Saudi Arabia’s UN Voluntary National Review Highlights Saudi Electronic University’s SDG Contributions

Saudi Arabia’s 2026 Voluntary National Review (VNR), presented at the United Nations High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), highlighted the contributions of the Saudi Electronic University to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and enhancing the quality of education.
The Saudi VNR underscored the university’s pioneering blended learning model, which provides technology-enabled access to education through 17 learning centers across the Kingdom, as well as the integration of the SDGs into 41 academic programs.
The VNR said the university has deployed AI-powered learning systems and used artificial intelligence tools to design courses, develop digital content, and create innovative learning activities. The university also uses learning analytics platforms to support academic decision-making and improve the efficiency of educational processes.
Moreover, the VNR highlighted the university’s performance in the UI GreenMetric World University Rankings 2024, ranking seventh nationally, reflecting its commitment to sustainable educational and environmental practices.
In the area of sustainability and innovation, the Saudi VNR outlined the university’s efforts to implement digital practices that have helped reduce its carbon footprint across its 17 learning centers through digital monitoring and specialized partnerships to improve energy efficiency.
It also highlighted the university’s contributions to the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, its participation in the Pioneering Universities Initiative, and its publication of 457 sustainability-related scientific papers in 2024 and 2025, reinforcing its role in supporting the knowledge economy and advancing national development goals.
President of the Saudi Electronic University Mohammed Yahya Mardi praised the support, care and attention the Kingdom’s education sector receives.
He said the national achievements highlighted in Saudi VNR 2026 reflect the leadership’s strong commitment to the sector and its efforts to empower educational institutions to contribute effectively to the SDGs and Saudi Vision 2030.
Mardi also expressed his appreciation to Minister of Education Yousef Al-Benyan for his guidance and continued support of the higher education sector, which he said had contributed to these notable achievements and strengthened the competitiveness of Saudi universities at both the national and international levels.

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