SDG 4: QUALITY EDUCATION

4.3.1 Does your university as a body provide access to educational resources for those not studying at the university? -e.g. computers, library, online courses, access to lectures?

Library

AlMaarefa University Library allows visitors from other universities and organisations to consult library resources upon written request or recommendation. This policy enables researchers, professionals and members of the public to access the university’s collections for consultation.

Al Maarefa University actively promotes equitable access to educational resources for individuals who are not enrolled at the institution. Through a wide range of outreach initiatives, the university offers public workshops, seminars, and awareness campaigns on key topics such as health promotion, financial literacy, and career development. Additionally, Al Maarefa leverages its digital platforms to share educational content and provide virtual learning opportunities that benefit the wider community. These efforts align with the university’s mission to foster lifelong learning and contribute to the societal knowledge base, particularly in areas related to health and educational advancement [1].

Examples of the university’s initiatives include:

• Public Health Awareness Campaigns: Regularly organizing activities such as blood donation drives, preventive health initiatives, and community-focused awareness events shared through its official communication channels.
• Open Educational Events: Hosting seminars, lectures, and workshops—especially in the fields of medical and health sciences—that are accessible to non-students.
• Digital Outreach: Providing educational videos, informational posts, and other learning materials through its social media platforms to support community learning.
• Access to Institutional Resources: Ensuring that certain university resources are available to the public when relevant.

Some of the educational resources accessible to non-students and highlighted in this report include:

• University library and digital library services
• E-learning management system
• Free online courses

These actions clearly demonstrate Al Maarefa University’s commitment to extending the benefits of education beyond its enrolled student population, thereby strengthening its role in community engagement and lifelong learning.

Library OPAC

The library’s public OPAC and service pages document borrowing rules, library hours, e-library services, and user guides. The presence of an e-library and links to databases (and to the Saudi Digital Library) indicates institutional provision of electronic resources and guidance that can support external users where permitted [2].

Target

These guidelines are intended to establish a general rule that directs library user behavior within the library in such a way that visitors and other library users can make effective and smooth utilization of the library’s resources, services, and facilities.

General rules

All the users of the Library shall adhere to the following rules:

• Members are expected to maintain silence and not indulge into any act which may disturb the reading or study of other users or interfere with the proper functioning of the Library.
• Readers should not mark, deface, mutilate, underline, dog-ear mark, write, tear pages, spoil or damage the library documents/materials. If anyone is found doing so, he/she will be charged with the full replacement cost of damaged material and may lead to suspension of library membership.
• No Library material can be taken out from the library without prior permission and issuance.
• Use of robots, spiders or intelligent agents to access, search or systematic downloading from these resources is also prohibited.
• All the members of the Library shall abide by the rules and regulations issued by the Librarian from time to time.
• Respecting the other users and the reading environment in the library, sleeping is not permitted on the premises of the library.
• Users shall comply with the instructions to vacate the library immediately after the call to prayer.
• To comply with the library closing times
• It is not permitted to eat or drink in the library, however, only water is permitted.
• Users shall comply to wear uniforms as per the policy of the university.
• Not to do any inappropriate saying or action that would harm the reputation of the university or any of its faculty or staff members.
• Treat all library employees and visitors with politeness and respect to serve you better.
• Taking care of the books and references inside the library and using them in the correct way without any appending damage to it, whether by destroying some pages or writing on them
• Avoid writing, drawing, and placing signs or lines on books, office equipment, equipment, furniture and on the wall, etc
• It is not permitted to hold student meetings or discussion groups on the library premises.
• The computer devices in the library are designed for student services, and they are not permitted to be used for accessing electronic games, non-educational websites or watching non-educational videos, etc.
• The use of external storage is not allowed.
• Users shall shut down the computer after using it.
• Maintaining and taking care of the integrity of the equipment and items/materials in the library.
• Users shall carry the university Identity Card and present it whenever is asked by the library staff.
• Users shall comply with the deadlines for returning issued books.
• Users shall comply with the regulations, rules, instructions, respect the rights of others who are library visitors and adhere to responsibilities and behaviors in the library.
• Users shall abide by the rules and regulations set for the fair use of the library, its facilities, and holdings, and shall not use any of its facilities illegally.
• The library staff will provide sufficient information to benefit from the library. Do not hesitate to ask for help and advice.
• The Library welcomes any suggestions or comments from the users.

