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The University of New Haven today signed a memorandum of understanding with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's , its , and the to support the University establishing a . The University of New Haven is the first foreign entity to apply for a higher education license from the Kingdom to open an international branch campus in Saudi Arabia.

The joint announcement was made at the second annual gathering in Riyadh hosted by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Prime Minister, and the Chairman of Saudi Arabia's Human Capability Development Program.

will deliver transformative student outcomes, maximize ROI for graduates, and support . Vision 2030 provides a blueprint for diversifying Saudi Arabia's economy, empowering citizens, increasing private sector participation in higher education, and creating a vibrant environment for both local and international investors.

"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," said Jens Frederiksen, Ph.D., president of the University of New Haven.

"Our focus on preparing a dynamic global workforce makes Saudi Arabia a natural partner," continued Frederiksen. "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. We are pleased to have achieved such an important milestone – and to have received so much support – in our efforts to open a campus in Saudi Arabia. We are excited to help create bright futures for generations of deserving students."

The will feature a College of Business and Digital Innovation; a College of Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing; and a College of Arts and Applied Sciences. Undergraduate and graduate degrees will be offered alongside executive education and micro-credentials to support lifelong learning. Students will have access to both the University's main campus in West Haven and its Tuscany campus, as well as the many educational and career-related resources that are available to all University of New Haven students.

"The University of New Haven is a vibrant international community, with a growing impact across the globe," said Michael H. Ambrose, chair of the University's Board of Governors. "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."

The Chargé d'Affaires of the U.S. Mission to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Alison Dilworth celebrated the announcement saying, "This is an exciting time for U.S.-Saudi higher education collaboration. Following the inaugural Saudi-U.S. Higher Education Partnerships Forum last November, we are seeing an increase in U.S.-Saudi joint research, student exchange, and university engagement. 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."

As part of the memorandum of understanding signed at the Human Capability Initiative, the University of New Haven and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are committing to creating connections with business and industry to support academic programs, internships, and recruitment pathways for students; identifying sponsors for student scholarships; and establishing educational and training partnerships that achieve the Kingdom's workforce development goals.

The University of New Haven is one of only a small number of U.S. universities that has successfully integrated U.S.-style undergraduate degrees with educational offerings in the Kingdom. The pursuit of the Higher Education License to open a branch campus prefaces the obvious next chapter in the University's unfolding story in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.