Call to allow female students at Saudi's KFUPM uni

Academics in Saudi Arabia have called for changes to the enrolment policy of King Fahd University for Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) to allow women students.

“It has a good reputation for the high academic standards of its graduates. The question which can be posed is, why does this university not open its doors to females?” Dr Hassa Aal Al-Sheikh, dean of the Women’s College at Al-Yamamah University in Riyadh, told the Saudi Gazette.

She said male and female students could have separate sections so would not break any rules about the mingling of the sexes, the paper reports.

Al-Sheikh’s comments were echoed by Dr Maryam Bubshait, supervisor general for Bubshait Center for Educational Consultations, who said it was a woman’s right to be able to benefit from the education standards at KFUPM.

“Moreover, there is nothing that prevents women from working in petroleum engineering and management or planning. Consider that there are some Saudi women who have graduated from foreign universities who are working in the field of petroleum such as oil exploration,” she told the paper.

No official comment was reported from KFUPM, but Dr Abdul Rahman Al-Ossayyil, professor of political science at the university, said he supported the move.

“KFUPM is a specialised university. Therefore, the idea of establishing a women’s section at the university would be a fruitful and good initiative,” he told the paper.

“The equality of Saudi men and women in education is very important,” he added.

 However, their opinions were not shared across the academic world, with some professors feeling subjects would be beyond the grasp of female students.

“I need not mention that this specialty is too tough for women since men face hardships in this profession. Therefore, the university should devise specialties that suit women such as management, administrative, medical and research engineering,” Dr Omar Al-Khouli, a professor of law at King Abdulaziz University, told the paper.