Rawan Jabaji
Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah has announced plans to build the first women-only university in the kingdom, and vows that it will be the largest women’s university in the world.
This is a bold move by the king, who has frequently struggled against Saudi Arabia’s powerful religious establishment to educate women in the kingdom and integrate them in the workplace. Until now, women have had limited access to higher education in restricted women’s sections of Saudi universities where they are only permitted to study certain subjects. Saudi women still can’t drive, vote or be caught in public without their spouse or a male relative.
I spent a number of my childhood years in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in the 80s and 90s due to my father’s work, but I always commuted back and forth between school in upstate New York and summers in the kingdom with my family. My cousin lived in Riyadh and attended a public high school up through her senior year.
When my cousin completed high school, she visited King Faisal University, one of the many public colleges in the kingdom, which has both male and female sections. She described the scene for me. At the university, women are segregated from their male peers, and even their professors. In the classroom, women sit at desks surrounded by wood panels on either side. Professors lecture from remote locations and the women listen through a TV screen. And if a female student has a question during class, she alerts the professor by pressing a button below her TV screen and addressing the professor through a microphone.
Saudi men often study abroad if they can afford tuition and maneuver getting a student visa. It’s considered more prestigious to study outside the country, so if they can’t go to the United States or Europe to study, Saudi men enroll in universities in the Middle East instead of staying in the kingdom.
It’s another story for women.
Women who wish to continue their education beyond high school are often persuaded to stay within the kingdom’s reigns, as it isn’t customary for women to leave their home before marriage. And if a woman does leave, she must be accompanied by her spouse or a male relative. Women experienced university studies in Saudi Arabia as they experience much of life in the kingdom — behind the veil. However this new initiative by King Abdullah may be one of many nascent steps to reform, and possibly indicative of relaxing social norms in the conservative kingdom.
Princess Noura Bint Abdulrahman University for Girls, set to be completed in 2010, will allow women to study medicine, pharmacy, management, computer sciences and various languages—subjects that women have difficulty studying in the gender-segregated public universities in Saudi Arabia. University president Princess Al-Jowhara Bint Fahd said that the university is designed to become the world’s largest center of higher learning for women.
“We want to make it a leading international institution,” said Princess Al-Jowhara.
“This is a milestone in the kingdom’s history, particularly in the history of women’s education,” said Ibrahim Al Assaf, Minister of Finance. “The campus would include an administration building, a central library, conference centers, buildings for 15 academic faculties, several laboratories and a 700-bed hospital equipped with state-of-the-art facilities.”
The university will be built on the eastern suburbs of Riyadh, with the capacity to enroll about 40,000 female students.The environmentally friendly university will include a high-tech transport system with automatic and computer-controlled vehicles linking all important facilities at the university. The campus will also include housing for university staff, mosques, a kindergarten and an exclusive amusement center for families and students.
And the price tag on the women’s university will be approximately $5 billion USD.
“The king’s presence here shows his generous support for women empowerment in Saudi Arabia and his keen desire to promote higher education,” said Khaled Al-Anqari, the Minister of Higher Education.
In 2004, Wide Angle visited Saudi Arabia in The Saudi Question. The film includes an interview with Senator Joe Biden, then the ranking Democrat on the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.
(18 votes)
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It is a great Idea Which will help our wemen to continue their desirable studies without limitation. I am ready to offer any help needed.
Dr, Salma M abdel-Rahman
PhD Louisisna State Universty, USA
Professor of Parsitology and Immunology
Facylty of Medicine
Assiut Univ, Assiut Egypt
How much does this university cost?
i want to send my daughter i am from australai and i want to know how much it will cost me
i m very much glad to know about womens university in saudiarabia .currently i m studing MBA .from osmania university india .inshallah i want to continue my studies in saudi arabia .i have bought up there .plz let me know the eligiblity for phd and the expenditure .thanqs
Mashaallah, It is a great step for providing high quality education to women. Unless woman is empowered, the family cannot achieve the standards required. I am a lecturer in india, I teach Home Science which include Nutrition and dietetetics, Resource Management, Textile and clothing, Human Development and Extention Education. Inshaallah, I will be happy to contribute my services in the university.
Dr. Chaman Farzana
ph.D in Resource Management( H.Sc)
Lecturer
Mount Carmel College ( Autonomous),
Bangalore- 560 032
India
I am a Ph.D Mathematicsand would feel honour to be a part of aculty of this university. I do not know how to apply?
hi all ,i live in alriyadh and am planning to study MBA here dont know any clues where to start ,i want a respectable university for women ,any sudgestions ladies ??? i need a track to start searching :) thx in advance for ur help reagds..
Aslamu Alikum
I would like to attend this university and would like to have information about it, I’m only a Junior and have one more year of high school but before that coes up I’d like to know more about this university
Jikakallah khair.
aslamu alikum
I live in the United State of America, im in my junior year and before i get to senior i would like to have more information on the university becasue i;d like to go to attend it. please help be get more information so I could study more.
Jizakallah khair sisters and brother.
I want to acquire ph.d in chemistry from an university in saudiarabia.I wanna know about the minimum qualification and other experiences I need to have and procedure to join.
Asa;am-o-Alikum,
I have done my MS (18 year education) in Mathematics from Pakistan. i want to join this university as a lecture. What is the procedure to join.
I have done my MS (18 year education) in chemistry from Pakistan. i want to join this university as a lecture. What is the procedure to join.
it is very great to help women study and achieve their desire. i am a chemical engineer and MS.C holder in environmental studies -university of khartoum,Sudan-. i will be very glad to be one of the university staff, so how can i apply?
