Leslie Nucho, a Vice President of Washington, DC, based AMIDEAST, was in Riyadh from December 5 to December 11. The purpose of her visit was to gather information about the current status and success of the newly opened University Preparatory Program (UPP), and to conduct consultations to help plan for its future development. The UPP is based on the vision of His Royal Highness Prince Khalid Al Faisal and was developed under the strategic partnership of the King Faisal Foundation and AMIDEAST. Its purpose is to educate students to become life-long learners, critical thinkers, and problem solvers who are able to succeed in higher learning institutions.

Ms. Nucho spent most of her time at the UPP having formal consultation sessions with the UPP Director, Academic Dean, Administrative Dean, Dean’s Council, Department Chairmen, administrative heads, faculty, and staff. Also, she met informally with many students to learn how the program has helped them so far. His Highness Prince Bandar hosted Ms. Nucho for several meetings, as did officials of the King Faisal Foundation and Deans of Medicine and Engineering at Alfaisal University. After analyzing the information and data received during her meetings and consultations, Ms. Nucho will make formal recommendations to His Highness Prince Bandar for the continued improvement of the UPP. Commenting on the progress of the UPP so far, Ms. Nucho stated, “We are honored to be partnering with the King Faisal Foundation to launch the UPP. It is very exciting to see it up running. The faculty and staff are a talented group committed to making this innovative program the best it can be and are working with each student on an individual basis to help him achieve his full potential.”

The UPP began its first classes in mid-September. There are twenty-four faculty members, all of them native English speakers, hailing from five countries. Students take classes based on their academic pathway, the three pathways being Medicine, Engineering, and Business. However, all students go through an intensive English component and take science and math courses so they can be competitive internationally. The program emphasizes innovative teaching methods, high technology, and hands-on training. Students use fully-equipped, modern laboratories to perform experiments in biology, chemistry, and physics.

AMIDEAST, America-Mideast Educational and Training Services, is a private, nonprofit organization that strengthens mutual understanding and cooperation between Americans and the peoples of the Middle East and North Africa. Every year, AMIDEAST provides English language and professional skills training, educational advising, and testing services to hundreds of thousands of students and professionals in the Middle East and North Africa; supports numerous institutional development projects in the region; and administers educational exchange programs.