King Abdulaziz University - Faculties - Faculty of Arts and Humanities - English Language Institute

English Language Institute

The English language program at King Abdulaziz University (KAU) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, was originally established in 1975 by the British Council, almost eight years after the founding of the University. Initially, the British Council created the English Language Center (ELC) to teach English courses to over 500 male students at the Colleges of Engineering and Medicine. At that time, there were fewer than 100 female students enrolled in the College of Medicine. By the end of 1980, the program had grown to provide about 30 courses of English for Special Purposes (ESP) to increasing numbers of male and female students at nine KAU colleges. At that time, the ELC was under the supervision of the College of Arts and Humanities at KAU. Since the introduction of the Foundation Year at KAU in the academic year of 2007/2008, the University has made it a prerequisite that all newly-admitted students take, and successfully complete, six credit units of general English before starting their desired studies at one of the various KAU colleges. As the ELC's responsibilities grew in response to increasing Foundation Year student enrollment, the center received more support directly from the Office of the KAU Vice-President, until it became a recognized independent KAU entity, known as the English Language Institute, in 2008. The transfer to institute status was made with Royal Approval, bestowing on ELI increased national standing and support. Currently, ELI provides general English language courses to over 12,000 male and female full-time Foundation Year students annually, and employs around 500 qualified faculty members from all over the world across the Men's Campus, the Women's Main Campus, and the Women's Colleges Campuses.