The team is composed of Jayden Lee, Jiseong Chung and Raahim Lone, who now stand as the only group representing a school in Saudi Arabia to reach this stage, keeping them in contention for an all-expenses-paid trip to New York City and a grand prize of $10,000.

The 2025 edition of the competition drew 332 teams from 30 U.S. states and 39 countries, including Pakistan, the UAE, the UK, China and Japan, forming the largest and most internationally diverse qualifying round in the event’s history.

The International Public Policy Forum, sponsored by the Brewer Foundation and New York University, is recognized as the only global debate contest combining written and oral advocacy, giving students a platform to engage in policy-oriented discussions that mirror real-world diplomatic exchanges.

The Dhahran team’s progress reflects strong analytical skills, the ability to craft detailed policy arguments and a disciplined approach to research, allowing them to stand out in a field filled with academically competitive institutions from around the world.

With their advancement into the top 64, the students now move into written single-elimination rounds, during which teams exchange essays via email, forming a rigorous test of their depth of research, argument structure, and persuasive writing.

This year’s debate topic focuses on the global education crisis, pushing participants to evaluate whether major economies should adopt a bold policy aimed at reshaping international support for primary and secondary education.

Teams are debating the resolution:
“The Group of 20 Nations should levy a global education tax equal to 1 percent of each member country’s gross domestic product to establish a dedicated international organization that supports the provision of universal, free, quality primary and secondary education.”

Organizers selected the topic to encourage students to confront global inequality, structural barriers in education systems and the potential economic impacts of a coordinated international funding mechanism involving some of the world’s largest economies.

As the competition marks its 25th year, leaders of the forum noted that the program’s longevity is rooted in the dedication of students who commit to months of research and strategy, often balancing academic rigor with a passion for policy debate.

The chairman of the Brewer Foundation and the advisory board emphasized that the event celebrates a generation ready to engage in constructive dialogue and eager to contribute to global problem-solving through well-informed argumentation.

As the rounds continue, the field will gradually narrow from 64 teams to the “Elite 8,” who will earn an invitation to New York City to participate in the in-person finals at New York University.

These final rounds challenge students to shift from written formats to live debate, where they must respond instantly to questions, defend their claims under scrutiny and present coherent arguments before expert judges.

The IPPF Finals are scheduled for April 18, 2026, at NYU School of Law, where the winning team will receive the Brewer Cup, concluding a months-long international competition that tests academic discipline, critical thinking and advocacy skills.

For the Dhahran-based students, advancing to the top tier of a global contest highlights both individual excellence and the increasing prominence of student talent emerging from Saudi Arabia’s schools in international academic forums.

Their success reflects growing regional investment in education, debate programs and youth development—areas that continue to expand opportunities for students to participate on the world stage and build skills aligned with global engagement and leadership.

Osama Aljohani, Omar Alomran, and Osama Dabbousi will travel to the University of Oxford next October, joining an elite group of global scholars from over 100 countries.

The Rhodes Scholarship, established in 1902, is widely recognized as the world’s oldest and most respected postgraduate fellowship. It provides exceptional students with full financial support to study at Oxford University.

The program aims to nurture future leaders who combine intellect, character, and a desire to serve humanity. It stands as a symbol of global academic excellence and leadership development.

The Saudi Rhodes Scholarship was introduced in 2018 through a generous gift from Mohammed Alagil, co-founder of Jarir Bookstores, in partnership with the Saudi Ministry of Education.

Since then, it has supported 18 exceptional Saudi students who have gone on to make contributions in fields such as medicine, genetics, technology, and the creative arts.

This year’s scholars continue that legacy of excellence and ambition, representing Saudi Arabia’s growing presence in global academia.

Osama Aljohani, a senior chemical engineering student at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, specializes in hydrogen mobility and renewable energy.

Growing up in Yanbu Industrial City inspired his passion for energy innovation and environmental sustainability. His research explores crude-to-chemicals conversion and catalyst performance optimization.

Aljohani has also completed a research internship in Austin, Texas, as a data and chemometrics analyst, where he applied advanced data analytics in industrial applications.

Beyond academics, he has co-founded several initiatives supporting students and young innovators, including programs that encourage Saudi youth in technology, research, and game development.

At Oxford, Aljohani plans to pursue master’s degrees in energy systems and sustainability, with a focus on solving water scarcity challenges through renewable energy.

