Kean University Strengthens Global Ties with New Academic Partnerships in the Gulf Arab States

Kean University is expanding its global reach and creating new international opportunities for students and faculty through two recent high-profile initiatives in the Gulf Arab States, positioning the University as a leading academic partner in a region with strong demand for U.S. higher education. 

Kean President Lamont O. Repollet, Ed.D., recently participated in Choose New Jersey’s Gulf Arab States Economic Mission, led by Gov. Phil Murphy, designed to build strategic relationships between New Jersey and business, government and academic leaders across the Gulf region. 

Repollet joined Gov. Murphy in signing Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with three prominent institutions in Dubai – the American University in Dubai, the University of Wollongong in Dubai and the University of Dubai – that lay the groundwork for student and faculty exchanges, collaborative research and other programs. 

“At Kean, we believe international engagement is essential to preparing our students for success in a global society,” Repollet said. “These partnerships create powerful opportunities for academic and cultural exchange that enrich the learning experience for all. By fostering collaboration with leading institutions in the Gulf Arab States, we expand access, enhance research and build a future rooted in equity and global impact.” 

Kean’s role in the mission highlights the University’s rising global profile and builds on its strong international foundation, which includes its thriving Wenzhou-Kean University campus in China.  

The University also recently sent a delegation to the Spring UniExpo 2025 in Dubai. Led by Joseph Youngblood II, Ph.D., chancellor of Kean Global, Kean Ocean and Strategic Global Initiatives, the group participated in the international education fair to promote the University’s academic programs and explore new partnership opportunities in the United Arab Emirates and broader Middle East region. 

“Kean’s presence in the Gulf Arab States reflects our broader commitment to building global partnerships that support student success and innovation,” Youngblood said. “We are showcasing the value of a Kean education and establishing pathways for professional development, lifelong learning and real-world impact on a global scale.” 

At the expo, Kean showcased its global multi-campus model, spanning the U.S., China and Kean Global, to prospective undergraduate and graduate students. The Enrollment Services team engaged directly with hundreds of students and families to highlight Kean’s academic offerings, scholarship pathways and international opportunities.