First impressions of the college

Our client is Dar Al-Hekma College, a private all-girls college in Jeddah. We've met many of the amazing, highly motivated and brilliant vice deans who have very ambitious plans for the college. The school facilities are also excellent, as they were custom built 10 years ago with advanced, modern features with women's education in mind. The school is an extremely lively and vibrant environment. This week, the marketing fair is taking place at the school, and students are encouraged to market the tourism of certain countries. In the foyer of the school, there are many displays set up, from a sushi and karaoke station advertising Japan to a manicure and pedicure station advertising France. We're looking forward to the career fair later this week to talk to potential recruiters about some of the career opportunities for graduates of this college. 

The campus itself is enclosed in one giant building, with an opaque glass gate. Some aspects of the school remind me more of an exclusive private high school in the US, than a college. For example, most of the students live at home and get picked up by private drivers. They need written permission from their parents if anyone other than their private driver is picking them up at school. Also, the campus hours are pretty much 8am to 5pm, with the vast majority of students and staff leaving the building after 5pm. After 5pm is also when male maintenance workers will come, so everyone covers up after hours. It was a bit startling to see the female security guards at the gate in tan, police-like uniforms in the morning change into being fully covered in black (except eyes) in the evening. 

Across the street is a public university that is co-education but offers segregated classrooms. There, female students listen and interact the the male professor in a different room via live broadcast and individual microphones installed at each desk. They can see the professor, but the professor cannot see them. As one of the vice deans put it, segregation in KSA is sometimes the result of luxury, meaning only a wealthy country can afford these high tech arrangements. 

We will show you some pictures of the school soon. Not of student life, unfortunately, but the very nice facilities.