The Middle East Supplement
Knowledge & Global Impact
A look at the transformation of the higher education landscape in Saudi Arabia.
By Dr. Ahmed Al Kuwaiti, Dean, Deanship of Quality and Academic Accreditation,
Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University
“Saudi universities are exhibiting significant advancements in research and development, wherein government-sponsored funding initiatives, exemplified by the Saudi Research, Development, and Innovation Authority (RDIA), are propelling scientific progress.”
Saudi Arabia is dedicated to transforming into a knowledge-based economy, wherein higher education is pivotal in this metamorphosis. The government has augmented its educational expenditure, established many universities and facilitated the overseas education of thousands of students for advanced studies and professional training, thereby exemplifying its dedication to cultivating human resources essential for economic advancement. Consequently, substantial reforms have been instituted to enhance educational quality, broaden accessibility, and synchronise academic curricula with national goals and labour market demands. These reforms are integral to the Kingdom's national transformation initiatives and the actualisation of the Vision 2030 framework, which aims to diminish reliance on oil revenues by investing in human capital and generating a proficient workforce capable of contributing to a diversified economy and emerging industries. In this scholarly article, the author elucidates the landscape of Saudi Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) concerning their establishment, development, internationalisation initiatives, research and development endeavors, quality assurance and accreditation processes and performance in global university rankings.
Expansion of the Saudi higher education sector
All HEIs within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) are under the purview of the Ministry of Higher Education (MOE), which was established in 1975. As of 2024, the MOE governs 29 public universities, 16 private universities and 21 private colleges. Furthermore, it supervises 143 colleges and 98 institutes through the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation, which are distributed across the Kingdom. All public universities receive funding from the government and provide a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. All Saudi HEIs have aligned their strategic priorities with the Vision 2030 initiative and have instituted programs to enhance the workforce with pertinent skills, thereby striving to increase employment rates among Saudi youth and diversify economic revenue streams beyond oil. In particular, newly introduced degree programmes in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, biotechnology and sustainability support national priorities. Moreover, universities are categorised according to their academic offerings and the industries they serve, facilitating the development of specialised expertise and addressing industry demands. For example, public universities such as King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) concentrate on engineering, petroleum, minerals, and scientific disciplines, whereas Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University focuses on medicine, nursing, dentistry, architecture, engineering and the humanities. Al Faisal University provides specialisations in medicine, engineering, business, and science, intending to foster leadership and innovation, while Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University is dedicated to women's education, emphasising art, humanities, and social sciences to empower women.
Digital transformation
The expedited assimilation of digital technologies is fundamentally transforming the educational framework in Saudi Arabia. Throughout the pandemic and the recovery phase, Saudi educational establishments have leaned toward integrating online learning solutions, forming digital classrooms, and assembling extensive virtual libraries to enrich the academic experience. As such, universities used digital systems to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 by adopting digital learning and technological work systems to replace traditional learning and work systems.
Faculty members can engage in learning through such technological modalities, reaching a broader audience to address the diverse educational needs of societies in constant flux. Furthermore, the amalgamation of digital technology alongside sustainability considerations offers a significant prospect for re-envisioning the methodologies through which HEIs collect and utilise student feedback as a metric for enhancing the quality of academic programmes and services. Surveys conducted online among students regarding the quality of courses and programs consistently yield prompt and adaptable feedback, readily available for analysis and insightful interpretations by educators, enabling timely and appropriate interventions. This system is also considerably more efficient to administer, conserving both time and financial resources while simultaneously being more user-friendly for students.
Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University in Saudi Arabia has instituted a web-based "Estibana" application system to elicit feedback from students, faculty, and alumni. This online application is tailored to meet the specific needs of the university and effectively addresses several challenges associated with traditional paper-based survey administration, including responder fatigue, low response rates, unreliable data, inaccessibility, protracted processes, elevated costs, and a lack of environmental sustainability. Estibana swiftly generates electronic student feedback reports, enabling the university to implement necessary actions to rectify identified issues and promptly address existing gaps.
