THREE leading entities have joined to create an elite educational institution located at King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) in Saudi Arabia modeled after Babson College's top-ranked entrepreneurship education programs in the United States. Babson Global, a wholly owned subsidiary of Babson College; Lockheed Martin; King Abdullah Economic City; and the Saudi Arabia Economic Offset Program (EOP) office announced at the recent Saudi Arabia Ministry of Education's International Exhibition and Forum for Education (IEFE). The College for Business and Entrepreneurship at KAEC project is aligned with the vision of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, for the Kingdom to become a leading knowledge-based economy by advancing education, entrepreneurial skills and helping establish the next generation of job creators. Its development by KAEC, the private partner and owner of the College, is part of a comprehensive entrepreneurship ecosystem within the new city to foster the next generation of job creators. The college will be based on Babson's unique methodology, fueled by Babson expertise and founded on the same academic rigor that has made Babson the No. 1 ranked school for entrepreneurship education by US News & World Report for the past 20 years. Degree programs will be offered in 2017. "Helping to establish an educational institution that will support sustainable development and contribute to peace and stability in Saudi Arabia is important and exciting work," said Babson President Kerry Healey. "Babson is proud to assist Saudi Arabia and partner with Lockheed Martin on this tremendous opportunity to bring world-class entrepreneurship education to Saudi students and to help empower them to stimulate economic development and generate new sources of job growth in the Kingdom." The initiative also advances King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) as a hub of activities to encourage the region's emerging entrepreneurial businesses. "Entrepreneurship is at the core of our vision for KAEC and we are deeply engaged in helping people build and develop the skills they need to be successful in the future," said Fahd Al Rasheed, Managing Director and Group CEO of King Abdullah Economic City. "In the new world of work, innovation is the currency of success. By developing an entrepreneurship ecosystem here in the city with this world class educational institution at its heart, KAEC is delivering on its mandate to be a driver of socio-economic change in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia." Under the agreement, Lockheed Martin will provide funding over a 10-year period to establish the Babson-powered programs and campus at KAEC, the world's largest public-listed city. The investment will produce credits toward fulfilling Lockheed Martin's industrial participation or "offset" obligations tied to its business in Saudi Arabia. "We are committed to supporting the economic development of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with an innovative program that will provide sustainable returns and benefits," said Alan Chinoda, Chief Executive, Lockheed Martin Saudi Arabia. "Today's announcement is the culmination of four years of project planning and maturation, and Lockheed Martin is honored to be a partner with Babson in this exciting initiative." When fully developed, the new College will have a complete campus environment and the capability to enroll up to 1,400 students in graduate, undergraduate and entrepreneurship development programs. Activities will include classroom study programs as well as virtual, technology-aided programs. The development will include the unique Babson Global Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership as an important resource for both the College and the Saudi business and entrepreneurial community in general.
