Prince Talal proposes Arab Open University

The Chairman of the Arab Council for Childhood and Development, Prince Talal Bin Abdul Aziz, proposed to the UNESCO world conference for higher education on Monday a project for the establishment of an Arab open university.

"We believe it is imperative to search for new alternatives to support traditional systems and keep up with the universal trend toward bringing about the reform and diversification of higher education."

Prince Talal made the proposal in a speech to the opening session of the world higher education conference, organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to set out fundamental principles for higher Education reforms.

"The project has made good headway, and the establishment of this university gained higher appreciation and recognition," Prince Talal said.

The five-day conference, with over 115 international ministers of higher education and as many as 2,700 experts attending, is expected to come up with a declaration setting out higher education reforms worldwide.