I have obtained MBA (Marketing Management)degree from Queensland University Australia. Also I have done MPA from university of Punjab Lahore Pakistan. I have two years experience of teaching at different universities in Pakistan. I would feel honour to become a faculty member of your university. I shall highly appreciate, if you couldplease let me knowtheprocedure tojoin it. I will feel obliged for your early reply.
With Kind Regards
My daughter is currently doing her 2nd year in Riyadh, we are in search of university specially for women and were planning to go back in our home country,but the upcoming of this university have raised great hopes for our family. We are deperately waiting the opening of women’s university and with no doubt this university will be our 1st choice. Please pass us any information you may have to assist our contact with the authorities for enrolment of my daughter well on time. Thanks
Congratulation saudi women and may Allab bless King Abdalla. It is reaaly for muslim women to feel free to live their educational life and express themselves unbound.
I had an experience working for Saudi Arabian Women Institute and would like to apply for this university .Please tell how tp apply
Congratulation Saudi women and May Allah bless King Abdullah. It is really for Muslim women to feel free to live their educational life and express themselves liberated. . I am a master degree holder in English literature from Bardwan university India I will be very glad to be one of the university staff, I want to join this university as a lecture. Please let me know What is the procedure to join.
M.A. in (English literature)
salam, presently i am living in London and considering to move to KSA after completing my MSc in Tourism management from Surrey University, Guilford,UK. I also did masters in Social Anthropology from Pakistan. I have a very good experience of teaching. I am a single parent and raising two sons 7 and 5 yrs old. if i move to over there what would be the circumstances. here i am independent and drive around to take my children everywhere i want to like parks, library, shopping etc.i am very happy here with my sons but the reason i want to move is to get spiritual peace and raise my sons in islamic values.
Plz consider my reuest and send me information regarding my move.
thnx.
Assalaam aleykum. This is indeed a great oppotunity both for Saudi local women and muslim women outside. I am from East Europe, speaking many languages. I have done my BA in teaching. Have worked in well known brands. Graduated from MBA in International Business in London. Have etsablished my own brand and business in the UK. Have got a lot to share with those who wish. I intend to start my PhD in Emotional Intelligence in couple of months.
I AM VERY MUCH WILLING TO JOIN THE ACADEMIC TEAM OF THE SAUDI WOMENS UNIVERSITY. PLEASE CONTACT ON MY PROVIDED E-MAIL ADDRESS. IT IS MORE THAN A SIMPLE JOB FOR ME.
Assalam o Alaikum
I have done M Sc Applied Linguistics from Pakistan with 3.5 CGPA, currently a lecturer in a well repute university. I am ready to offer my services , it will be my honour to be part of the faculty.
Jazak Allah
Assalam o Alaikum !
I have done M Sc Applied Linguistics(English) from Pakistan with 3.5 CGPA. My Phil (linguistics)research work is underway, hopefully , it will be completed this year, currently working as a lecturer in a well repute university(pakistan). I am ready to offer my services , it will be my honour to be part of the faculty.
M Sc (Applied Linguistics)
M Phil (linguistics)Research work (underway)
Jazak Allah
assalamualaikum,
hey,lets cheer saudi women its a great idea,Inshallah let dis project be completed as soon as possible,i m a post graduate in both physics and electronics n even completed my advance PG in electronics(VLSI)with good communication,interpersonal n management skills,worked as lecturer in engineering and PG college in india and now in riyadh,saudi with family.I would like to contribute my services to this first saudi women’s university.
I’am a nineteen years old secondary school graduate and would like to further my studies in saudi arabia first women university. I want to study medicine or nursing. when will you start admitting student? and how much will it cost me per annum. I will also like to know the course duration.
from muhibbat yussuf
I would like to apply as lecturer. I am completing MS thesis in Pakistan. I need your guidance please…
Its sounds good, i am en engineer by profession and have completed Masters in Urban planning as well from University of Engineerning & Technology Lahore , now i am doing MS leading Mphil from Sttutgart GERMANY , i would like to contribute my knowledge n Experinece in thz coming University being a part of Faculaty,i am eager to know about upcoming oppurtunities in this regard.
Assalaam alaikum This is so great MashaAllah.. i would love to study at this University, i did my undergraduate in Mass communications… and it would be so great to do a masters here in management, what is the application procedure?
I am for women empowerment! I am willing to share my knowledge in nursing in your university.
Assalaamalaikum.. does anyone know where we can get more i nformation about the application procedures to this university? JazakaAllah khayrun
I am Pakistani, serving in Arar Al-shumaliya as specialist Dermatologist ,i shall be proud to teach in the Women unniversity and contribute in the growth of education of my Saudi sisters
I have had the opprtunity to visit Saudi Arabia while performing the Hadj rites. I would have very like to sat back there for ever. I wish very much to get all information about the university so that i can see the possibility of pursuing my studies in communication there.plz do send me latest details
Salam, i will like to confirm if there is any online program, and the courese.i reside in Nigeria
asalamu alaikum i am interested in an all women university or mixed university. i am really serious about en rolling with some friends. what exactly do we need to do to enroll. do we qualify for scholarship
could i be contacted inshaallah
I did PhD in Biochemistry and Biomedical scineces from McMaster University Canada Ontario. I am Canadain cetizen and want to join the faculty of this University. Guide me how can I join?
Hi
i it so creat to have this king of University, i would like to take my PHD in marketing or managment but i heard the univrsity only acceptce the computer major is that right????