Colleges of Allied Health Sciences, Nursing Collaborate in Saudi Arabia

Under a new collaborative agreement, UC educators are helping a medical college in Saudi Arabia develop its curriculum for health education. 

Three representatives from UC's Academic Health Center traveled to Saudi Arabia this fall to visit the school, Inaya Medical College in Riyadh.

Elizabeth King, PhD, dean of the College of Allied Health Sciences, traveled with Nancy Moss, PhD, associate dean of the College of Nursing and Asad Dalia, PhD, professor of rehabilitation sciences, to Inaya College, which opened in 2011 with 150 students. 

Inaya officials signed a collaborative agreement with the two colleges to provide consultation on curriculum development, faculty and staff development, development of clinical placement of students and overall quality assurance at the new institution.

Currently, students can earn degrees in nursing, clinical laboratory sciences, medical imaging and respiratory therapy at Inaya College, with plans to offer physical therapy and health administration degrees in the future. Eventually, college founders hope to start a medical school at Inaya.

"This collaboration offers our colleges an opportunity to meet one of UC2019’s goals of global engagement,” says King. "We do that by helping our faculty and ultimately, our students, get involved in an international experience that can contribute to the ability to successfully live in a worldwide community with a better understanding of both our diversity and our similarities.”

"The collaboration with Inaya provides benefits for both of our programs," adds Moss.  "While assisting Inaya in developing their programs, we will need to engage in continuing quality assessment to ensure that our programs maintain the quality and level of expertise for which we are known. 

"In working together, we have greater exposure and experiences for our faculty and students to the global community and cultural diversity."