The Sponsorship of Students in Pre-University and University Programmes: Suggestions for International Organizations

Abstract

For decades, international organizations have sponsored (prospective) employees in pre-university and university programmes. This sponsorship through preparatory programmes and then universities abroad adds questionable value to the investment by these organizations when students do not finish their programmes. Unless changes are made to sponsorship programmes, high attrition trends are likely to continue. Based on a recent case study at the College Preparatory Programme of Saudi Aramco, this paper outlines three suggestions for organizations which sponsor employees in pre-university and university programmes. The first addresses specific areas in the sponsorship programme. The second suggests the use of a systems approach in the sponsorship programme, and, borrowing from the work of Billson and Terry (1987), offers a model of training for sponsoring organizations. The last recommendation mentions alternatives to sponsorship programmes. The paper concludes with a discussion of the implications to sponsoring organizations, and calls for further research.