Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05RIYADH9531
2005-12-27 09:58:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Riyadh
Cable title:  

NEW PRIVATE UNIVERSITY IN THE EASTERN PROVINCE,

Tags:  SOCI KMPI SA 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RIYADH 009531 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DHAHRAN SENDS
PARIS FOR ZEYA, LONDON FOR TSOU
STATE FOR NEA/PPD - CWHITTLESEY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/26/2015
TAGS: SOCI KMPI SA
SUBJECT: NEW PRIVATE UNIVERSITY IN THE EASTERN PROVINCE,
OPENS FALL '06

REF: RIYADH 9469

Classified By: Acting Consul General Ramin Asgard for reasons 1.4 (b) a

nd (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RIYADH 009531

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DHAHRAN SENDS
PARIS FOR ZEYA, LONDON FOR TSOU
STATE FOR NEA/PPD - CWHITTLESEY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/26/2015
TAGS: SOCI KMPI SA
SUBJECT: NEW PRIVATE UNIVERSITY IN THE EASTERN PROVINCE,
OPENS FALL '06

REF: RIYADH 9469

Classified By: Acting Consul General Ramin Asgard for reasons 1.4 (b) a

nd (d).


1. (U) Summary: A new private university in Saudi Arabia's
Eastern Province is scheduled to open to 600 men and women in
the fall of 2006. Funded by donations from private investors,
Prince Mohammed University's curriculum, faculty recruitment,
and administrative system have been designed and will be
implemented by Texas International Education Consortium
(TIEC). With a maximum total enrollment of 5500 students
planned for 2013, Prince Mohammed University will increase
the educational options available to students in Saudi
Arabia, and seems a good partner for USG educational exchange
programs. End Summary.

-------------- --------------
US CONSULTANT: "WE DESIGNED EVERYTHING EXCEPT THE BUILDINGS"
-------------- --------------


2. (U) Named after the governor of the Eastern Province of
Saudi Arabia, Prince Mohammed bin Fahd, the university has
the useful support of the government bureaucracy. The
construction for Prince Mohammed University (PMU) will begin
in early February 2006. Texas International Educational
Consortium (TIEC) has been closely involved with the project
for the past two years. TIEC is a non-profit educational
consulting firm affiliated with 32 public universities in
Texas. In early December 2005, the PMU working group extended
their contractual agreement with TIEC for two more years to
launch the university.


3. (U) "We designed everything except the buildings," said
Nick Pouton, President and CEO of TIEC, on one his frequent
visits to the Eastern Province. The language of instruction
will be English, and the university will offer degree
programs in business, engineering (for men),interior design
(for women),information technology and computer science. All
degree programs are designed based on research of Saudi
Arabia's labor market needs.

--------------
THE 5-YEAR UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE
--------------


4. (C) As with many English-language universities in Saudi
Arabia, PMU will have a preparatory year of English and math
in addition to the four-year educational program. Many
universities, particularly elite ones, find this year
necessary to compensate for the weak Saudi education system
(reftel). In a December 20 meeting with the CG and consulate
staff, Dr. Issa Alansari, the newly appointed president of
PMU and long-time university administrator, said that
students from Saudi public schools need the preparatory year.


--------------
CITIZENS OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
--------------


5. (U) Dr. Issa Alansari underscored the emphasis that has
been placed on creating a multicultural environment for
students, fostering creative and critical thinking, group
work, and respect and tolerance of others. PMU hopes to
attract many international students, and Dr. AlanQri said
that the Ministry of Higher Education has recently revised a
regulation to allow private universities to have a student
body of 25% international students. PMU is also interested in
educational exchange programs. Both Dr. Alansari and Dr.
Nassar M. Shaikh, Director for Academic Affairs were
enthusiastic about cooperating with us on cultural and
educational exchange programs.


6. (U) As the first private university in the EP, PMU is
trying to compete with universities in Bahrain, Kuwait, and
other Gulf countries. They hope that the cutting edge use of
technology will attract students willing to pay the 40,000 SR
(10,700 USD) tuition.


7. (U) Comment: Saudi Arabia's higher education capacity has
not kept pace with population growth. Every educational
institution that conoffs have visited in the Eastern Province
has thousands more applicants than they can admit. The
opportunities available to women are particularly limited, as
most EP institutions do not accept them at all. While
expensive, PMU will offer a useful option for some students.
End Comment.

(APPROVED: ASGARD)
GFOELLER