King Khalid University

King Khalid University, established by Royal Decree in 1998 through the amalgamation of Imam Ibn Saud Islamic University and the southern region of King Saud University, serves the sparsely populated Aseer region of Southern Saudi Arabia. Inheriting the Abha campus of King Saud University, which was inaugurated by the College of Education in 1976, the university has since expanded to encompass about 60,000 students across 29 colleges. While the majority of faculties are situated on the Abha campus, there are an additional 14 colleges dispersed across nine other centers. With a clear mission to foster an academic environment conducive to teaching, research, and social contribution, King Khalid University is aligned with the national Vision 2030 program, aspiring to be among the top 200 universities globally by 2030. Central to this ambition is the development of a single, integrated campus, a monumental project expected to generate substantial employment opportunities upon completion. Concurrently, efforts are underway to internationalize the student body and diversify the faculty, with around 70 percent of faculty members holding PhDs recruited from international sources. Initiatives such as scholarships for international students fluent in Arabic, including those from countries like Pakistan and Indonesia, aim to further enhance the university's global reach. In line with this internationalization drive, plans are underway to expand language teaching programs, including the introduction of Chinese language courses.