When I spoke at General Assembly in June, I undertook to keep colleagues informed of developments around the proposed opportunities to work in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Since then we have undertaken extensive exploration of these opportunities and this note is intended to update the University on progress.

After careful assessment, we do not believe that the market conditions in the Kingdom, at this time, make the development of a University campus or branch viable. This is therefore no longer being considered as an option at present.

The University will continue to explore the other opportunities linked to our current international engagement aspirations that may enable future activities, as market conditions change.

One significant benefit from our recent engagement with the Kingdom is that the University is now on the approved list of international universities that the Kingdom will provide sponsorship for students to attend our campuses (at taught and doctoral levels). This could be of significant benefit to our international student recruitment, as well as helping develop the Kingdom’s sporting infrastructure in ways that are more straightforward for the University to engage with. I have asked our Global Engagement team, together with our envoys for the region, to progress this opportunity.

I know there have been a plurality of views on this matter within the University. As an international university I believe it is important that we explore a range of partnerships across the world. We have sought to engage with the University community in an open, authentic and collegiate way. The upside of such engagement has been the inclusion of a diversity of voices in the broader conversation. At the start of the process we were open that we didn’t have all the answers and a dialogue within the University was important. I think we now have a way forwards and will engage the University’s governance forums, where appropriate, to progress. Finally can I thank all colleagues and students that have contributed to the development of the University’s thinking on these matters.

Professor Nick Jennings
Vice-Chancellor and President