Women's Higher Education in Saudi

One common theme during our visit to Saudi was the emphasis on creating educational opportunities for women so as to improve their chances of joining the workforce. To that fact, we had the pleasure of visiting two women's universities. Day 3 (in Riyadh) began with our group separating by gender in order to visit the male and female campuses of King Saud University. We then reunited to visit the Al-Riyadh newspaper offices, followed by a tour of what I can only describe as the medium-sized city that is Princess Nora bint Abdulrahman University for Women. Visiting these universities really drove home the point that we were not in Georgetown. Aside from separation of the sexes, the facilities were a sight to behold and envy, with amenities that are unheard of in American universities. Seriously.

King Saud University (Women's Campus)

So this is where all the women are! Upon entering the campus of King Saud University, we encountered hundreds of unveiled women, happily engaged with one another and with the space around them. They are busy little bees, all 22,000 of them, studying as undergraduates or becoming teaching assistants after they finish, in one of their eight colleges (Business Administration, Translation, College of the Arts, Education, and Law). During our round table meeting with the Dean of the School, some of the school directors, a handful of current TA's pursuing Master's programs, and one undergraduate, we found out that these women are strong, intelligent, and hungry for more. There is a strong emphasis in preparing Saudi women with practical skills so that they can join the workforce by including a "Preparatory Year" as part of their studies. Many of them do a stint abroad in the U.S. or Canada; this is highly encouraged, as it broadens the students' experiences, and it also helps King Saud in their pursuit for international prestige.

The university boasts an impressive center for students with special needs. There are all sorts of specially-adapted computers, printers, and other gadgets to aid students with any disabilities. I cannot attest to any such facilities that may exist at Georgetown or Columbia (my undergrad alma mater), but I don't recall ever seeing an entire building devoted exclusively to meeting the needs of students with disabilities at either. It's great to see inclusion of all, particularly considering that it's a relatively new concept in the country.

Princess Nora University

This is one of the most impressive institutions (at least in terms of space) that I have ever seen. To call this a university campus is to undermine the fact that it's closer to a medium-sized city, boasting its own metro system, sports facility, hospital, research centers, student and faculty housing, and... oh, yeah, classrooms for the fifteen colleges. The university was commissioned by King Abdullah in late 2008 and took about 3 years to build (7,000 workers per shift, with 3 shifts per day -- whoa). The campus is now functional, but of course, since it's only been open for a few months, students are only trickling in.

Student housing is quite a sight - all brand-new, one-bedroom apartments that include a 32" LCD TV. Oh, yeah, and did I mention that students pay all of ZERO when they enroll and move in? Yup, all tuition and housing is paid for by the Saudi government. Of course they have oil money to thank for it, and despite any criticisms we may have about the Kingdom, they have certainly stepped up their efforts in making education as available to all as possible. Looking at my student loan balances, it's tough to argue with their approach.

The sports complex took our collective breaths away, considering that it includes a climbing wall, indoor volleyball courts, a track, squash and racquetball courts, an olympic pool, and saunas, steam rooms and massage rooms inside of the locker room. By that point, you're just showing off, people!

So, with all of these gargantuan efforts to include women in their society, what do we expect? I'm optimistic for the country, surprisingly. Changes do not occur overnight in paternalistic societies, but they can happen. I'm reminded of my own father, who was against my playing soccer in high school because it was "too tough for women," only to see his beaming smile (and winces) when he attended my rugby games in college. Yes, women face huge hurdles after they finish their post-secondary education in Saudi, but there is hunger for more -- even if it's veiled under conservatism.