JEDDAH, 4 August — Plans are under way to establish a world-class private university in the Makkah region.
Makkah Governor Prince Abdul Majeed yesterday chaired a meeting of the university’s constituent committee.
"The meeting discussed the establishment of the university, which will of the highest standard," Saudi Press Agency reported quoting Dr. Hatim Marzouki, acting secretary-general of the Makkah Provincial Council.
"This university will be a large educational complex comprising faculties of various scientific, technological, engineering and medical specializations," he said. It will also include research and technological centers, a hospital and a medical center.
Marzouki said the university’s location was still to be decided.
"It will be located in the center of the region to serve people in all the governorates," he explained. The project will be open to private investment.
The plan to open a new private university comes as part of the Kingdom’s efforts to achieve a quantum leap in quality education that would be steered to meet the requirements of the country’s development.
At present there are eight government universities in the Kingdom. Two of them are located in Riyadh, two in the Eastern Province and one each in Jeddah, Makkah, Madinah and Abha.
The Ministry of Higher Education has given approval to establish two private universities and 26 private colleges. Classes have started at six of these colleges.
Higher Education Minister Dr. Khaled Al-Anqari recently disclosed the government’s plan to establish 18 new colleges within two years.
"We have already implemented more than 80 new academic programs in specializations required by the job market such as laboratory and X-ray, computer science, communications and marketing," he said.
Al-Anqari said six new community colleges will be established in Baha, Najran, Riyadh, Alkharj, Jeddah and Dammam.
"These colleges will focus on specializations such as computer science, health science, marketing, accounting and financing," he said.
