University of New Haven – Riyadh and EtonHouse Creating Collaboration to Bring University Learning Into School Life

The University of New Haven – Riyadh (NHU-Riyadh) and EtonHouse International School Granada have signed a letter of intent to explore what Riyadh’s newest university can offer the city’s school pupils. The two institutions will work together to shape enrichment activities for pupils, including talks, workshops, and mentoring from NHU-Riyadh faculty and students, and advisory support on curriculum and academic preparation. The letter was signed in Riyadh by Leo Lester, Ph.D., senior vice president for NHU-Riyadh, and Shaqeel Said, chief executive officer of EtonHouse Saudi Arabia.

The letter is consistent with the Ministry of Education’s encouragement to NHU-Riyadh to build links with schools in the Kingdom that help bridge the gap between school and university. Bridging is familiar work for the University of New Haven. For more than a century its hallmark has been closing the distance between university and the workplace – and instilling the skills needed to excel in industry – through experiential, career-focused education. The letter with EtonHouse applies the same approach one stage earlier in a student’s life.

As Saudi Arabia accelerates investment in education, innovation, and knowledge industries under Vision 2030, schools and universities have an opportunity to rethink how young people prepare for the future. Through this collaboration, EtonHouse and the University of New Haven – Riyadh aim to create richer learning experiences that expose pupils to university thinking, emerging industries, and future careers while they are still in school. The partnership reflects a shared belief that preparing learners for tomorrow begins today.

Agreed activities will be set out in a memorandum of understanding the two institutions intend to develop. The letter also creates opportunities for longer-term ideas, as EtonHouse grows toward its full K-12 pathway, including dual-enrollment courses and progression routes into NHU-Riyadh degrees.

Founded in Singapore more than 30 years ago, EtonHouse has grown into one of Asia’s leading international education groups, educating more than 20,000 students across eight countries, with schools in Singapore, China, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Bhutan, and Saudi Arabia. Across its global network, EtonHouse is recognized for its inquiry-based approach, personalized learning, and commitment to preparing children for an increasingly interconnected world.

“The University of New Haven has spent more than a century bridging the gap between university life and professional pursuits,” said Jens Frederiksen, Ph.D., president of the University of New Haven. “This collaboration turns the same instinct toward the other end of a student’s journey, enabling EtonHouse pupils to experience a university classroom years before they apply to one. This opens them to a world of opportunities, putting them on a trajectory for significant professional success and personal fulfilment.”

“The partnership reflects EtonHouse’s educational philosophy of placing learners at the centre of an ecosystem that connects schools, families, universities, communities, and industry,” said Shaqeel Said, chief executive officer of EtonHouse Saudi Arabia. “We believe the most meaningful learning happens when children engage with the world beyond their classrooms. As Riyadh evolves into one of the region’s most dynamic centres for education, innovation, and enterprise, we want our learners to experience these conversations firsthand. Through this collaboration with the University of New Haven – Riyadh, we are creating opportunities for our pupils to connect with university academics, explore future pathways, and develop the curiosity, confidence, and global outlook they will need to thrive in a rapidly changing world.”

“Dual enrollment, mentoring, and campus visits all start from the same idea: university should not be a mystery to school pupils,” said Leo Lester, Ph.D., senior vice president for NHU-Riyadh. “We will work with EtonHouse on a memorandum of understanding that turns these intentions into activities pupils can join.”

NHU-Riyadh opened with the College of Business and Digital Innovation on 23 August.