JEDDAH, 9 July 2005 — Classes at Prince Muhammad ibn Fahd Private University in the Eastern Province will begin in September next year, according to Dr. Eissa Al-Ansari, president of the university. He said the number of its students would increase from 600 to 5,500 in five years.
“We have awarded the contract to a national company which will construct the university building at a cost of SR220 million,” he told Asharq Al-Awsat, a sister publication of Arab News. The first phase of the project would be ready by July 2006.
The university will charge a fee of SR25,000 for studies at the College of Administrative Sciences, SR30,000 to SR35,000 for College of Information Technology, and SR35,000 to SR40,000 for the College of Engineering.
The president described the fees as reasonable compared to other private universities in the region, and taking into consideration the standard of education offered by his university. “We’ll provide scholarships to outstanding students and those unable to meet expenses with the support of businessmen and philanthropists,” he said.
Al-Ansari said his university was aware of the challenges posed by other private universities and branches of international universities in the region. But he said the university’s vision, suitable academic atmosphere, modern facilities and world-class faculty would attract students.
The university will have 17 academic programs and the medium of instruction will be English. “In the beginning it will focus on studies not on scientific research and social service. After the first five years, its academic programs will be fine-tuned in accordance with market needs,” he added.
Al-Ansari said the university would cooperate with 32 US universities, which represent its academic consultant. “They will cooperate in the preparation of syllabus, admission policy, selection of faculty, working out library system and setting out laws regulating student life.” He said the university would give priority to Saudi teachers having doctorate degrees. “We will have teachers giving classes using both traditional and modern methods,” he said, adding that faculty members would be selected from Western, Arab and Islamic countries.
Talking about major donors, the president said Prince Sultan, second deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, had given SR10 million. Eastern Province Governor Prince Muhammad ibn Fahd (the university is named after him) donated 500,000 square meter land as well as the building for the engineering college (which is estimated to cost SR17 million).
Al-Ansari said all buildings of the university would be ready by the middle of 2008. Housing facilities would be completed before the beginning of studies, he added. The university will offer 40 administrative jobs and at least 30 teaching jobs in the first year.
