Saudi Education Minister Meets with US Officials, Investors to Discuss Investment Opportunities in Education in Saudi Arabia
Washington, February 12, 2024, SPA -- Minister of Education Yousef Al-Bunyan and his accompanying delegation met with senior US officials and key investors, visited several educational institutions and universities in the US, and discussed opportunities to invest in education in the Kingdom at a special forum held here while the minister was on a visit to the US, between February 6 and 10.
The visit aimed to boost scientific, education and research cooperation between relevant institutions from the two countries, observe the use of best international experiences and practices, particularly in terms of early childhood education, and education of students with special needs and people with disabilities.
Another goal of the visit was to attract foreign investment in public and graduate education, and present the opportunities and facilities provided to investors by the Kingdom’s government in light of the investment and economic transformations taking place in the Kingdom with a view to achieving the Saudi Vision 2030.
The minister visited the University of Chicago, where he met with its college deans and discussed the university's plans to cooperate with Saudi Arabia in research, innovation, and the establishment of independent schools for early childhood and general education stages.
In Washington, the minister met with the assistant secretary of state for education and cultural affairs, officials from the bureau of the assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs at the US Department of State, and assistant secretaries of state for postsecondary education and for special education and rehabilitative services at the US Department of Education, with whom he talked about the advancements taking place in the Kingdom, particularly in economy, investment, and education.
The minister also shared insights into the Ministry of Education's plans to improve the school curricula, focus on developing twenty-first-century skills, promote the concept of global citizenship, and foster peace, tolerance, and diversity.
Al-Bunyan also highlighted the ministry's commitment to increasing private sector involvement in delivering high-quality education services and emphasized the ministry's dedication to localizing training and providing development opportunities for teachers through the National Institute for Educational Professional Development.
Also in Washington the forum on investment in the field of education in the Kingdom was held, attended by more than 150 investors and representatives from US universities, institutions and companies, as well as representatives of the Saudi Ministry of Investment, the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, and Saudi investors. The forum aimed to introduce investment opportunities in education in the Kingdom, and answer inquiries regarding establishing branches of American schools and universities in the Kingdom.
The minister held a meeting with the president of Arizona State University to discuss the university’s plan to open a university in the Kingdom, visited Gallaudet University, in Washington, which specializes in educating students with hearing disabilities, met with the head of the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, with whom he discussed cooperation to establish centers specialized in educating people with hearing disabilities in the Kingdom, and held meetings with officials from the Middle East Policy Council and the Educational Testing Services.
In New York City, the minister met with officials from key financing companies, educational technology companies, and investors in the US to present opportunities for investment in the field of education in Saudi Arabia.
The minister also met with Saudi students on scholarships in Chicago and Washington, who he briefed on the future objectives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques scholarship program.
He emphasized that students reflect the human, cultural and social values of the Saudi society, and highlighted the developments in various fields in the Kingdom.
--SPA
