The Shura Council calls on Princess Nourah University to empower women and develop universities
The Saudi Shura Council held its twenty-second regular session of the second year of its ninth term on Monday, chaired by His Excellency the Speaker of the Council, Sheikh Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al Sheikh. The session addressed several vital issues concerning the higher education sector in the Kingdom, within the framework of the Council's oversight and legislative role to ensure that the outputs of educational institutions align with the objectives of the Kingdom's Vision 2030.
Women's empowerment and the identity of Princess Nourah University
In its first resolution, the Council issued a significant decision requiring Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University to adopt an institutional identity that directly focuses on empowering women in areas of national development priority. This decision aligns with the Kingdom's strategic directions, which place great importance on enhancing women's role in the labor market and economic participation. The Council emphasized the need for coordination with relevant entities to achieve this goal, while also urging the university to increase the number of international students and develop student exchange programs, thereby promoting cultural diversity and bolstering the university's academic reputation as a leading educational beacon for women globally.
Enhancing quality and digital transformation in universities
In a related matter, the council discussed the annual report of Al-Baha University, urging it to expedite addressing shortcomings in institutional performance and to enhance the quality of educational and research outputs. The council emphasized the importance of showcasing the university's institutional identity in a manner that aligns with the comparative advantages of the Al-Baha region, particularly in the tourism and agricultural sectors. The resolution also called for developing a digital transformation system and forging strategic partnerships with the private sector to bolster the university's self-generated revenue.
Regarding Jeddah University, the council called for the adoption of a comprehensive institutional program to complete the digital transformation system and the construction of a central data center with precise performance indicators. It also urged the establishment of an integrated investment system, particularly in the area of endowments, to ensure the university's financial sustainability and diversify its income sources, moving away from complete reliance on the government budget.
Innovation, entrepreneurship, and heritage preservation
Regarding King Faisal University, the Shura Council's decision emphasized the need to maximize the benefits of innovative products and patents, and to direct entrepreneurial activities towards sustainable investment models. This recommendation is a cornerstone for transforming Saudi universities from traditional educational institutions into productive universities that contribute to the knowledge economy.
The council also directed the Islamic University of Madinah to study converting its library's paper holdings into digital format. This step aims to preserve the university's rich scientific and Islamic heritage and facilitate global access to this knowledge for researchers and interested individuals worldwide, while ensuring respect for intellectual property rights.
Localization of academic talent
Regarding Hafr Al-Batin University, the Council called for efforts to attract qualified national academic staff and to provide opportunities for outstanding graduates to pursue internal and external scholarships to meet academic needs. This reflects the Council's commitment to localizing academic jobs and building young national capabilities that will lead the educational future in the Kingdom.
The Council concluded its session by approving two memoranda of understanding; the first between the Supreme Commission for Industrial Security and Naif Arab University for Security Sciences, and the second between the Ministry of Transport and Logistics and the Tunisian Ministry of Communication Technologies for cooperation in the postal sector.
