Student.com, the world’s leading marketplace for international student accommodation, today announced the launch of its Kingdom of Saudi Arabia operations as it continues to expand its international coverage.
The announcement comes in time as Student.com joins hundreds of exhibitors at Ta’leem 2016, the 5th annual International Exhibition and Forum for Education, held at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Centre from 12-14 April, 2016.
In an event centred on highlighting developments in the private sector, fostering international partnerships and enhancing students’ professional and technical aptitude through the effective use of educational resources, Student.com aims to promote its capabilities as a trusted and secure online booking platform that helps students from Saudi Arabia find their home in overseas markets including the United States.
Having recently raised $60 million to help international students find their perfect accommodation while studying abroad, Student.com is actively driving efforts towards expansion into new markets. Saudi Arabia offers a sizeable pool of students interested in studying abroad, particularly for the U.S education market. According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, 73,548 students from Saudi Arabia joined a higher education institution abroad in 2015, with the vast majority of them enrolling in English language programs in preparation for tertiary education. The British Council estimates that close to 60,000 students from KSA opted to study in the United States, illustrating the popularity of the United States among KSA students.
Witnessing bookings from students in 100 countries last year alone, Student.com growth is on an upward trajectory as the organization leverages from rising trends in student mobility. In the upcoming academic year Student.com will list properties in 426 cities in close proximity to more than 1,000 universities across the world.
As part of its commitment to the Saudi market, Student.com has appointed Ohoud Al Arifi, as Growth Manager, carrying with her vast experience in strategic planning and development. Ohoud has worked as part of the Strategic Decisions Group (SDG) on a government project in Saudi Arabia, and previously worked for the Saudi government within the Ministry of Economy and Planning.
Ohoud Al Arifi said: “We are excited to exhibit our student accommodation booking platform at Ta’leem 2016, a significant event that brings together thousands of higher education students from the KSA looking for opportunities to study abroad. KSA is a key market for Student.com in the GCC region, contributing one of the highest student mobility numbers in the region. Ta’leem 2016 is an excellent opportunity to network, form mutually beneficial relationships with education industry stakeholders while introducing our company as a trusted advisor in finding accommodation in overseas markets through a free-to-use online marketplace.”
Student.com works with professional landlords only. Student.com engages in contractual agreements with every landlord listed on the booking platform, allowing the organisation to inspect properties beforehand and ensure student preferences and accommodation standards are met. Contractual agreements with landlords ensure added security, a key concern for international students looking for a safe place to live in a foreign country.
“Studying abroad offers a combination of exciting experiences and cultural excursions; all of which are optimized by the environment in which one lives. Student.com offers safety, security and convenience by listing landlords we have a contractual relationship with. With accommodation listed in more than 200 cities across the U.S. alone and covering every major student hub, scholars can rest assured that finding their future home during their educational pursuits will be a stress-free experience,” said Ohoud Al Arifi.
Student.com already has Arabic speaking booking consultants to assist during the booking process, with further plans to launch a Student.com website in Arabic. Founded by CEO Luke Nolan as Overseas Student Living in 2011, OSL became Student.com in 2015 when Shakil Khan joined as co-founder. A former international student himself, Luke’s background is in real estate, specifically in Asia where the site serves a sizable international student community. Shakil was an early investor in Spotify where he is still a key advisor to founder Daniel Ek. Shakil is a serial entrepreneur and is an investor and advisor in over 20 companies. As co-founder at Student.com, he spearheads strategy and assumes the role as advisor and mentor.
The now global company has a dedicated team of over 200 employees, speaking 35 languages across seven locations in the world including London, Shanghai, New York and Hong Kong. Student.com aims to solidify its presence in the GCC region through participation in the International Exhibition and Forum for Education held in Riyadh this week.