Algonquin College scraps men-only campus in Saudi Arabia
Posted Aug 11, 2016 05:42:30 PM.
Last Updated Aug 12, 2016 04:41:23 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
OTTAWA – Algonquin College is cutting ties with its men-only campus in Saudi Arabia.
“After more than a year of negotiation, we were unable to come to an agreement that would have met our financial objectives,” said Algonquin College President Cheryl Jensen in a statement on Thursday. “We have said from the beginning that the Jazan Campus must be financially viable for us to continue operating.”
The school also says its failure to establish a women-only school in Saudi Arabia played a factor in the decision as well.
Algonquin College has been in hot water since it established the Jazan campus back in 2013. Opponents have criticized the college for establishing a men-only campus in a country known for its human rights violations toward women.
Doug Wotherspoon, Vice-President, International and Strategic Planning, told 1310 NEWS that criticism did not play a factor in Algonquin’s decision to leave Saudi Arabia.
“While we don’t condone the political views of Saudi Arabia, or condone human rights abuses, we have a fundamental disagreement with critics who say those things should negate your efforts to bring education to the country,” said Wotherspoon.
Algonquin College says it will transfer its operations of the Jazan Campus back to Saudi officials.
The transfer will cost Algonquin approximately $4.3 million and Wotherspoon notes that cash will be drawn from reserve funds, and not from taxpayer dollars.
