Saudi startup Meshlytics uses data to help universities keep in touch with alumni

In the age of e-classrooms and e-schools, traditional universities have begun to compete with the free tools and flexibility of the digital sector. Arabic-language online education platforms are abundant in the region, including Rwaq in Saudi Arabia, Edraak in Jordan, MENAVERSITY in Lebanon, and Maharah, a platform newly launched by Rwaq.

To keep up, universities have begun to jump onto the digital bandwagon, even if that means competing in nontraditional ways. They can contribute to the promotion of entrepreneurship through organizing workshops and opening entrepreneurship clubs. King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) in Saudi, for example, has the Entrepreneurship Club, founded by Fouad al-Farhan, the cofounder of Rwaq. The club offers tips, advice, and instruction by experts in entrepreneurship, as well as sessions that discuss the most prominent practices and success stories, the process involved in registering a company and developing an action plan, marketing, research funding, etc. Similarly, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), also in Saudi, offers a startup acceleration program, the Academy of Innovation, and training camps.

Building a bridge between the alumni and the university

The Meshlytics program is another means through which universities can contribute to promoting entrepreneurship. The program seeks to promote communication between alumni and the university. Universities need to stay in touch with students to get positive publicity and offer them advice, as well as offer guidance and financial support to new students. This connection would also open the door for graduates to find jobs or receive the needed support to jump-start their careers.

Until recently, universities in the Arab region were still relying on traditional databases, but a team of four young entrepreneurs believe they have a modern way to deal with this data.

Original article by Ahmed Gabr

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Saudi startup Meshlytics uses data to help universities keep in touch with alumni