University of Arkansas Pens Agreement With Manufacturing Company

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A delegation from the Saudi Basic Industries Corp. met with Graduate School and International Education leadership to sign an agreement of cooperation.

The University of Arkansas and the Saudi Basic Industries Corporation -- better known as SABIC - have established a formal agreement of cooperation that is intended to further the research objectives of each organization.

"This agreement strengthens the public-private partnership between the University of Arkansas and SABIC," said Curt Rom, associate dean for International Education. "This agreement provides opportunities for continuing engagement in education, research and economic development with a leading global corporation as a partner." 

The corporation is currently sponsoring 11 students who are enrolled at the University of Arkansas for the fall 2018 semester. Another 10 students are participating in a Foundation Year Program. The Foundation Year Program is a bridge program that provides students with intensive English, pre-academic and cultural training.

As part of the agreement, the University of Arkansas and the Saudi corporation will work to create opportunities for additional educational endeavors and new sponsored research opportunities. 

"By signing the memorandum of understanding, we hope to build a strong bridge between our organization and the University of Arkansas," said Shelli Lee, the company's U.S. regional manager for educational programs. "This bridge will serve for scholarship students, employees and academics to exchange their knowledge and culture, to form a strong bond between our two organizations."

In addition to the exchange of academic and research materials, the agreement is aimed at growing the population of sponsored students at the University of Arkansas. Sponsored students are those who are funded by foreign governments, the U.S. government, domestic and international agencies, private companies and corporations.

"We are keen to send our students and employees to this excellent university," said Hesham Al Jarba, the company's senior manager for educational programs.

A delegation from the corporation signed the agreement last month, when they visited the University of Arkansas campus. The delegation included Lee, Al Jarba, Ahmed F. Al-Blwoi, manager of student relations and educational programs, and Amanda Thomas, academic advisor for educational programs.

The delegation's visit and the signing of the cooperative agreement was made possible by the Graduate School and International Education, the College of Engineering, the Sam M. Walton College of Business and the Global Campus.