The university has taken its next step in advancing higher education in global society.
The university president, Jens Frederiksen, signed a memorandum of understanding with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Education, its Ministry of Investment and the Royal Commission for Riyadh City. This memorandum supports the university’s plans of establishing a branch campus in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia’s capital and main financial hub.
This decision was announced at the second annual Human Capability Initiative, a conference that attracts global leaders and experts, and is meant to “unify international efforts and enrich global dialogue on the challenges and opportunities for developing human capabilities,” as said on their official website.
The branch campus will feature a College of Business and Digital Innovation, a College of Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing and a College of Arts and Applied Sciences. It will aim to maximize return on investment for graduate students, and support Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals, which aim to transform the kingdom into a global leader and investment powerhouse. The university plans to open the campus during the Fall 2026 semester, with it expected to grow and serve 13,000 graduate and undergraduate students, surpassing the number of students currently enrolled in the university, which is 9,229 according to the university’s webpage.
Frederiksen explained the decision in a press release and said, “Our focus on preparing a dynamic global workforce makes Saudi Arabia a natural partner. The Kingdom’s Human Capability Development Program sets out a very clear agenda. Its pillars of higher education and lifelong learning align closely with our vision of becoming a global powerhouse for preparing the next generation of elite talent to excel in the workforce of the future.”
This step is not the university’s first act of support for higher education in Saudi Arabia. “The University of New Haven is proud to have been an active supporter of higher education in Saudi Arabia for over twenty years, both within the Kingdom and on our Connecticut campus,” Frederiksen said.
Connections between the university and Saudi Arabia can be found as easily as searching for notable alumni, with Saudi prince and entrepreneur Khaled bin Alwaleed Al Saud, and philanthropist and ex-princess Ameera al-Taweel both carrying degrees from the university.
The university’s Board of Governors celebrated this announcement, the Chair of the board Michael Ambrose said “This is a tremendous opportunity to expand the scope of our immersive, service-focused, and professionally oriented educational programs. We will develop innovative industry-specific education and training that supports the careers needed for Vision 2030, while also furthering the reach of the University and the outcomes of our graduates.”
With this expansion, the university has become the first foreign entity to apply for a higher education license from the Saudi Arabian Kingdom in order to open the international branch campus.
The Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Mission to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Alison Dilworth, celebrated the occasion and said, “The news of the University of New Haven opening a campus in Riyadh next year is extremely exciting for both the United States and Saudi Arabia, and we look forward to seeing this project continue to progress.”
