The University of Wollongong is setting its sights on Saudi Arabia, with preparations underway for a new campus to open in Riyadh by mid-2025. It’s a project that starts with English Language courses, expands into Foundation programs in 2026, and rolls into full undergraduate degrees from 2027, assuming the usual boxes get ticked along the way.
The move comes off the back of Saudi Arabia’s updated education policy, which now invites international universities to plant campuses on Saudi soil. Under the banner of Vision 2030, the country is attempting to diversify its economy and boost opportunities in education, research, and innovation. And Wollongong didn’t hesitate. Through its global arm, UOW Global Enterprises, the university was the first foreign institution to secure an investment licence under the new framework.
There’s something significant about being first. It sets the tone. It opens doors. UOW Global Enterprises now has a clear path to build in Riyadh, and preparations are moving swiftly following an October 2024 green light from the University Council. The education export sector is watching this closely—mainly because many universities are searching for fresh air amid increasingly tight conditions at home.
Australia’s higher education sector is under pressure. Financially, structurally, and politically, things are in a state of flux. With government settings changing and competition sharpening, universities are being pushed to rethink where they grow and how they operate. For Wollongong, this Saudi expansion is about adjusting to a world where traditional funding and student flows can no longer be taken for granted.
Interim Vice-Chancellor and President, Senior Professor Eileen McLaughlin, sees the move as part of a broader approach to futureproof the institution.
“Long-term strength doesn’t come from staying still. We’ve got years of experience in delivering education overseas, and this is a way to keep that momentum going—while also making sure we’re backing our core strengths,” she said.
It’s not a brand-new model. UOW already runs campuses abroad, with the Dubai operation standing out as a particularly strong example. That campus has been up and running for over two decades, helping the university build expertise in managing academic quality and student support across vastly different regulatory and cultural environments.
CEO and Managing Director of UOW Global Enterprises, Marisa Mastroianni, says this track record played a big part in being able to move quickly.
“There’s a lot of excitement around education in Saudi Arabia right now. The government’s made it clear that they want high-quality options close to home, and that’s something we know how to deliver. We’ve built campuses that really work for students, and we’re confident we can do it again,” Mastroianni said.
Austrade has been part of the process too, offering support as part of its efforts to champion trusted Australian providers overseas. The success in Dubai helped build a case for the new project, reinforcing the idea that Australian universities can offer something distinct and valuable in the international education space.
While English language and foundation programs will be the initial focus, the long-term plan is to develop full undergraduate offerings. The details of those degrees will be shaped through UOW’s standard governance channels, with the same academic oversight that applies across all campuses. This includes maintaining academic integrity, transparency, and strong student outcomes.
For the Riyadh project, UOW is coordinating closely with both academic and operational leaders. Course structures, staffing, student services, and facilities are all under review. There’s an understanding that transplanting a university education model into a different context needs more than just moving content across—it needs sensitivity to culture, robust systems, and a commitment to quality that doesn’t waver.
Governance has been a key talking point behind the scenes. Both academic freedom and cultural awareness are being worked into the framework from the start. That includes developing teaching and learning environments that are respectful, inclusive, and appropriate for the Saudi setting, while also preserving the academic principles that define UOW’s approach.
There’s no pretending that this is a simple copy-and-paste operation. Opening a new international campus involves balancing a lot of moving parts—from regulatory requirements to faculty recruitment to student recruitment to partnerships. And while the timeline points to a 2025 launch, there’s a sense that flexibility will be important if anything shifts.
Still, the commitment is real, and the ambition is clear. The university wants to be part of a growing story in the Middle East, where education is becoming a core part of how countries are shaping their futures. Saudi Arabia, with its rapid reforms and heavy investment in young people, is signalling that it wants to be a regional hub for learning, talent, and research. For UOW, it’s an invitation to contribute to that momentum with boots on the ground.
The landscape of international education is changing fast. As governments rethink visa rules, as students weigh up different pathways, and as institutions compete for attention, the ability to think globally and act quickly is becoming an edge. UOW is using its global enterprise model to keep doors open—even as some close elsewhere.
Of course, not everything will depend on paperwork and planning. Success in Riyadh will rest on whether the campus can genuinely deliver a student experience that lives up to expectations. It will need to recruit skilled teachers, build a strong academic community, and offer pathways that lead somewhere valuable. The blueprint might be ready, but what matters is how it’s built.
That said, the early steps suggest a serious commitment. With support from Saudi and Australian partners, and with lessons learnt from previous international expansions, UOW seems ready to move from idea to action. And for students in Saudi Arabia, that could mean another high-quality option coming soon—one that brings a piece of Wollongong to the Middle East.
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