Arab Educational Information Network

The paper aims at exploring the progress of higher education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) in a decade 1998-2008 and studying and analyzing the challenges the sector of higher education (HE) has faced as well as the achievements it has accomplished. The paper uses the descriptive-analytical approach in treating the data and information and the issues it deals with. It overview the progress of HE in KSA in relation to international changes, to regional and Arab challenges, as well as to national changes and challenges. It presents a descriptive background of the Kingdome regarding geographical and demographic aspects and its implication in terms of offer and demand. Then there will be an explanation of the Strategy through which the MOHE responded to changes and challenges, by introducing a range of plans, initiatives and short and long term projects. Through these plans and initiatives it was possible for MOHE to gradually overcome the challenges and to transform them into productive programmes and projects so as to reach achievements on different level and areas. These have been shown through a number of performance indicators of development. The paper also presents a number of institutions, centers and bodies that emerged from the Development Strategy, in addition to implemented programmes and initiatives, along with the indicators of performance that were used to measure the efficiency of these programmes in developing the HE system and improving its quality and excellence. (Published Abstract)