Fellow recipient Omar Alomran recently graduated in software engineering from King Fahd University and focuses on artificial intelligence and economic research.

He has received multiple academic awards, including the Oxford/KAUST AI Program Scholarship and a semester scholarship at Georgia Tech in the United States.

Alomran has conducted research in collaboration with the Saudi Ministry of Economy and Planning and published works on public policy and international relations.

He has also been part of Thmanyah Media, contributing to economic and political analysis that reaches millions across the Arab world.

At Oxford, he will pursue a Master of Public Policy, focusing on evidence-based economic reforms and social development aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.

The third scholar, Osama Dabbousi, is currently pursuing a master’s degree in computer science at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology.

His research specializes in high-performance computing, with a thesis on GPU-accelerated large-scale acoustic simulation.

A Boston University graduate in data science, Dabbousi earned the CDS Academic Excellence Award and holds a U.S. patent from his research with Aramco Americas.

He co-founded a student initiative that helps peers prepare for competitive technical interviews and plans to pursue a Ph.D. in computer science at Oxford.

The Rhodes Trust praised the three Saudi scholars for their exceptional academic achievements and leadership potential.

Rick Trainor, interim warden and CEO of the Rhodes Trust, said the 2026 class embodies excellence and diversity from every region of the world.

Professor Christian Sahner, national secretary for the Rhodes Scholarships in Saudi Arabia, said the selected students represent “the best of their country — combining intellect, creativity, and service.”

He added that their accomplishments align closely with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals of empowering youth and fostering innovation.

Education remains a key pillar of the Kingdom’s national transformation agenda, and the Rhodes Scholarships serve as an example of Saudi Arabia’s growing influence in global academia.

Through opportunities like these, talented Saudis are helping shape the future by addressing global challenges through science, technology, and policy.

The Rhodes community continues to unite scholars worldwide with a shared mission — to use knowledge, leadership, and integrity to make a positive difference in the world.

Saudi Arabia, represented by the National Center for e-Learning, hosted the 24th meeting of the Committee of e-Learning Officials in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries to strengthen cooperation and innovation in digital education.

The meeting brought together e-learning leaders, deans, and higher education officials from across the GCC. It focused on building a shared vision for using AI in education, developing digital learning ecosystems, and ensuring that Gulf universities remain at the forefront of technological progress.

The discussions highlighted the region’s growing commitment to adopting AI-powered tools that enhance teaching quality, support educators, and personalize learning experiences for students.

The move also reflects the GCC’s broader strategy to create smart education systems aligned with the region’s digital transformation goals.

Experts at the meeting explored the potential of Arabic-language AI models tailored for education. Developing a unified Gulf AI system in Arabic is seen as a cornerstone for advancing e-learning platforms and ensuring that cultural and linguistic values are deeply embedded in future technologies.

The meeting also addressed strategic trends in artificial intelligence and its governance within the education sector. Attendees discussed how AI can be responsibly integrated into classrooms to support creativity, innovation, and ethical digital practices among learners.

Representatives from Saudi and other Gulf universities shared successful case studies in using AI for virtual classrooms, data-driven assessments, and intelligent tutoring systems.

These examples demonstrated how technology is helping to bridge learning gaps and expand access to quality education across the region.

One of the meeting’s key outcomes was the proposal to develop a unified Gulf language model to serve as a foundation for future AI and e-learning systems.

This model will not only strengthen Arabic content in digital platforms but also promote research and innovation in AI applications for education.

Participants agreed on the importance of ongoing collaboration between GCC countries to establish a shared educational AI strategy.

This includes creating frameworks that guide responsible technology use, encourage academic innovation, and align with each country’s national digital agenda.

The committee approved recommendations from Saudi Arabia’s National Center for e-Learning to adopt AI as a reference model across Gulf educational institutions.

This step ensures that all GCC countries benefit from standardized approaches, shared best practices, and cooperative development in digital education.

By working together, Gulf nations aim to build a strong foundation for an AI-driven educational ecosystem that nurtures creativity, promotes critical thinking, and prepares students for the digital economy.

The initiative also supports the Vision 2030 goals of countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE, emphasizing knowledge-based economies and smart governance.

The collaboration symbolizes a new era of unity and innovation in the Gulf, where education and technology intersect to empower future generations.

With a shared focus on Arabic AI, digital transformation, and responsible innovation, the GCC is setting a global example in how regional cooperation can shape the future of learning.