The USC School of Cinematic Arts and Effat University, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, have entered into an agreement to collaborate in the establishment and development of a world-class academic program in Media & Digital Production (MDP).

The agreement was announced by Alan Baker, Associate Dean for International Projects, Dr. Haifa Reda Jamalallail, the president of Effat University, Elizabeth Garrett, USC Provost, Holly Willis, Academic Director of the Institute for Multimedia Literacy, HRH Princess Lolowah bint Faisal Al Saud, Assistant Dean of Facilities Doug Wellman, Vice Dean for Academics Michael Renov and others.

“We are very excited about the collaboration,” said Garrett. “I’m really honored to work with Princess Lolowah. I’ve read so much about the work that she’s done for women in Saudi Arabia and I couldn’t be happier that we are playing a role in Effat University.”

USC’s Institute for Multimedia Literacy will develop the curriculum and syllabi for the undergraduate digital media program that begins in September 2013, will participate in the Program Advisory Committee (PAC) and commit to quality control audit visits for the MDP in Effat. The two schools will work hand-in-hand to train mediamakers in the use of the moving image to convey stories, experiences and information and to advance the scholarship of new media.

“I want to thank everyone for your help,” said HRH Princess Lolowah. “It is very important to us, as a very old country, to be working with something so new. We have boosted education to a very high level and I know how important this is to the future. Our national day is tomorrow and for us, to have excellent Universities like USC with us will help all of the people of Saudi Arabia - particularly the females.”

“This ceremony initiates a groundbreaking relationship between the USC School of Cinematic Arts and Effat University in Saudi Arabia,” said Baker. “It was less than a year ago that we first met. In my experience, international agreements take an extraordinarily long time and it’s a testament to Dr. Haifa’s dedication that we are standing here today.”

For more information on Effat Universit, please visit: http://www.effatcollege.edu.sa/Pages/Homepage.aspx