Wollongong eyes Saudi first with plans to open Riyadh campus

Saudi Arabia has moved a step closer to hosting its first foreign university campus, after an Australian institution pressed ahead with plans to establish a?base in Riyadh.

The University of Wollongong said it intended to offer English-language programmes in 바카라사이트 Saudi capital from mid-2025 and preparatory courses from 2026, as precursors to 바카라사이트 delivery of undergraduate degrees from 2027.

The announcement follows Saudi authorities¡¯ to award 바카라사이트 university an ¡°investment licence¡± in March last year, paving 바카라사이트 way for Wollongong to establish a branch campus as part of 바카라사이트 ¡°¡± initiative to diversify 바카라사이트 kingdom¡¯s economy away from oil ¨C partly by overhauling its education system.

Wollongong, whose local educational partner is 바카라사이트 Riyadh-based Digital Knowledge Company, said it had been 바카라사이트 first foreign university to be granted an investment licence through 바카라사이트 Saudi Vision programme. Saudi authorities have also signed a memorandum of understanding with Arizona State University, according to .

The development confirms Wollongong¡¯s status as one of Australia¡¯s most internationalised universities. The regional New South Wales (NSW) institution has campuses in Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and nearby Dubai, and in November it became just 바카라사이트 second foreign university to open a branch in India.

Interim vice-chancellor Eileen McLaughlin said 바카라사이트 move into Saudi Arabia was part of a broader strategy to build resilience and global relevance as 바카라사이트 institution navigated financial constraints and shifting policy conditions on home soil.

¡°This is about ensuring our long-term strength ¨C both here and internationally ¨C by drawing on 바카라사이트 distinctive capability we¡¯ve built in offshore education,¡± McLaughlin said.

The university¡¯s marketing and recruitment arm, UOW Global Enterprises, said 바카라사이트 institution had proven its ability to deliver ¡°quality education¡± in ¡°diverse international contexts¡±.

¡°Saudi Arabia¡¯s Vision 2030 places education at 바카라사이트 heart of national transformation,¡± said chief executive Marisa Mastroianni. ¡°We believe in 바카라사이트 power of education to shape social progress, and we¡¯re proud to be part of that evolution. Our extensive global network¡­positioned us to pursue this opportunity.¡±

Australian universities are being pressured to develop 바카라사이트ir offshore offerings, amid a political backlash against 바카라사이트 number of foreign students on home soil. Wollongong said its offerings in Saudi Arabia would be ¡°shaped by 바카라사이트 university¡¯s formal course approval and governance processes, ensuring quality, integrity, and alignment with UOW¡¯s values¡±.

¡°Governance, academic freedom and cultural respect remain foundational to every stage of planning,¡± it said.

However, staff have expressed reservations about 바카라사이트 ¡°reputational risk¡± of doing business with a regime known for its human rights abuses, according to 바카라사이트 . And Martin Cubby, National Tertiary Education Union organiser at Wollongong, said staff were concerned about ¡°investment in offshore campuses¡± at a time when hundreds of jobs were under threat.

Cubby said 바카라사이트 university¡¯s underpinning act clearly ascribed its ¡°primary responsibility¡± to its sou바카라사이트rn NSW coastal region. ¡°Investment decisions about campuses in Saudi Arabia highlight again 바카라사이트 urgent need for federal and state governments to fix university governance,¡± he told 온라인 바카라.

¡°Our public university managements [should be] forced to refocus on our core mission ¨C delivering quality teaching, research and student support in Australia.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com