The Shura Council refers 19 university files and reports to upcoming sessions
In a move reflecting the continued legislative and oversight activity in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the General Assembly of the Shura Council held its twelfth meeting today, as part of the second year of its ninth session, at the Council's headquarters in Riyadh. The meeting was chaired by the Council's Vice President, Dr. Meshaal bin Fahm Al-Sulami, and attended by the Assistant Speaker, Dr. Hanan bint Abdulrahim Al-Ahmadi, the Secretary-General of the Council, Mr. Mohammed bin Dakhel Al-Mutairi, and the heads of the Council's specialized committees.
Meeting details and referred files
During its meeting, the body reviewed a number of topics on its agenda, which had been finalized by the specialized committees of the council after extensive studies. The body approved the referral of (19) vital topics to the agenda of the upcoming plenary sessions of the council. This step paves the way for council members to discuss and vote on these matters, thereby strengthening the council's role in national decision-making.
Among the most prominent files referred were the annual performance reports of several major educational institutions, including the annual reports of King Faisal University, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Al-Baha University, and Qassim University for the academic year 2024. Discussing these reports is of paramount importance given the transformations taking place in the higher education sector in the Kingdom and the universities' efforts to align with the goals of Vision 2030 in improving educational outcomes and increasing spending efficiency.
Strengthening international relations and strategic partnerships
The meeting was not limited to local and educational matters; it also included referrals to a number of draft international agreements and memoranda of understanding. The General Assembly of the Council referred draft agreements related to the legal and judicial fields, investment sectors, media, and youth and sports, concluded with several sister and friendly nations.
The inclusion of these agreements on the agenda reflects the Kingdom’s keenness to frame its international relations within solid legal and legislative frameworks that ensure the strengthening of joint cooperation and the exchange of experiences, in a way that serves the supreme national interests and enhances the Kingdom’s position as a pivotal player in the international and regional arena.
General context and the importance of the oversight role
This meeting comes within the context of the Shura Council's growing role as a key partner in the Kingdom's regulatory and oversight processes. Through its General Assembly, the Council reviews and vets topics before presenting them to the main body, ensuring the quality of discussions and the effectiveness of decisions. Discussing the annual reports of government agencies and universities is one of the Council's most important tools for evaluating government performance, identifying challenges, and providing recommendations that contribute to improving services offered to citizens.
The upcoming sessions are expected to witness rich discussions about the performance of the aforementioned universities, especially with regard to scientific research, academic accreditation, and aligning specializations with the labor market, which are issues of great interest to both the leadership and society.
