Saudi guards and officials await arriving dignitaries. The masters degree is for senior military officers and government officials. Photograph: The Canadian Press/Alamy View image in fullscreen Saudi guards and officials await arriving dignitaries. The masters degree is for senior military officers and government officials. Photograph: The Canadian Press/Alamy University of Exeter Exeter University approves deal with Saudi Arabia to train military officers and officials In move that could generate millions, Exeter academics to deliver MA at National Defense University in Riyadh
Prefer the Guardian on Google The University of Exeter has approved plans for a “formal partnership” with Saudi Arabia to train senior military officers and government officials, despite long-held concerns about the Saudi government’s human rights record, the Guardian has learned.
In a deal that could generate millions of pounds for the Russell Group university, Exeter academics will deliver an MA in applied security and strategy (also known as an MStrat) to a cohort at the National Defense University (NDU) in Riyadh.
The MA will form the academic component of the NDU’s global strategy and strategic leadership programme, starting in 2026-27, and will be delivered to about 20 individuals per year, over three years. Until two years ago, the NDU was called the Saudi Armed Forces Command and Staff College.
The Saudi partnership has come to light at a time when the university is under fire from leading writers, broadcasters, academics and other alumni over plans to cut 150 jobs , primarily in the humanities, arts and social sciences, for which the highly ranked university is renowned.
The Exeter branch of the University and College Union (UCU) accused university managers of chasing “dirty money”.
A UCU spokesperson said: “We are horrified but hardly surprised to learn that management at Exeter are more interested in flogging military training to despotic regimes than in defending world-class humanities and social sciences teaching.”
The Exeter deal has not been widely publicised. It was approved by the university council in February this year, then endorsed by its senate the following month. In council minutes, seen by the Guardian, the partnership with the NDU is marked “Strictly confidential and commercial in confidence”.
In its marketing material, the university says the MStrat blends “academic depth with practical application”. It is aimed at working professionals in the armed forces, the government and international organisations and “offers a rigorous yet flexible environment in which to build strategic expertise”.
UK universities often sell consultancy and training to foreign governments via contracts worth millions of pounds. All such proposals have to be vetted first by university authorities to assess the legal, ethical and security risks of any potential collaboration.
Similar concerns were raised earlier this year when the Judge business school at the University of Cambridge put forward proposals to provide “leadership development” and “innovation management” to Saudi Arabia’s defence ministry. Senior academics described it as “horrifying” and a betrayal of the university’s commitments to freedom of expression.
Last month, the UK government announced the formation of a defence universities alliance – with Exeter among the 35 founding members – to “bring together academia and the armed forces” as part of a £182m investment to strengthen defence r…