The Shura Council issues directives to King Abdulaziz University and the Northern Borders University
The Saudi Shura Council held its eighteenth regular session of the second year of its ninth term today, chaired by Speaker Sheikh Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al Sheikh. The session witnessed extensive discussions and the issuance of vital resolutions concerning the higher education sector in the Kingdom, in addition to the ratification of several international agreements and memoranda of understanding. This reflects the Council's growing legislative and oversight role in keeping pace with the objectives of the Kingdom's Vision 2030.
Strategic guidelines for King Abdulaziz University
In a move aimed at strengthening academic governance, the Council issued a resolution requiring King Abdulaziz University to measure the impact of its transformational initiatives. The resolution emphasized the need to ensure full readiness to implement the new Universities Law issued by Royal Decree No. M/27, and to assess the university's contribution to its effective and sustainable implementation. This directive comes within the framework of the national transformation that grants universities greater autonomy to achieve academic and administrative excellence.
The council also requested the university to develop precise performance indicators to evaluate the effectiveness of existing international partnerships and agreements, ensuring they achieve strategic objectives and support institutional development. These decisions were based on the report of the Education and Scientific Research Committee and followed the council's consideration of members' views, which focused on the importance of social responsibility, supporting people with disabilities, and aligning educational outcomes with the requirements of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and artificial intelligence technologies.
The context and importance of the new university system
These directives are significant because they support the implementation of the new “University System,” a landmark in the history of Saudi higher education. The system aims to empower universities to develop their own academic, financial, and administrative regulations, thereby enhancing competitiveness and improving spending efficiency. The Shura Council's monitoring of major universities, such as King Abdulaziz University, to ensure their compliance with this system demonstrates a serious commitment to raising the quality of educational outcomes to a globally competitive standard.
Discussion of the Northern Border University report
In a related matter, the council discussed the annual report of the Northern Border University for the academic year 2024. Members' interventions focused on the need to effectively link university graduates to the labor market. Council member Taqwa Omar called for the establishment of an institutional track for graduate follow-up, linked to performance indicators that measure employment rates and the time it takes to find jobs. This reflects the council's commitment to addressing the skills gap and enhancing job opportunities for young Saudis in the northern regions.
Approval of international agreements in aviation and sports
In addition to educational matters, the Shura Council approved a package of international agreements that enhance the Kingdom's regional and international presence. These approvals included a draft memorandum of understanding between the General Authority of Civil Aviation in the Kingdom and its counterpart in the Syrian Arab Republic, and a draft air transport services agreement with the Republic of Cape Verde. The Council also approved memoranda of understanding in the fields of Islamic affairs with Tanzania and sports training with the Arab Organization for Administrative Development, underscoring the Kingdom's continued commitment to expanding its strategic partnerships across various sectors.
