Shura Council decisions to develop 6 Saudi universities and international agreements

The Saudi Shura Council held its twenty-first regular session of the second year of the ninth term on Tuesday, chaired by the Vice President of the Council, Dr. Mishaal bin Fahm Al-Sulami. The Council issued a package of important decisions and directives aimed at raising the efficiency of university education and enhancing governance in a number of Saudi universities, in addition to approving international memoranda of understanding.

The role of the Shura Council in enhancing the quality of education

These decisions fall within the Shura Council's oversight and legislative role, aimed at aligning with the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which places great emphasis on the education and scientific research sector. Through its review of universities' annual reports, the Council seeks to ensure the quality of educational outcomes, align academic disciplines with the evolving needs of the labor market, and enhance the financial and administrative efficiency of educational institutions to guarantee their sustainability and competitiveness at both the regional and international levels.

Urgent directives for Umm Al-Qura University

The council began its resolutions by urging Umm Al-Qura University to improve the efficiency of its measurement and evaluation system. The resolution emphasized the importance of ensuring the accuracy and realism of performance indicators to serve the university's strategic objectives. The council also called upon the university to:

• Developing a digital corporate communications strategy to enhance its local and international presence.
• Completing the infrastructure in the branches to ensure the quality of outputs.
• Studying the possibility of establishing university branches outside the Kingdom in coordination with the relevant authorities.

Structural reforms at King Abdulaziz University

Regarding King Abdulaziz University, the Council's decision focused on administrative and research aspects, calling for the development of the governance system and the enhancement of resource utilization efficiency. The decision also included a call to review the structure of research centers to transform them into national solution centers that address economic and societal challenges. Furthermore, the Council addressed the issue of scholarships, requesting a study into the reasons for the high percentage of scholarship recipients returning without obtaining their degrees and the development of effective solutions.

Northern Border University and support for the mining sector

Given the economic importance of the Northern Borders region, the Shura Council directed the Northern Borders University to restructure its colleges in the Rafha and Tarif governorates and expand admissions to programs that align with the region's comparative advantages. The Council also emphasized the need to build strategic partnerships with the mining sector to support economic development and increase the added value to the national economy, which is consistent with the Kingdom's vision of developing the mining sector as a third pillar of industry.

Enhancing the institutional identity of Qassim University

The council urged Qassim University to highlight its institutional identity in a way that reflects the region's comparative advantages and to include its objectives within a clear strategic plan. It also called for the development of its human resources system and the establishment of indicators to measure the impact of university-supported startups in transforming knowledge into economic value.

Discussions about Princess Nourah University and Al-Baha University

The council discussed Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University's report, with members calling for a redesign of academic programs based on future skills models and proposing the establishment of a global association of women's universities to enhance their international standing. Regarding Al-Baha University, discussions focused on the need to develop internal resources, improve the clinical training environment at the College of Dentistry, and transition to accredited e-learning models.

International agreements

On the international relations front, the Council approved a draft memorandum of understanding between the Saudi Ministry of Sports and its counterpart in the Sultanate of Brunei Darussalam, in addition to a memorandum of understanding between the Saudi Food and Drug Authority and the Portuguese Food Safety Authority, reflecting the Kingdom’s keenness to expand its international partnerships in various fields.