SDG 3: GOOD HEALTH AND WELLBEING

3.3.1 Does your university as a body have current collaborations with local or global health institutions to improve health & wellbeing outcomes? (Local collaboration, national collaboration, global cooperation).

Local collaboration

Strategic Collaboration with Dr. Sulaiman Al-Habib Medical Group to Strengthen Clinical Training

The Social Responsibility Unit at Al-Maarifa University, in cooperation with the General Directorate of Health Affairs in the Riyadh Region, organized a health campaign under the title “Public Health” during the period 01/17/19/2019, which was held at the Sahara Mall [1]. The campaign highlighted chronic diseases (diabetes, blood pressure, osteoporosis, kidney failure, hepatitis, and obesity).

Among the objectives of the campaign is to introduce the community to the concept of these diseases and the percentage of people infected with them in the Kingdom by informing them of medical models, taking measurements of weight, height, diabetes and blood pressure, and distributing awareness-raising medical brochures. The campaign has been widely accepted by segments of society, and this participation comes in fulfillment of the message. The university emphasized the importance of health education and community participation, and the campaign was attended by a number of market visitors.

Hayat programme: First-aid & community health workshops (Nursing Dept.)

Our Nursing Department conducts the ‘Hayat’ community workshops delivering first-aid, prevention and health-education sessions for local schools and community groups — strengthening local health literacy and basic life-saving skills [2].

Almaarefa University launched the “My Blood is Green” campaign for blood donation in celebration of Saudi National Day

Under the slogan “Nationalism is Life ... We Give Life,” and as part of its celebrations for Saudi National Day, Almaarefa University organized the “My Blood is Green” blood donation campaign. The initiative aims to promote values of generosity and national solidarity among university staff and the local community. This campaign reflects the university's commitment to its social and humanitarian role. Through this event, Almaarefa University seeks to raise awareness about the importance of blood donation as a means of saving lives and enhancing the spirit of patriotism, all while aligning with the slogan “We Dream and Achieve” [3].

Aesthetic medical forum

Al-Maarifa University participated in the Aesthetic Medical Forum in cooperation with the organizing body, the Directorate of Health Affairs in the Riyadh Region, which was held at the Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Center over a period of three days during the period 12/14 February 2019 AD [4]. Our delegation participating in the Knowledge Pavilion was hosted by the Deputy Minister of Health for Planning and Development, His Excellency Professor Fahd bin Abdul Rahman Al-Jalal, as well as a group of officials, stakeholders and health practitioners in public health from various regions of the Kingdom. Our participation included several topics such as healthy food, the harms of smoking and dental care and their effects on health and beauty. The pavilion contained a platform that included some medicines.

The university's participation came out of its belief in the importance of activating community participation in such occasions due to its interest in raising the level of health services to the highest levels.

LIFE Initiative

Through our LIFE Initiative (Social Responsibility Unit) we deliver CPR, airway management and emergency preparedness training to students and community members to reduce preventable deaths and improve local emergency response capacity [5].

National collaboration

MoU with Saudi Patient Safety Center & AlMaarefa University

The Saudi Patient Safety Center signed a Memorandum of Understanding with AlMaarefa University. This MoU aims to support education, training, and scientific research in the field of patient safety by implementing training programs for university students, conducting joint scientific studies, and participating in awareness and community initiatives that contribute to strengthening the culture of safety within the healthcare sector [6].

​The MoU was signed on the sidelines of the Global Health Exhibition 2025 by His Excellency Dr. Ali bin Tala Asiri, Director General of the Saudi Patient Safety Center, and Professor Abdulrahman bin Abdullah Al-Sugair from AlMaarefa University. This partnership reflects the mutual commitment of both parties to support health education and raise awareness of the importance of patient safety in educational and healthcare settings

This collaboration represents an important pillar in building sustainable partnerships with academic institutions, contributing to the preparation of qualified national cadres capable of adopting safe and effective practices within the healthcare system, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 and the Health Transformation Program.

MoU/ Partnership with Saudi pharmaceutical industry (SPIMACO)

Our agreement with Saudi Pharmaceutical Industries & Medical Appliances Corporation (SPIMACO) strengthens practical training for pharmacy and allied health students and supports community health initiatives and industry-academic knowledge transfer [7].

MoU/cooperation with National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)

Al Maarefa University signed an MoU with the Saudi National Institute for Health Research to conduct joint research projects, build research capacity and align academic outputs with national health priorities [8].

Agreement/cooperation with Dr. Sulaiman Al-Habib Medical Group

We established a cooperation agreement with Dr. Sulaiman Al-Habib Medical Group to expand clinical placements and professional training for our students, linking academic study with high-level clinical environments [9].

Advisory/collaboration links with major public hospitals & anesthesia consultants (King Fahd Medical City, Prince Sultan Military Medical City)

The Advisory Committee for the Department of Anesthesia Technology at the College of Applied Sciences at Al-Maarifa University, represented by His Excellency Dr. Nasser Al-Jarallah, Dean of the College of Applied Sciences, and Professor Abdul Moeen Al-Otaibi, Head of the Department of Anesthesia Technology, held its first meeting on Tuesday, April 2, 2019, in the university. This meeting aims to enhance Joint cooperation and review of prescribed curricula [10].

