SR 355 million budget to help SEU fulfill its objective

Higher Education Minister Khaled Al-Anqari yesterday highlighted the remarkable progress achieved by Saudi Electronic University within two years. “SEU will play an important role in realizing the Kingdom’s goal of becoming a knowledge-based economy,” he said.
Al-Anqari said the separate budget allocation would strengthen the university and its capabilities to become the sole provider of electronic and distance education in the Kingdom with high standard. The new budget has set aside SR 355 million for SEU.
Al-Anqari, accompanied by SEU’s acting rector Abdullah Al-Moussa, inspected the university’s various departments and facilities. “SEU will become a full-fledged university offering advanced scientific courses,” he said.
Al-Moussa said the government decision restricting e-learning to SEU would boost distance education in the Kingdom. He advised universities to stop accepting students for e-learning courses beginning from 2013-14 academic year. “During this period, SEU will establish e-learning centers in different parts of the Kingdom in cooperation with other Saudi universities,” he added.
Al-Moussa said SEU would follow a five-phase program for students’ intake. “In the first stage we’ll review student trends and job market requirements. In the second stage, we’ll create suitable learning atmosphere. After that we’ll start admitting students. It will be followed by the phases of review and changes.”
He said the government decision would enable the university to accommodate more students who wanted to join various e-learning courses, which has become popular among Saudis.