Saudi Arabia will organize an international exhibition on higher education at the International Exhibition Center here from Jan. 26 to 29 next year. The basic aim of the event organized by Ministry of Higher Education under the patronage of King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, will be to unify the efforts of Saudi institutions in the field of higher education and to benefit by establishing cooperation agreements with universities and institutions around the world. Of late there has been massive expansion and progress in the field of higher education which has included establishing new universities in the Kingdom and sending a large number of Saudi students to study abroad, Dr. Khaled Bin Mohammed Al-Anqari, Minister of Higher Education, said in a statement to Saudi Gazette. The higher education exhibition includes the participation of a number of international institutions and relevant organizations which will showcase their programs in higher education along with Saudi universities and other higher institutions dealing in e-learning, distance education and research. Al-Anqari said organizing the International Exhibition on Higher Education reflects the Kingdom's “urgent desire for joint cooperation and partnership programs with internationally renowned universities”. He went on to say that such cooperation would help Saudi universities and institutions carry out existing plans and enhance higher education through the transfer of know-how through distinguished programs and agreements reached between foreign and national institutions. Saudi Arabia will also stimulate its ambitious scholarship programs that enable Saudi students to choose suitable education destinations, he added. Al-Anqari said the exhibition will open up opportunities for Saudi educational institutions and individuals to learn more about leading international experiences and create positive communications channels between Saudi educational entities and their international counterparts. “The main objective of this event is to create awareness and knowledge in all aspects of higher education at the world level, which in turn will contribute to the Kingdom's rapid progress in this vital sector,” he explained. The event will also encourage Saudi higher education institutions to enter into scientific cooperation agreements with their international counterparts besides enabling the private sector and students to become familiar with renowned universities and learn about their educational, scientific, and admission procedures, Al Anqari added. A number of seminars, workshops and training courses will also be organized on the sidelines of the exhibition including a students' forum for the scholarship program and a forum for cultural attaches from various participating countries.
