The Future of Higher Education in Saudi Arabia:

Challenges and Opportunities

Dr. Mubarak AlkhatnaiKing Saud University

The Outline

• Set the scene • Administrative issues • Institutional issues • Qualitative changes • Quantitative changes • Some Initiatives

The Context

• History • Education • Higher Education HE• Ministry of Higher Education MOHE and HE

Governance • Higher Education Institutions HEIs• Saudi HE and Change – Challenges and Threats – Opportunities and Trends

Why Higher Education? • The future of the university • Knowledge economy • Population demographics

– Changing student population • Market-demand • Public responsibility • International cooperation and recognition

– Global competition – Segregation of research and education market

• International accreditation • Technology impact and changing roles

Administrative Issues • Role of the university

– Traditional role – Teaching vs. research – University System (e.g KSU) – Global University (e.g. KAUST)– Cyber University (e.g. SOU)– For-profit University (private)– Comprehensive University Vs. Specialized– Single-sex university (e.g. PNU)

• HE governance – Governmental university – Regulation bodies – Accreditation and competition – International models of the university – University funding - endowments – Spending on HE

• Quality assurance

Institutional Issues • University model • Governance models • University identity • Workforce • Assessment • Student bodies • Strategic thinking • IT issues • Academic freedom • Conflict of interests

Qualitative changes • Drivers of change • Quality• Qualitative Enhancement• Delivery modes• Changing learning behaviors • Gender segregation • Faculty recruitment • Global competition • Societal needs • Market forces • Ethics

Quantitative changes

• Economy growth • Quantitative growth • Student enrolment • Student mobility • World-ranking• Knowledge expansion • Borderless resources

Case Study KSU

• Set the scene • Administrative issues • Institutional issues • Future directions

Facts:Oldest

Highest budgetLargest

Most accredited world 500/300

70,000 Students System

Teaching/research

Administrational: Governmentally appointed and run

Governmentally funded Endowments

Schools and colleges HospitalsStipends

Institutional:Technology

Collaborations Learning/teaching necessities

Forces of change:Economy Students Society

Change and resistance to change

Future:World recognition

Rankings

Envisioned Horizons and Time Schemes

• Budgeting and financing higher education• Identity • Pace of change • Institutional autonomy• HE governance• Alliance• Impact • Collaborations (academics-disciplines- sectors-institutions )• Opportunities and threats • Globalizations

Questions?

Credits