JEDDAH: The second and final day of the visit to Jeddah by over 60 UK universities and colleges proved a success for delegates.

Interest was very high among undergraduate and postgraduate visitors. Yesterday morning, when high-school students from across Jeddah made up the majority of visitors, produced a steady stream of interested potential candidates.

The exhibition was opened on Tuesday by Mustafa Sabri, secretary general of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), and Kate Rudd, UK consul general, at the JCCI.

Sabri said in his speech that he was happy for the opportunity to strengthen further the existing good relations between the two kingdoms and the proof of which he saw in the large numbers of Saudi graduates from UK universities working in Saudi Arabia.

Rudd told guests she was particularly proud to attend the opening session as she was the “product of two fine British universities” and encouraged students to swell the numbers of the 14,000 Saudis already in the UK higher education system.

Professor Sarah Andrew, dean of Applied and Health Sciences from the University of Chichester, said that she had received many enquiries and some applications. “In Jeddah, the majority of applications have been for pure math and computer sciences, but in Riyadh the balance tended toward arts, design and the softer subjects,” she said.

Andrew said that she had received many enquiries for translation and Arabic language courses. “The UK has some of the finest Arabic teaching schools in the world at Leeds, Exeter and the School of Oriental and African Studies in London,” she said. She added that she had also received a considerable number of enquiries about opportunities for post-graduate research in the UK.

First time visitor to Jeddah Mark Wilber, international liaison manager from Strathclyde University, described himself as “mobbed by postgraduate visitors” on Tuesday evening. “The main interest has been in pharmacy. There are not many universities that specialize in the subject,” he said, adding that he was surprised but very pleased with the interest shown by Saudi students.

Mark Chan Poon, international marketing officer for King’s College London, said the majority of enquiries he received were for biomedical sciences, engineering and industry.

“The enquiries have split about 50 percent each between undergraduate and postgraduate courses,” he said.

He added that King’s College was able to run specialized English language course that used the language of a student’s chosen specialty as a precursor to the degree course.

Particularly successful in their recruitment of Saudi students was Kingston College. Robert Eady, director of Kingston College, who was visiting Jeddah with Edukex for the third time, said that from past experience Saudi students found the college a particularly suitable learning environment.

“We run comprehensive foundation and English language courses and act as a feeder either to Kingston University or to other institutions. We run a strong pastoral care program that looks to students’ needs in society while in the UK,” he said adding that around 20 nationalities made up the student body on the foundation courses.