MENA FN

Jeddah, Jun 23: A number of foreign university branches has been closed down in the Kingdom after learning that they were operating without licenses, Asharq Al-Awsat reported.

A Higher Education Ministry official revealed that some foreign universities published advertisements in local newspapers and started admitting students and collecting fees before applying for a licence.

Universities which are operating without a licence not only harmed their reputation but also caused problems for their students. However, the official welcomed foreign universities to open their branches in the Kingdom.

It is expected that private sector participation in higher education would increase by 30 percent within the next few years as the ministry has given nearly 70 preliminary licenses to establish private universities and colleges.

Currently, the ministry is carrying out a feasibility study on the capacity of existing institutions of higher learning, and the prospects of opening new private colleges and universities and the number of prospective students to be enrolled in them during the next 25 years.