The committee includes a group of advisory members in several health sectors, including His Excellency Dr. Ali Al-Shuaibi, anesthesia consultant at King Fahd Medical City, His Excellency Dr. Saleh Al-Khanin, anesthesia consultant at Prince Sultan Military Medical City, the specialist Mr. Muhammad Al-Qahtani, head of the Anesthesia Technology Department at King Fahd Medical City, and the specialist Mr. Musa Al-Mousa Malik. Medical Care Excellence Company, Head of the Anesthesia Department at the Military Hospital in Dhahran, and Senior Specialist Mr. Majid Al-Otaibi, Head of the Anesthesia Technology Department at the University Hospital.

In this context, His Excellency Dr. Nasser Al-Jarallah stated that we seek, through this serious cooperation between health sector institutions, to continue establishing many vital and effective agreements in various scientific programs to achieve the highest levels of education and training for university students, in order to meet the Saudi market’s need for national outputs and cadres.

And in a way that qualifies them to the highest level and efficiency to achieve success and continue their practical journey in serving their community, God Almighty willing.

Cooperation/training agreement with Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Mishari Hospital

To further extend and expand research and professional relations with health institutions,Almaarefa university Signing a cooperation and training agreement with Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Mishari Hospital [11].

Cooperation with the King Salman Center for Disability Research

In cooperation with the King Salman Center for Disability Research @kscdr, # University of Knowledge - with the participation of specialized experts - is hosting a series of specialized workshops in the field of artificial intelligence, and how to use it to improve and enhance the lives of people with disabilities, accompanied by the Bridges of Intelligence Hackathon [12].

MOU with Aljazeera Pharmaceutical Industries Company “Hikma”

As part of the University of Knowledge’s efforts to enhance academic and research cooperation, a memorandum of understanding and cooperation was signed with Aljazeera Pharmaceutical Industries Company “Hikma”, aiming to develop and grow the health sector in the Kingdom by enhancing scientific research, education, innovation and enhancing joint cooperation in areas related to the specialization of both parties, which serve the sectors of research, development, education, employment and training [13]. The signing ceremony took place during the university’s participation in the Global Health Forum, in the presence of a number of officials from both sides, where the agreement was signed by His Excellency the CEO of Aljazeera Pharmaceutical Industries Company, Eng. Mohammed bin Zaid Al-Zamil, and the General Manager of Aljazeera Pharmaceutical Industries Company, Dr. Mamoun Salama Al-Araydah.

This agreement comes as part of the two parties’ efforts to support the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, by enhancing cooperation between academic institutions and government agencies, to achieve sustainable development goals and develop the health sector in the Kingdom.

This memorandum embodies the renaissance that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is experiencing at all levels. Based on the vision of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for the future of the Kingdom 2030, which emphasized supporting the health and education sectors, expanding the scope of their work, and contributing to building a knowledge society and enhancing integration, cooperation and participation between the two parties, and believing in the importance of enhancing efforts and exchanging experiences, and sensing their role in developing scientific and practical skills and advancing education, training and health services, in addition to enhancing the research capabilities of each of them and enabling their members to benefit from the available capabilities to implement research projects, participate in specialized scientific conferences and seminars, community service programs and volunteer activities, and employ university graduates.

As part of the efforts Almaarefa university In enhancing academic and research cooperation..

Knowledge University signed a memorandum of understanding in the field of educational, training, research and community service services with Al Jazeera Pharmaceutical Industries Company (Hikma).

Global cooperation

Patients Know Best (PKB) — Launch / educational collaboration in Saudi Arabia with AlMaarefa University

Al Maarefa University is collaborating with Patients Know Best to integrate the PKB personal health record platform into our curriculum, enhancing students’ digital-health skills and fostering patient-centred care education [14] [15].

Patients Know Best has launched in Saudi Arabia, providing an educational collaboration with Al Maarefa University, integrating the Patients Know Best (PKB) platform into its core curriculum.

The university programme officially kicked off with Dr. Mohammad Al Ubaydli, CEO and founder of PKB, delivering a lecture to Al Maarefa University students from various programmes, including medicine, nursing, respiratory care, emergency medical science and anaesthesia technology. It focused on the role of personal health records and the importance of this topic to health information systems (HIS) students at Al Maarefa University.

It forms part of “PKB’s decade-plus-old global pro bono education programme”, designed to address the profound transformation in healthcare by preparing students to thrive in a digitally-enabled, patient-centric environment. Since its launch in 2014, around 5,400 students across the globe have participated.

PKB said: “The Al Maarefa partnership directly addresses the cultural and demographic shifts in the region. Saudi Arabia has a highly digital population where 65% are under the age of 30. These patients increasingly expect collaborative, tech-enabled engagement from their healthcare providers.”

