Ahmed bin Mohammad Al-Issa (born 20 December 1960) is a Saudi Arabian politician. He served as Minister of Education of Saudi Arabia from 15 December 2015 to 27 December 2018.Ahmed Al-Issa new education minister
''Arabnews.com'', 12 December 2015

Biography

Education

Ahmed bin Mohammad Al-Issa received a Bachelor of Art degree from the History department of the

King Saud University King Saud University (KSU, ) is a public university in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Established in 1957 by King Saud bin Abdulalziz to address the country's skilled worker shortage, it is the first university in Saudi Arabia. It was known as Riyadh U ...

in 1983. He earned a master's degree in Education in 1989, and a Ph.D. in Education in 1993, from

Pennsylvania State University The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State or PSU) is a Public university, public Commonwealth System of Higher Education, state-related Land-grant university, land-grant research university with campuses and facilities throughout Pennsyl ...

.The Minister of Education Dr. Ahmed Bin Mohammed Al-Issa
''Moe.gov.sa'' In 2009, he completed an advanced program in management and leadership at

Oxford University The University of Oxford is a collegiate research university in Oxford, England. There is evidence of teaching as early as 1096, making it the oldest university in the English-speaking world and the second-oldest continuously operating u ...

.H.E. DR. AHMED BIN MOHAMAD AL-ISSA, MINISTER, MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
''C4iconf.com'' In 2002, Ahmed bin Mohammad Al-Issa became a full-time advisor for the

Al Yamamah University Al Yamamah University (, abbreviated as YU) is a private university located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It is recognized by the country's Ministry of Higher Education. The institution was established by Khalid bin Mohammed Al-Khudair, who had ea ...

project, Dean from 2003 to 2008, and Director the following year. In 2011, Ahmed bin Mohammad Al-Issa takes up the post of Director General of the Strategic Studies Department at the Royal Court.

Career

Al-Issa began his career in 1990 as associate Dean of Educational Affairs at the

Riyadh College of Technology Riyadh College of Technology (RCT) () is a public institute of technology in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It was established in 1983 during the reign of King Fahd bin Abdulaziz and is the first intermediate technical college in Saudi Arabia. It was foun ...

. From 1996 to 1997, he became the supervisor of the Curriculum Development Unit in the Technical Affairs Department of Universities. He then returned to Riyadh University of Technology as assistant Dean, then Dean from 1998 to 2001.

Minister of Education

Ahmed bin Mohammad Al-Issa was announced as the new Minister of Education of Saudi Arabia on 11 December 2015, succeeding to Azzam Al-Dakhil.Work to expand
''Thebusinessyear.com'', 2016 As Minister of Education, he set a high priority on

e-learning Educational technology (commonly abbreviated as edutech, or edtech) is the combined use of computer hardware, software, and educational theory and practice to facilitate learning and teaching. When referred to with its abbreviation, "EdTech" ...

and more technology in the classroom, and initiated several programs around the kingdom to promote this issue. In August 2016, Al-Issa and

Irina Bokova Irina Georgieva Bokova (; born 12 July 1952) is a Bulgarian politician and a former Director-General of UNESCO (2009–2017). During her political and diplomatic career in Bulgaria, she served, among others, two terms as a member of the Nation ...

signed two agreements to expand the number of

UNESCO Chairs The UNESCO Chairs program was conceived as a way to advance research, training and programme development in higher education by building university networks and encouraging inter-university cooperation through transfer of knowledge across borders. ...

in Saudi universities, and the establishment of the UNESCO Junior Professional Officer Program. In September 2017, during his official visit to

Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. It borders Norway to the west and north, and Finland to the east. At , Sweden is the largest Nordic count ...

, he signed a cooperation agreement with Swedish Minister of Higher Education and Research

Helene Hellmark Knutsson Marie Helene Hellmark Knutsson (born 12 September 1969) is a Swedish politician and civil servant who currently serves as Governor of Västerbotten County since 1 August 2020. A member of the Social Democrats Social democracy is a socia ...

to enhance education cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Sweden, and increase the number of Saudi scholarships to Swedish universities.Saudi education minister signs cooperation agreement with Swedish counterpart
''Arabnews.com'', 17 September 2017

Other mandates

*Since July 2012: Vice chairman of the Riyadh Schools *Since June 2012: Advisor and board member at MiSK Foundation *Since March 2008: Member of the International Commission for Quality Assurance in Higher Education in the free zones in Dubai. *2011-2012: Director general of strategic studies at the Royal Court *2008-2009: Director of

*1997-2001: Dean of

Publications

*''Higher Education in Saudi Arabia: A Quest for Identity'', Dar Al Saqi Publishing, Beirut, 2010 *''Education Reform in KSA: Lack of Political Vision, Religious Cultural Obsession, and Educational Management Failure'', Dar Al Saqi Publishing, Beirut, 2009 *''Education in KSA: Policies, Systems and Future'', Dar Ezzaytouna, Riyadh, 2005

References

External links

Official biography
{{DEFAULTSORT:Issa, Ahmed Living people Education ministers of Saudi Arabia 1960 births King Saud University alumni Pennsylvania State University alumni Alumni of the University of Oxford People from Riyadh Province