JEDDAH: The largest British higher education delegation of its kind to visit the Kingdom opens its doors here to the general public for two days beginning today.
More than 60 universities and colleges offering thousands of courses are actively seeking Saudi young men and women to join more than 10,000 part-time and full-time Saudi students already in the UK.
Sponsored by the British Council, the official opening of Edukex takes place at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry at 4 p.m.
“The UK has several distinct advantages in the field of higher education,” Marcus Gilbert, western regional director of the British Council, told Arab News. “The academic path from undergraduate to doctoral level can realistically be traveled in seven years and the graduate can enter the job market with a qualification that is recognized across the world.”
Gilbert added that many Saudi students found that residence in the UK gave them an opportunity to enhance their English-language skills as part of their stay.
“The UK has a long tradition of language teaching,” he said. “We are amply equipped with language schools and courses and, of course, there is no better way to achieve facility with a language than by living in a culture where it is used all day every day.”
The British Council does not restrict itself to just education but also to encouraging interaction among people of different cultures and traditions.
“We want to actively encourage exchange of ideas between young people so that each knows more about the other’s way of life and coming to terms with the world we live in,” he said.
A reception for the delegates was held in Jeddah at the Crowne Plaza last night where invited members of the local community had a chance to meet them.
Edukex will be open through Jan. 28 in Jeddah and moves on to the Eastern Province for Jan. 31 and Feb. 1.
