Higher Education in Saudi Arabia

This book provides the first academically rigorous description and critical analysis of the Higher Education system in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and of the vision, strategies and policy imperatives for the future development of Saudi universities. The government of Saudi Arabia has recognized in both policy and practice the necessity of developing its university system to world-class standard. Significantly increasing access and participation in Higher Education across a range of traditional and non-traditional disciplines is directly relevant to the future social and economic growth of the country. This book addresses the way in which Saudi Arabia is moving to develop a quality university system that balances the need for students to gain the knowledge, skills and ‘ways of doing’ necessary to operate effectively on the world stage while simultaneously maintaining and demonstrating the fundamental values of the Islamic religion and culture. 

The book provides a description and critical analysis of the key components of the Saudi Higher Education system, and of system-level responses to the challenges and opportunities facing Saudi universities. It is written by a team of Saudi academics and authors of international standing from non-Saudi universities so as to provide both internal and external perspectives on all issues and to place information and ideas in the context of the international Higher Education scene.

• Access and participation
• Higher education for women in Saudi Arabia
• Higher education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
• Islamic religion and culture
• Knowledge society
• Quality university system
• Saudi Arabia Higher Education
• Saudi Arabian Higher Education University System
• Saudi Higher Education System
• Saudi academics
• Saudi universities

“This book provides the audience with a detailed overview of Higher Education in Saudi Arabia. … Not only will it benefit policy makers at the ministerial level, but also at the institutional level such as leaders, academics, researchers and students and beyond. … The book, therefore, is highly recommended to whom higher education in Saudi Arabia is a concern.” (Naif Alghamdi, Higher Education, Vol. 69, 2015)

“This book on Saudi higher education analyses not only the achievements but also the problems and concerns in a rigorous yet constructive manner. I strongly recommend the book to all readers who have an interest in the future development of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”

Khalid bin Mohammed Al Ankari, Minister of Higher Education, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

• University of New England, Armidale, Australia

  Larry Smith

• Research and Studies (CHERS), Centre for Higher Education, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

  Abdulrahman Abouammoh

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