Even though avenues to higher education for expatriates are opening up in the Kingdom, young expats say that not all is well pointing to the exorbitant fees charged by local colleges and universities, along with other obstacles, such as a language barrier and a concomitant cultural difference. “An expatriate in the Kingdom, with an average income, has to meet the needs of his family here, and in most cases, his family back home. If he spends SR25,000 to SR50,000 annually per child's higher education, there's not much left for other expenses. Higher education may be expanding in the Kingdom, but it is still very expensive,” said Khadim Hussein, father of Sobia Khadim, who is pursuing a bachelor's degree in science at the Punjab University, Lahore. “Our children, immediately after they finish school, have no option but to leave the Kingdom for higher education. And very often, one of the parents leaves with the child, while the other stays in the Kingdom to work and support the child's education, which results in the splitting up of the family,” he said. Educational institutions, such as Prince Sultan University for Tourism and Business, Riyadh College for Dentistry and Pharmacy, College of Business Administration, University of Tabuk, Effat University, Batterjee Medical College, etc., have opened up to expat students. These universities offer a similar fee structure for both expatriates and Saudis. Excluding the registration fee and depending on the chosen program, the fee structures in some of these colleges are: Batterjee Medical College (SR40,000 – SR70,000), Effat University (SR20,000 per semester), College of Business Administration (SR1300 per credit hour, total credit hours adding up to 131), Prince Sultan University For Tourism and Business ($2,500-$5,000 for international students), and Riyadh Private College For Dentistry and Pharmacy ($10,000 - $12,500 for undergraduate programs and $15,000 - $17,500 for postgraduate programs). King Abdulaziz University (KAU) will be offering three-year degree programs to expats in computer networking, insurance, marketing, sales, accounting, and pharmacy starting October at the university's Jeddah Community College (JCC). Admissions will be strictly based on merit and the six-semester course will cost SR45,000. Irfan Ahmed, KAU marketing manager, believes that if local colleges are able to provide affordable as well as vocational education to young expats, students will be able to save on expenses by studying in the Kingdom with their families. “Saudi universities that plan to provide educational opportunities to expats should keep in mind that education should be affordable for all and that it is not a money-minting business that may bar diligent students from seeking education,” he said. Many expatriates believe that pursuing higher education in their home country suits them better in more ways than one. Fatima Subhani Khan, a Jeddah resident who is now studying at the International Islamic University in Islamabad, said that private education in the Kingdom is very expensive and that more colleges should be established here to meet the educational needs of all expats. “Education here is still in its early stages. It will probably take some time to achieve international standards,” she said. Abdul Rahman, an expat student pursuing a distance education program, said: “After completing my class 12, I enrolled in a private institute in Riyadh. But being unsatisfied with the standard of education and the expensive fee structure there, I quit and have now joined a distance education course.” The most likely option for expats who do not leave the Kingdom for higher education is enrolling in universities in their home country that conduct exams here. Pakistani universities, such as, University of Karachi, Allama Iqbal Open University, etc., conduct graduate and post-graduate programs in the Kingdom. Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), Sikkim Manipal University (SMU), Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU), etc., are among some of the Indian universities that operate here via local centers. “I did my BBA from the University of Karachi. Now I would like to pursue a post-graduate program in the Kingdom, provided the program's fee structure is not beyond one's reach and that it has a decent quality of education,” said Malik Khurram Mansoor, marketing officer at the Pakistani Embassy in Riyadh. The Saudi government offers scholarships to nationals only. “The government has announced 100 percent scholarships for Saudi nationals who score 65 percent or above. Why can't there be similar moves for expat students?” asked Mutarba Khan, a former student of the International Indian School Jeddah (IISJ), who is now studying in Batterjee Medical College. Ahmad Abdul Wahab, Vice Dean of Technology and Development of JCC, said: “Organizations should have objectives in line with their strategic plans. One of the aspects that supports the achievement of the goals of the JCC's strategic plan is to serve the community because it is a community college that works for the community at large.” He said other local colleges should also take the lead if they have the capacity and if it is in line with their goals and objectives. Expat students who go abroad for higher studies are also faced with the uncertainties of coming back to the Kingdom at any given time in case of an Iqama renewal. They might have to miss a semester if there are conflicting dates. Ashfaq Mehmood, principal of the Pakistan International School Jeddah (PISJ), Al-Aziziah, said: “Universities here should reduce their fee structures because it's very difficult for our children, especially daughters, to travel alone. Moreover, these children are faced with a dilemma if they have to miss a semester to travel back to get their Iqama renewed.” Seconding him, Syed Masood Ahmed, principal of IISJ, said colleges and universities should introduce affordable professional courses and programs for deserving expats. “It would strengthen interaction between communities in every aspect,” he said.
