mansour, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs, highlighted the impact of Saudi students studying in the U.S., with approximately 700,000 graduates currently residing in the Kingdom. He commended the Ministry of Education’s efforts to facilitate educational exchange programs and visa processes for American students.
A Shared Vision for the Future of Education
In his opening remarks, Minister Al-Benyan emphasized the Kingdom’s commitment to becoming a global education hub. “We aim to cultivate a generation of globally competitive students by fostering a diverse and internationally-oriented education system,” he stated. He highlighted the importance of joint initiatives, such as student and faculty exchanges, research collaborations, and joint degree programs, to elevate both countries’ higher education institutions.
In his keynote address, Professor Nasser Alaqeeli, Deputy Minister of Education for International Cooperation, stated: “The Saudi-US Higher Education Partnerships Forum marks a significant milestone in our journey to transform Saudi Arabia into a global knowledge hub. Through this collaboration, we aim to foster innovation, create opportunities, and empower our youth to shape the future.”
Key Highlights from the Forum:
University Visits
American delegates had the opportunity to visit prominent Saudi universities in Jeddah, Dhahran, and Riyadh. These visits provided valuable insights into the Kingdom’s educational landscape, showcasing state-of-the-art facilities, cutting-edge research, and a commitment to academic excellence.
Action-Oriented Discussions
Participants engaged in fruitful discussions to develop concrete plans for future cooperation. These discussions focused on a range of topics, including joint research initiatives, student and faculty exchange programs, the development of new academic programs, and industry-academia partnerships.
The forum was moderated by IIE’s Center for International Partnerships Director, Sylvia Jons, and Senior Director for Middle East Programs, Jamal Alsayyed, who presented on the Saudi Scholarship Program, the Saudi Arabia Cultural Mission, and an interactive discussion exploring trilateral partnerships — the intersection between academia, industry and government. Edie Cecil, senior vice president at IIE, moderated a panel discussion on building and sustaining strategic academic partnerships, while Jamal Alsayyed returned to moderate a panel highlighting case studies on faculty and student mobility.
Memorandum of Understanding in Higher Education and Research
A historic agreement was signed to enhance academic and research collaboration between Saudi and American higher education institutions. This landmark agreement will pave the way for increased student and faculty exchange, joint research initiatives, and the development of innovative academic programs.
IIE was honored to partner with the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Education and the U.S. Embassy on this historic event. This initiative was led by IIE’s Jamal Alsayyed and Sylvia Jons, who look forward to continuing to advance strategic, sustainable partnerships between the Kingdom and the United States.