Hayat National Hospitals signed an academic partnership with the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) to establish a new College of Nursing in Abha, in the presence of the Ambassador of Ireland to Saudi Arabia and the Group's CEO.
Hayat National Hospitals, represented by its Chief Executive Officer Dr. Fouziyah Aljarallah, signed an academic partnership agreement with the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), represented by its Managing Director Mr. Stephen Harrison-Mirfield, to establish a new College of Nursing in Abha.
The signing ceremony took place at the headquarters of Hayat National Hospitals, in the presence of His Excellency Mr. Gerry Cunningham, Ambassador of Ireland to Saudi Arabia, along with senior leaders from both organizations — reflecting the depth of cooperation between the two sides and their shared commitment to the future of healthcare education in the Kingdom.
Under the agreement, RCSI will provide academic advisory services in curriculum development, faculty development, and quality assurance, supporting the launch of the college in line with international academic standards.
Headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, RCSI is one of the world's most established institutions in health professions education, with more than 200 years of experience in the field — providing the new college in Abha with a solid knowledge foundation from which to grow.
The choice of Abha as the college's home extends the Group's presence in the Aseer region, broadens access to healthcare education for the people of the region and neighboring areas, and responds to the growing demand for qualified nursing professionals across the Kingdom's healthcare sector.
The partnership embodies the Group's vision of investing in people by preparing qualified Saudi nursing professionals who will contribute to a sustainable health system led by national talent, and reflects its approach of forging distinguished international partnerships that transfer knowledge and localize expertise.
This step aligns with Saudi Vision 2030 objectives for developing healthcare education and localizing healthcare competencies — as nursing is a fundamental pillar of any healthcare system, and preparing national nursing talent is a key enabler of the Kingdom's health sector transformation.
