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JEDDAH: The Council of Universities’ Affairs held a meeting on Thursday in Jeddah with heads of public and private universities to discuss educational process challenges and proposed solutions.

Chaired by Saudi Minister of Education Yousef Al-Benyan, the consultative meeting was held at the University of Business and Technology and addressed key issues, including challenges faced by public and private universities, to develop best practices that achieve quality outputs and serve the needs of the labor market.

Al-Benyan emphasized the importance of this meeting to address urgent higher education matters and listen to institutional challenges to reach satisfactory solutions for all.

He also stressed the importance of coordination meetings to enhance partnership and integration between public and private universities, and their role in achieving the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 for the higher education sector.

“Our meeting today comes within the framework of the Ministry of Education and the Council of University Affairs’ keenness to enhance integration among higher education institutions, which contributes to developing the university education system and raising its efficiency to keep pace with the aspirations of the wise leadership and the Kingdom’s Vision 2030,” he said.

Al-Benyan added that higher education was the cornerstone of human development and societal progress, and the primary driver of development and innovation across all fields. “Furthermore, higher education institutions bear the responsibility of preparing qualified national talent to lead the future and contribute to achieving sustainable development,” he said.

Dr. Abdullah Dahlan, chairman of the board of trustees, University of Business and Technology, said that the meeting came at a time when higher education in the Kingdom was witnessing a qualitative shift, as Saudi universities — both government and private — had become a fundamental pillar for achieving the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

“Today, the number of government universities in the Kingdom has reached 30, in addition to 12 private universities and more than 34 private colleges, all of which form an integrated educational system, serving more than two million male and female students in various disciplines and fields,” he said.

“These institutions include an elite group of faculty members whose number exceeds 100,000, representing a national asset of competencies and experiences that contribute to graduating generations capable of competition and creativity.”