The institution will be the first foreign university to receive a Saudi Investment License under the country’s 2030 vision, opening its Saudi Arabia campus in Riyadh in the second half of 2025.
The university will begin by offering English language courses, followed by undergraduate degrees in 2027.
UOW Global Enterprises (UOWGE), which manages the institution’s global expansion, said that the move marks a significant development, as being given the Saudi Investment License reflects the strength of the university’s reputation as a trusted global education partner.
With over 30,000 students studying across nine campuses throughout Australia and Dubai, along with education partnerships in Malaysia and Singapore, UOW has grown from a small college serving local industry to a large international university.
But despite the “major step” in its international strategy, UOW acknowledged that the announcement comes at a “complex moment” for the international education sector in Australia as it grapples with “shifting policy conditions”.
UOW has been particularly hard hit by sweeping visa policy changes. After being one of the first universities in Australia to announce widespread job losses due to the federal government’s tightening of international students’ visas back in January, UOW’s $21 million annual redundancy plan left dozens of staff members fighting for their posts.
This is about ensuring our long-term strength – both here and internationally – by drawing on the distinctive capability we’ve built in offshore education
Eileen McLaughlin, UOW
UOW interim vice-chancellor and president, senior professor Eileen McLaughlin, said that the decision is part of a broader strategy to build resilience and global relevance.
“This is about ensuring our long-term strength – both here and internationally – by drawing on the distinctive capability we’ve built in offshore education,” she added.
UOW stated that the investment will be funded by the UOWGE, out of the available cash reserves from profits generated by its global operations. No funding is provided by UOW Australia.
This expansion is a part of a strategy to diversify the revenue and reduce reliance on domestic income streams that are increasingly constrained by government policies.
“Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 places education at the heart of national transformation. We believe in the power of education to shape social progress, and we’re proud to be part of that evolution,” said Marisa Mastroianni, UOWGE CEO and managing director.
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