Following the success of the Arab Gulf Programme for United Nations Development Organizations (AGFUND) in the field of human development, the President of AGFUND, HRH Prince Talal Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, had the idea of establishing the Arab Open University. Prince Talal studied the complex problems facing the education sector in the Arab World which threaten to hinder the nation's capacity to pur
sue its civilizational mission and achieve balanced human development. He, therefore, instituted an extensive debate with numerous educational authorities and experts in order to overcome these problems and open up brighter prospects in the context of an educational project in line with the requirements of our time. Following consultations with the Secretary General of the Arab League and the Arab Ministers of Higher Education, HRH Prince Talal proposed the idea of establishing an Arab Open University. He also announced his willingness to sponsor and finance all Arab efforts to implement this idea. His Royal Highness' initiative met with great interest and appreciation in the Arab world and was welcomed in scientific circles. It was widely commended by the Arab media, thus demonstrated the importance attached to its implementation.
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