The Saudi-American educational partnership is undergoing significant change. Saudi Arabia is eager to boost human capital development, and as a result, the two countries are collaborating on education. Recently, Saudi Arabia’s education minister and the US ambassador signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to further this effort.
Saudi Arabia’s “Vision 2030” goals emphasise innovation, skills development, and global alliances aimed at preparing its workforce for the future.
Following the first Saudi-US Higher Education Partnerships Forum, co-organised by the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Education, the US Embassy, and IIE in Riyadh, The PIE met with US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Michael Ratney to discuss the growing educational collaboration between the two countries.
Michael Ratney commented, “There’s a decades-long educational affinity between Saudi Arabia and the US. Saudi Arabia has sent students to the US for many years, and we estimate that approximately 700,000 Saudis have studied there.”
The Saudi King Abdullah Scholarship Programme has been the primary driver of this outbound student movement. Saudi Arabia’s “Vision 2030,” an economic and social transformation initiative, has focused on student sending in recent years.
This initiative includes fields such as engineering, renewable energy, healthcare, education, and emerging technologies like AI and cybersecurity. “Vision 2030” also emphasises tourism, arts, and entertainment as part of efforts to diversify the economy, while focusing on education and leadership to prepare a globally competitive workforce.
“Traditionally, we’ve welcomed Saudi students to the US and will continue to do so, but we believe it’s time to start discussing two-way educational exchange,” Ratney added.
He and Saudi Education Minister Yousef bin Abdullah Al-Benyan signed an MoU during the meeting. The MoU aims to allow American graduate students to study in Saudi Arabia for the first time, increase student and faculty exchanges, and establish the foundation for joint research efforts.
In 2023, Saudi Arabia passed new legislation allowing international colleges to establish branch campuses. Shortly thereafter, institutions such as Arizona State University, the University of Wollongong, the University of Strathclyde, the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, and IE University announced plans to open campuses in Saudi Arabia.
The November US team visit revealed new intentions for American university branches in the country.
Over 40 US and 70 Saudi university leaders and government officials attended the multi-day training. The American delegation also visited universities in Jeddah, Dhahran, and Riyadh. Ratney noted that many US delegates were astonished by the “substantial changes” Saudi Arabia has undergone over the past eight years.
“As you might expect, some of them had strong assumptions about the country, so it was incredibly eye-opening for them. I often see this reaction from Americans with strong assumptions about Saudi Arabia,” the senior diplomat remarked.
Saudi investments in infrastructure have led to significant physical changes. Other changes are sociological, particularly in terms of women’s empowerment. “Vision 2030” seeks to expand women’s participation in all fields, including education.
“You see women in the workforce, in the economy, and in public life in ways that were unimaginable ten years ago. Women are now senior executives in business, government, industry, and education. If you know nothing about Saudi Arabia, you might expect to see marginalised women, but the reality is quite different. The speed with which this transformation has occurred is remarkable. Seeing these US schools discover Saudi Arabia for themselves reinforced the sense of a two-way partnership, and that was motivating for everyone,” Ratney added.
“The Saudi leadership is working towards a post-fossil fuel country that thrives and survives. While it’s unclear when this will happen, they need competitive schooling. They need economic diversity. They need a happy, healthy, and engaged workforce. I think many of these colleges saw opportunities not just for boosting US study abroad programmes, but also to form cooperative ventures with Saudi universities,” the American diplomat concluded, encouraging organisations interested in Saudi Arabia to visit, experience its hospitality, and witness the changes for themselves.