SDG 1: NO POVERTY

1.4.4 Does your university as a body participate in policy making at local, regional, national and/or global level to implement programmes and policies to end poverty in all its dimensions?

Al Maarefa University actively participates in Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and agreements with ministries (e.g., the Ministry of Health), government agencies (National Institute for Health Research, Saudi Red Crescent), NGOs (Ensan), and financial institutions. These collaborations position the university as an operational partner in the implementation of social and health programs that contribute to reducing vulnerability and can inform public policy processes [1]. The creation of the Educational Financing Fund with the Sulaiman Al-Rajhi Foundation and partnerships with the financial sector demonstrate concrete initiatives to expand access to education—a crucial lever for addressing various dimensions of poverty [2]. The "Quality of Life in Diriyah" Chair provides a platform for generating applied research that can inform local and regional policies on services and quality of life. As an implementer of national/regional programs, agreements for mass training (digital projects reaching 50,000 beneficiaries) and partnerships with the Red Crescent and the Ministry of Health demonstrate the university's operational role in initiatives aligned with Vision 2030 and social objectives [3].

Strategic partnership with the Ministry of Health - women empowerment & joint programs

Al Maarefa University has reinforced its strategic partnership with the Ministry of Health to implement joint programs on women empowerment, training, and community health workshops. The cooperation aims to localize human capital in the health sector and deliver joint training and awareness programs that support national health policy priorities.
In the context of strengthening cooperation between the academic sector and government agencies, Dr. Ali Al-Hayti, Dean of the College of Applied Medical Sciences at Al-Maarefa University, visited the Ministry of Health headquarters, where he met with Professor Raneem Al-Salem, Director General of Women’s Empowerment at the Ministry of Health, to discuss ways to activate the joint cooperation agreement between the two parties [1].

This agreement comes in the context of supporting the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, as it aims to localize human capital in the health sector by utilizing the qualified competencies that the University of Knowledge abounds in, and to empower women by employing shared resources to enhance their active role in the Kingdom’s healthcare system.

Areas of cooperation include implementing awareness and career guidance programs targeting male and female students in health-related fields, as well as holding joint workshops and exchanging expertise between specialists from both sides. The partnership also aims to support and develop scientific research through knowledge exchange and training, contributing to building an advanced research environment that helps achieve the Kingdom's strategic goals.

Agreement to launch the Educational Financing Fund (with Sulaiman Al-Rajhi Development Foundation)

Al Maarefa University signed an agreement to launch an Educational Financing Fund with Sulaiman Al-Rajhi Development Foundation, to provide concessional student financing (interest-free/soft loan models) and widen access to higher education. This initiative supports national policy goals on inclusive access to education and reduces financial barriers for vulnerable students. The people of knowledge are witnesses to the truth, as God Almighty says: {God bears witness that there is no deity except Him, and [so do] the angels and those of knowledge - [that He is] maintaining [His creation] in justice. There is no deity except Him, the Exalted in Might, the Wise.} [Al Imran: 18].

Knowledge University, represented by His Excellency Professor Abdulaziz Abu Bakr, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, CEO and Managing Director, signed an agreement to launch the Educational Financing Fund with the Sulaiman Al Rajhi Foundation for Development Finance, represented by His Excellency Professor Mohammed Al Khamis, CEO of the Foundation, on Sunday, January 26, 2020, to provide easy financing programs for students through the interest-free loan system.

The agreement comes to support cooperation in educational financing services, and to provide opportunities to study in higher education with a flexible repayment mechanism without interest for the beneficiary, which contributes to giving greater opportunities to continue education for the groups targeted by the fund.

The signing ceremony was attended by His Excellency Dr. Professor Dr. Walid Abu Al-Faraj, Director of the University, and from the Foundation, His Excellency Dr. Abdul Rahman Sulaiman Al-Rajhi, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, and a group of officials from both sides.

The agreement is considered a cornerstone and a true partnership between the two parties that will be launched in order to serve the student and the community, as it will facilitate the payment of the burdens of the size of educational costs on families, in easy installments that take into account the income level of these families in sharing the support of private higher education with the private sector [2].

Cooperation Agreement with the Charitable Society for Orphans Care (“Ensan”)

Al Maarefa University entered a joint cooperation agreement with ENSAN (Charitable Society for Orphans Care) to collaborate on education, training and social support initiatives. The partnership enables the university to co-design programs for vulnerable groups and contribute academic expertise to social welfare interventions. Al-Maarefa University signed a memorandum of understanding for joint cooperation with the “Insan” Charitable Society for Orphan Care on Tuesday, April 23, 2019, at the university’s headquarters in the South Sudair Hall. This agreement embodies the comprehensive renaissance that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is experiencing on all levels, especially in the health and education sectors, and complements the mission carried by both parties, and their contribution to building a knowledge and scientific society, and enhancing integration and participation between them within the frameworks of knowledge exchange and practical application. Since the reality of providing health services and building a knowledge society requires concerted and integrated efforts in everything that would advance these aspects, this reinforces the importance of this agreement, and the importance of concerted efforts to achieve the agreement’s goal. Al-Maarefa University is an academic, scientific, and training institution that is subject to the supervision of the Ministry of Education, and it educates, trains, and qualifies high school graduates to obtain a bachelor’s degree in medicine, surgery, pharmacy, and various health and technical specializations needed by all governmental and private sectors, and the equivalent of programs and training courses.

