RIYADH, 30 January — The Canadian Education Center Network (CECN) has launched a new drive to attract Saudi students.
Rodney Briggs, CECN president, who visited the Kingdom recently, said there were only 800 student authorizations last year for the Gulf region. "This is a fairly small number but it is growing", he said, adding that 98 Saudi students chose to pursue education in Canada in the year 2000 compared to 53 Saudi students in 1999.
CECN, which has 19 overseas centers, is considering a proposal to open a chapter in Saudi Arabia. The CECN, a private non-profit agency based in Vancouver, represents 277 educational institutions across Canada.
Referring to his talks with the officials of the Ministry of Education, Briggs said six areas were identified by the two sides for utilizing Canadian expertise. He said the CECN would prepare some project proposals, mainly related to short-term training courses, to present to Saudi authorities.
During his stay in Riyadh, Briggs also held talks with the officials of the General Organization for Technical Education and Vocational Training (GOTEVOT). He urged Saudi students to choose Canada as it has a massive educational infrastructure. It has some 85 universities and 200 community colleges.
Briggs said he had discussed with Canadian Embassy official a plan to hold a major educational fair in Saudi Arabia. The event will take place tentatively in September or October this year. (M.G.A.K.)
