Leadership from The University of Tulsa recently traveled to Saudi Arabia to participate in the inaugural U.S.-Saudi University Partnership Forum, a key initiative aimed at advancing Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 through strategic academic partnerships.
UTulsa President Brad Carson served as the opening panelist at the forum, co-hosted by the United States Embassy in Riyadh and the Saudi Ministry of Education.
In his remarks, Carson highlighted the university’s long-standing engagement with ARAMCO and Saudi scholarship programs spanning over 50 years, as well as the recent partnership with King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals to facilitate student and faculty exchanges. Carson emphasized the critical role of universities in addressing national priorities of workforce development and knowledge transfer through collaboration and innovation.
The forum convened leaders from more than 40 U.S. institutions and 14 Saudi national commissions and agencies, as well as representatives from more than 30 Saudi universities, marking a milestone in fostering sustainable partnerships and enhancing collaboration between U.S. and Saudi academic institutions.
During their visit, UTulsa leadership hosted alumni gatherings in Dhahran and Riyadh, celebrating the strong ties between the university and its Saudi graduates.
Carson and Vice Provost Vivian Wang also visited leading Saudi universities, including KFUPM, King Saud University, and Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University. These meetings focused on strengthening relationships and exploring opportunities for joint and dual degree programs, collaborative research, faculty exchange, and student mobility programs.