The university’s programme will use the PKB platform for essential simulated activities, including consultation skills training, complex case study review, and interprofessional problem-based learning. This hands-on experience provides students with practical, safe training in a world where patients have real-time access to their records, enabling them to build the skills for the most productive clinician-patient partnerships.

There are three assignments related to PKB for students this year, each coordinated by both Associate Prof Dr. Nasriah Zakaria and Eng. Ghaith Koushaji at the College of Applied Medical Sciences at Al Maarefa University.

Dr Nasriah Zakaria commented: “We are extremely pleased to introduce the PKB platform to our students. By integrating this cutting-edge technology into our curriculum for 180 students in the Computer for Health Science Course and 20 students in our Health Information Systems programme, we are aggressively modernising our educational approach.

“Specifically, the collaboration with PKB will teach students how a personal health record is designed and how it can be used effectively by both patients and healthcare providers in the coming years.”

Dr. Mohammad Al Ubaydli, CEO and founder of Patients Know Best, added: “Al Maarefa was the first private university in KSA to launch problem-based learning, it’s natural they are first in the kingdom to pioneer personal health records in their curriculum. This is about more than deploying our software; it’s about investing in the future of clinical practice. The students here will work with one of the most digitally savvy and youngest populations globally. This programme ensures they are not just medically knowledgeable, but culturally prepared to partner with patients in a digital age.”

Wider trend: Digital patient transformation

Patients Know Best has been selected to provide a single patient record system for the Government of Lagos State in Nigeria, forming part of a partnership between Interswitch Group and the government to introduce the Lagos Smart Health Information Platform.

A recent HTN Now panel discussion covered how to advance patient engagement using communication tech and patient portals, exploring adoption, engagement, the use of AI and automation technologies, functionality and the future role of patient portals and communication tech in tackling NHS challenges. We were joined by Jothi Vasan-O’Leary, medical information officer and outpatient clinical lead (GIRFT) at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton; Daniel Parkinson, digital IT project manager at Leeds Teaching Hospitals; Sally Mole, senior digital programme manager – digital portfolio delivery team at The Dudley Group; and Emma Stratful, chief operating officer at OX.DH.

Earlier this year, HTN was joined for a panel discussion on transformation in women’s health by experts including Saima Sharif, NHS obstetrician & gynaecologist, North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust and digital/AI adopter for women’s health; Dr Nikita Kanani MBE, GP and chief strategy and innovation officer at Aneira Health; Sally Mole, senior digital programme manager – digital portfolio delivery team at The Dudley Group; and Vicky Rothwell, lead enterprise architect, Aire Logic.

Strategic partnership with Ulster University (UK)

Al Maarefa University signed a cooperation agreement with Ulster University to boost research and academic exchange in health sciences, enabling joint projects, faculty development and student mobility opportunities [16].

Cooperation with Jordan Nursing Council (regional/international capacity building)

Amman, December 16 (Petra) - The Jordanian Nursing Council and Saudi Arabia’s Knowledge University signed a cooperation agreement on Monday aimed at enhancing training and consulting in nursing [17].

The agreement comes within the framework of both parties' efforts to develop students' academic and applied skills and to provide an integrated educational environment that contributes to raising the level of health services.

The agreement includes a set of responsibilities that the Jordanian Nursing Council must implement, including giving priority to students of Al-Maarefa University in using the available training halls and laboratories.

The council will also teach students at all educational levels according to the prescribed curriculum, providing the necessary technical support as resources allow, in addition to providing the required training for faculty members, offering technical consultations upon request, and establishing an electronic platform for distance training.

According to the terms of the agreement, Al Maarefa University will continuously provide the council with training needs, while committing to providing a comprehensive training plan and appropriate scientific material. The two parties will coordinate to follow up on the progress of the training and teaching process, reflecting the spirit of cooperation and partnership between the two parties.

The Secretary-General of the Council, Dr. Hani Al-Nawafleh, said that the agreement reflects the strong relations between Jordan and Saudi Arabia, and enhances partnership between health and educational professionals and staff, noting the Council’s readiness, in accordance with the directives of Her Highness Princess Muna Al-Hussein, to exchange regional experiences and develop education in the nursing profession, with a focus on developing clear mechanisms that meet the needs of qualified nursing.

For his part, Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Saghir, advisor to the President of Al-Maarefa University, stressed the importance of this agreement, pointing to the reputation of the Jordanian Nursing Council at the Arab and regional levels.

He pointed to the importance of enhancing the educational and training process in the nursing field, adding that the university is working on signing several agreements with other educational institutions in a way that contributes to the development of education, training and scientific research.

In addition, the delegation from Al-Maarefa University toured the Jordanian Nursing Council, visited the Clinical Simulation Center and the Examination Center, and reviewed the Council’s efforts in developing the nursing and midwifery profession at the local and regional levels.

American Heart Association (AHA)

The American Heart Association (AHA) has accredited Al-Maarefa University as an international training center to offer all AHA courses, after verifying that the university meets all of the association's requirements and conditions. This accreditation guarantees full compliance with AHA standards and also evaluates performance, implemented systems, and the academic qualifications of the faculty [18].

References