Focus towards internationalisation
Saudi universities are undergoing a significant transformation in their internationalisation strategies by incorporating an international and intercultural dimension into their core functions, encompassing education, research, and service endeavors, which serve to enhance their competitive edge by attracting global students and academic staff, navigating financial constraints, elevating their competitiveness and establishing themselves as esteemed institutions.
Furthermore, numerous Saudi universities have partnered with foreign institutions to facilitate exchange programs and collaborative research initiatives. King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) has kicked off programmes to form research centers concentrating on elevated scientific and technological research studies in collaboration with distinguished worldwide entities. This collaboration has resulted in a heightened output of publications in domains closely aligned with national priorities, such as renewable energy, biotechnology, and information technology, thereby bolstering the national agenda of 2030 and addressing the strategic requirements of the Kingdom.
Progress in research and development
Notably, Saudi universities are exhibiting significant advancements in research and development, wherein government-sponsored funding initiatives, exemplified by the Saudi Research, Development, and Innovation Authority (RDIA), are propelling scientific progress. KAUST and other research-oriented institutions are successfully attracting global talent and promoting groundbreaking discoveries in energy, health sciences and artificial intelligence. The implementation of research endowments and innovation grants has incentivised faculty and students to embark on trailblazing projects. Saudi educational institutions are creating interdisciplinary research facilities for sustainability, technological advancement and biotechnological solutions to meet critical worldwide challenges. Collaborative research efforts between Saudi institutions and international universities are increasing, facilitating knowledge exchange and technology transfer.
Through initiatives such as the King Salman International Complex for Science and Technology, Saudi researchers participate in collaborative studies with global experts, thereby augmenting the Kingdom’s contribution to global knowledge production. Numerous Saudi higher education institutions are forming academic and research partnerships with international universities to promote student and faculty exchanges, collaborative research projects, and the sharing of resources, thereby enhancing their global standing and providing students with a rich array of learning experiences. A notable initiative to enhance the research productivity of universities in Saudi Arabia is establishing the Highly Cited International Researchers Program, an innovative programme designed to support faculty, researchers, and students in joining esteemed and established research groups at world-class universities. The King Saud University’s International Highly Cited Research Groups Program supports faculty, researchers, and students in joining internationally renowned and established research groups in world-class universities, and the research output generated by these research groups has been published in elite scientific journals. KAUST has topped the Clarivate Highly Cited Researchers 2024 list in the entire Middle East region, with 14 of its faculty members making the list.
Greater emphasis on quality and accreditation
Saudi universities are placing significant emphasis on quality assurance across all their operational processes, wherein academic accreditation transcends mere recognition and is crucial for its existence as well as distinguishing themselves from their counterparts. Within Saudi Arabia, the National Center for Academic Accreditation and Assessment (NCAAA) plays a pivotal role in establishing standards acknowledged as best practices globally while being customised to the local context. The NCAAA is responsible for the accreditation of higher education institutions (HEIs) and academic programs in Saudi Arabia, each governed by distinct standards and criteria. Beyond the provision of accreditation, the NCAAA also oversees the quality of the accredited institutions and their respective programmes.
Progress in ranking performance
In addition to the aspects of quality and academic accreditation, universities in Saudi Arabia place considerable emphasis on global university rankings, as achieving a higher ranking substantially enhances a university's reputation, international image and recognition on a global scale, thereby attracting potential students, faculty, investors, and collaborators from various industries. Three institutions have successfully attained positions within the top 200 universities in the QS World University Rankings. Correspondingly, within the Arab region, Saudi universities exhibit a significant presence, with five institutions ranked among the top 15 positions. Furthermore, 12 Saudi universities are in the list of the top 1,000 universities in the QS Sustainability Rankings.
Conclusion
Saudi Arabia’s transformation in the higher education sector, driven by Vision 2030, focuses on expanding universities, aligning programmes with labor market needs, and integrating digital learning. International ucollaborations and research investments in AI, biotechnology and sustainability enhance global competitiveness. Digital tools improve academic quality, while rigorous accreditation ensures high standards among universities in programme delivery. These efforts have elevated Saudi universities in global rankings, strengthening their international reputation. By prioritising education, research, and innovation, Saudi Arabia is building a knowledge economy, reducing oil dependence, and positioning itself as a global leader in higher education, fostering economic diversification and scientific advancement.