The university was represented by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Dr. Zaid bin Mohammed Al-Zamil, while the association was represented by the Director General of the association, Mr. Saleh bin Abdullah Al-Yousef. A group of association and university staff members participated in the signing ceremony of this memorandum.

This agreement aims to develop the human resources sponsored by the association and qualify them to obtain an academic degree in the fields available at the university, and to raise the level of performance of employees and students in improving the medical services provided in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through education, training, continuous development and fruitful cooperation between the two parties, in order to achieve part of the initiatives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 [4].

MOU with the National Institute for Health Research (research & technical collaboration)

The university signed cooperation terms with the National Institute for Health Research to advance applied health research, capacity building and evidence generation. Outputs from this collaboration can inform national health policies and programs addressing poverty-related health inequalities. In line with the objectives of the #Knowledge_University strategic research plan, the university signs a memorandum of understanding with the National Institute for Health Research [5].

Research Chair: “Quality of Life in Diriyah” (research → local policy)

Al Maarefa University launched a Research Chair focused on “Quality of Life in Diriyah”, partnering with local development authorities. The Chair’s mission is to produce applied research and actionable plans (health, environment, services, tourism) that can steer local/regional development policy and community programs. Dr. Ibtisam bint Mohammed Al-Madi, President of the Saudi Wellness Association – one of the associations of Al-Maarefa University – signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. This memorandum aims to foster scientific and research collaboration in developing and improving wellness practices, with the goal of enhancing the quality of life for individuals and society [6].

Strategic large-scale training agreements (e.g., digital platform to train 50.000 beneficiaries)

The university signed strategic agreements to deliver large-scale training via digital platforms (project cited to train ~50,000 beneficiaries with ~SAR 200M project value). These projects align with national workforce development and social inclusion policies and position the university as an implementer of capacity-building programs at scale. In a qualitative step reflecting its commitment to its national role in developing human capital, Al Maarefa University signed an exclusive strategic partnership agreement with Vision for the Future Health Training Company, one of the leading companies in quality education and training, which aims to train 50,000 beneficiaries over a period of three years, through a package of advanced professional courses and diplomas, designed to meet the needs of the labor market, and supported by the Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF).

Under this agreement, Al Maarefa University, in partnership with Vision for the Future Company, will launch the digital platform to host this national project, which is valued at up to 200 million Saudi Riyals, to become a digital training center that offers quality programs in the fields of leadership, human resources, digital marketing, technological transformation, health quality, medical coding, and many other specializations that keep pace with the objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 [7].

MOU with the Financial System Alliance (Meeza Program) — link to financial stakeholders

Al Maarefa University signed an MOU with the Financial System Alliance (Meeza) offering tuition/course discounts to alliance employees and families. By partnering with financial sector stakeholders, the university engages in mechanisms that support inclusive access to education and can feed into broader financial-inclusion policies. Continuing to strengthen the strategic partnerships that Al Maarefa University is keen to achieve as part of its social responsibilities, a partnership agreement was signed with the Financial System Alliance (Mazya Program) that includes supporting the employees of the Financial System by granting them and their families special discounts on tuition fees at the university, as well as courses offered by the university’s Business Center [8].

Agreement to Launch the Educational Fund

AlMaarefa University signed a formal agreement to launch an Educational Financing Fund that provides flexible financing mechanisms to widen access to higher education. This institutional initiative contributes to national efforts to reduce financial barriers, aligning with social inclusion policies and poverty-reduction objectives.

Scholars are witnesses to the truth, as Allah Almighty says: {Allah bears witness that there is no deity except Him, and [so do] the angels and those of knowledge - [that He is] maintaining [His creation] in justice. There is no deity except Him, the Exalted in Might, the Wise.} [Al Imran: 18]

Al Maarefa University, represented by His Excellency Professor Abdulaziz Abu Bakr, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, CEO, and Managing Director, signed an agreement to launch the Educational Fund with the Sulaiman Al Rajhi Foundation for Development Finance, represented by His Excellency Professor Mohammed Al Khamis, CEO of the Foundation, on Sunday, January 26, 2020. The agreement aims to provide accessible financing programs for students through interest-free loans [9].

This agreement strengthens cooperation in educational financing services and provides opportunities for higher education with a flexible, interest-free repayment mechanism for beneficiaries, thus contributing to greater access to education for the target groups of the Fund.

The signing ceremony was attended by His Excellency Dr. Professor Dr. Waleed Abu Al-Faraj, University Director, and from the Foundation, His Excellency Dr. Abdulrahman Sulaiman Al-Rajhi, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, along with a number of officials from both sides.

The agreement is considered a cornerstone and a genuine partnership between the two parties, which will be launched to serve students and the community. This will be achieved by facilitating the payment of tuition fees for families through affordable installments that take into account their income levels, thus contributing to the support of private higher education in partnership with the private sector.

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