Foreword -- 1. Higher Education in Saudi Arabia: Reforms, Challenges and Priorities -- 2. Dreams and Realities: The World-class Idea and Saudi Arabian Higher Education -- 3. Governance in Saudi Higher Education -- 4. The Learning Experiences of Saudi Arabian Higher Education Leadership: Characteristics for Global Success -- 5. Delivering High Quality Teaching and Learning for University Students in Saudi Arabia -- 6. Assessment of Student Learning -- 7. The Role of Information Technology in Supporting Quality Teaching and Learning -- 8. Selecting and Developing High Quality University Staff -- 9. Knowledge-Based Innovation and Research Productivity in Saudi Arabia -- 10. Accreditation and Quality Assurance -- 11. Higher Education for Women in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia -- 12. Private Higher Education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Reality – Challenges – Aspirations -- 13. The Development of Medical Education in Saudi Arabia -- 14. Student Scholarships in Saudi Arabia: Implications and Opportunities for Overseas Engagement -- 15. International Collaboration -- 16. Challenges and Opportunities for Higher Education in Saudi Arabia: An Exploratory Focus Group.- 17. Higher Education in Saudi Arabia: Conclusions -- List of Contributors -- Index.

This book provides the first academically rigorous description and critical analysis of the Higher Education system in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and of the vision, strategies and policy imperatives for the future development of Saudi universities. The government of Saudi Arabia has recognized in both policy and practice the necessity of developing its university system to world-class standard. Significantly increasing access and participation in Higher Education across a range of traditional and non-traditional disciplines is directly relevant to the future social and economic growth of the country. This book addresses the way in which Saudi Arabia is moving to develop a quality university system that balances the need for students to gain the knowledge, skills and ‘ways of doing’ necessary to operate effectively on the world stage while simultaneously maintaining and demonstrating the fundamental values of the Islamic religion and culture.  The book provides a description and critical analysis of the key components of the Saudi Higher Education system, and of system-level responses to the challenges and opportunities facing Saudi universities. It is written by a team of Saudi academics and authors of international standing from non-Saudi universities so as to provide both internal and external perspectives on all issues and to place information and ideas in the context of the international Higher Education scene.