JEDDAH, 4 October 2003 — Maha Abdullah Orkubi, a Saudi, has been appointed dean of the Arab Open University’s Jeddah branch.
This is the first time a Saudi woman has been appointed to such a senior academic position.
The appointment was announced by Prince Talal, chairman of the university’s board of trustees and president of the Arab-Gulf Program for UN Development Organizations. Orkubi, who is from Madinah, did her postgraduate studies at Ohio University. She is an associate professor and head of childhood studies at Jeddah’s King Abdul Aziz University. It was not immediately clear if she would retain this position when she takes up her new post.
The AOU has branches in Jordan, Bahrain, Lebanon and Egypt and offers correspondence courses in computer science, information technology, English language, business administration and teacher training.
Prince Talal also appointed Dr. Habeeb Al-Makki as the university’s dean in Al-Ahsa and Dr. Salah Duqail in the central region of Hail. The university offers courses to Saudis and expatriates.
