Leicester plays part in modernisation of Saudi education system

The University of Leicester’s English Language Teaching Unit (ELTU) recently welcomed a group of 26 teachers from Saudi Arabia on a year long teacher training programme.

The group is here as part of a large professional development programme for teachers and school leaders that is funded and coordinated by the Saudi Ministry of Education. Called Khebrat 2018, the programme aims to “equip Saudi teachers and school leaders to play an active role in modernisation of the country’s education system as part of the Saudi Vision 2030”.

This is a large project managed collaboratively by ELTU and the School of Education and will involve a mixture of English Language skills development, teacher training, and immersions in local schools. Khebrat 2018 is the second cohort funded by the Saudi Ministry of Education and forms part of a 5 year programme covering several countries and institutions of Higher Education.

Leicester’s involvement in Khebrat is the result of over 12 months work by Dr Tony Daniels who was contacted by the British Council in Saudi Arabia and asked to submit a bid for a 2018 cohort. According to Tony, “Khebrat is a huge investment by the Saudi Government as part of a massive modernisation of the country’s education system. ELTU is excited that Leicester has been chosen as a destination university and look forward to working with a group of men and women eager to learn more about teacher training and schooling in England”.

Phil Horspool, Director of ELTU, added:  “ It’s great to secure this important contract with Khebrat as Saudi Arabia is an important country to continue to develop links with and the programme offers an interesting and financially beneficial new opportunity for ELTU.”