Umm Al-Qura University
The New System of Saudi Universities
Upon reflecting on the New System of Saudi Universities approved by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, may Allah protect him, according to an insightful vision of His Royal Highness Prince Muhammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, may Allah protect him, and under the progressive follow-up of His Excellency Dr. Hamad bin Muhammad Al Al-Sheikh, the Minister of Education, it is noteworthy that there is a serious determination to reform the structure and development of Saudi university education and work in accordance with life variables and consistent with requirements of modern times in order to contribute to achieving the ambitious Saudi Vision 2030.
The main features of the New System of Universities aim to create a regulated independence for universities with regard to administrating their financial and investment affairs as a major pillar and one of the necessities supporting university independence in an updated and advanced framework characterized by transparency and disciplined powers in universities.
Further, the New System of Universities took into consideration focusing on assigning highly efficient leaders to administrate the universities in order to reach educational outcomes of specific quality and directly connected to the labor market.
The New System adopted performance indicators as a neutral scientific and quantitative measurement far away from the personal aspects, in order to measure performance of the university institutions and to what extent they achieve the prior planned goals. This cannot be achieved unless a top-quality competitive environment is available with many scientific incentives and where all facilities are committed to invest in their personnel as well as materialistic and human capabilities.
In addition, the New System took into account the international universities and their advanced experiences in different fields. Thus, it provided the chance to establish branches for a number of the pioneering international universities under the state policy and its approved disciplines in this field in order to cope with the international universities based on economic and investment necessities working on the achievement of the pillars of the fast-paced national transformation.
Upon a comprehensive review of the main features and advantages of the New System of Universities, they could be summed up in promising points focusing on several major aspects, including the following:
All such features and advantages of the New System of Universities provide enough evidence of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia government's interest in the education sector and achieving quality outcomes. We believe in the importance of science and education to promote nations. In particular, we belong to the Muslim Nation known as the Nation of Reading, deriving its knowledge and advancement from the Holy Qur’an in which believers are urged to quest, reflect, predict, and apply methods of scientific investigation in accordance with a well-grounded scientific methodology. In addition, we bear in mind the truthful intention to make our nation one of the pioneering nations on scientific and intellectual levels and an illuminating center for research, knowledge, and innovation based on generous and never-ending support from the Saudi Leadership.
Finally, the deanship and affiliates of Al-Qunfudhah University College would like to express their deep thanks to the Saudi leadership concerning the New System of Universities. Furthermore, we ask Allah (Exalted and Glorified be He) to grant success to this system so that it can achieve the hopes and plans of the Ministry of Education and the aspirations of the ambitious leadership to achieve its great Saudi Vision 2030.
Dean of Al-Qunfudhah University College
Prof. Dr. Omar bin Abdullah Al-Hazzazi
