The newest manifestation of Saudi Arabia’s commitment to ensuring its young people have the skills to survive and thrive in a diversified knowledge economy is the Colleges of Excellence (CoE) programme. By August 2015, there were 37 CoE institutions offering free training and education to Saudi citizens across the Kingdom. Under the CoE model international training providers with expertise run a range of vocational courses for men and women, as well as staff and operate their own curricula in purpose-built facilities, which are supplied free of charge by the Saudi government. The purpose of the scheme is to ensure Saudi school leavers acquire useful professional

Education accounted for the highest expenditure of any single sector in Saudi Arabia’s budget for 2015, equivalent to 25% of total anticipated spending. The annual statement does not include defence and security spending, but Jadwa Investment says that examination of Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency figures for 2014 suggests that it accounts for 35%. The 2015 budget also showed a 3% rise in the annual spending allocation for education. The financial outlay represents a continued commitment to Saudi Arabia’s young people, but it was a commitment made against the backdrop of an 11% fall in annual net oil export revenues in 2014. Student Population One argument

Driving forward with reforms to modernise teaching, measure standards and improve spatial diversity by educating people in all corners of the Kingdom, Saudi Arabia is using technology to provide solutions and alternative ways of teaching and learning. Khalil Al Ibrahim, rector of Hail University, told OBG, “In higher education, knowledge moves quickly, technology changes and it is incumbent upon universities to keep up with these changes. This requires investment in top technologies and equipment, as well as research programmes.” In the Middle East, revenues from e-learning are expected to rise from $443m in 2013 to $560.7m by 2016, according to a report by electronic education