Membership rules:

• The Library is primarily meant for the use of academic fraternity comprising of faculty, researchers, students, and non-teaching employees of the University.
• However, visitors of other universities/organizations are also allowed to consult the library on written requests or recommendations from their respective institutions for a limited period.
• Faculty, students, and staff can enroll for library membership by producing their ID issued by the University.

Library Services

Services are as Follows

• Lending Service
• Reference Service,
• Referral Service,
• Online reservation of books,
• Bibliometric and Bibliographic Services,
• Current Awareness Service (CAS),
• Photocopying / Printing / Scanning services,
• Orientation and Information Literacy Sessions,
• Selective Dissemination of Information (SDI),
• Digital Library Services,
• Audio Visual and Multimedia Service.
• The Library provides web OPAC, borrowing services, digital library services, and specialized global databases of e-journals, e-books, and other electronic resources.
• The library acquires and provides services by acquiring textbooks, references books, periodicals, scientific databases, and other information resources including e-resources and online databases which fulfill the information needs of the university community.
• The acquired resources are scientifically classified, cataloged, indexed, and shelved to facilitate easy access by all the users of the library.
• The students, faculty members, staff, and researchers have access to a variety of reference and research services at the University Library.
• Apart from the provision of various types of traditional services, the university library provides digital library services by subscribing to a number of online global databases in accordance with the requirements of various departments and colleges as per the courses and curricula of various programs.
• The Library will provide user manuals/information guides for utilizing various types of services from time to time.

AlMaarefa Repository & OPEN ACCESS E-RESOURCES

AlMaarefa University Library lists and links to open access collections (Directory of Open Access Books, Project Gutenberg, OA journals and repositories) via its repository/e-resources pages. These open access resources are directly usable by any learner or researcher irrespective of enrolment [1].

TEDx & Workshops

AlMaarefa University organises public events (TEDx, workshops) with open registration (registration pages accessible to external users and in several instances showing free registration). These events provide access to lectures, talks and short courses for non-enrolled members of the public, supporting lifelong learning and community access to university teaching [3].

AI Enablathon / Hackathon (virtual workshops - open registration)

AlMaarefa University’s AI Enablathon and related hackathons include virtual workshops and open registration, enabling participation from learners and professionals outside the university. These events supply digital learning resources, mentoring, and access to computing resources for participants (virtual lab environments and guidance from academic supervisors) [4].

CME electronic training portal

AlMaarefa University hosts a CME/continuing-education platform (cme.um.edu.sa) for accredited courses and training. The portal is used to manage course registration and delivery and is targeted at health professionals - evidencing institutional provision of courses that can be accessed by external professionals (not limited to enrolled students) [5].

Research Day Book

AlMaarefa University hosts annual Research Day events with open calls for abstracts and participation from students across Saudi universities. The Research Day proceedings demonstrate institutional support for researchers (presentation venues, mentoring, and access to university facilities for research activities) [6].

Excellence Training / Faculty training pages

Through its Excellence Training unit, AlMaarefa University runs permanent professional training and development programs, internships and community training courses. These programs are designed for both enrolled students and external professionals, supporting lifelong learning and community capacity building (computer labs, classrooms, and practical facilities are mobilized as part of these programs).

Faculty and college pages (e.g., 'Excellence Training') describe training programs, internships and continuing-education aims, and stress community engagement and professional development — indicating institutional structures to offer training and workshops beyond regular degree programmes [7].

Institutional cooperation — IELTS accreditation memorandum (testing services open to public)

AlMaarefa University signed a cooperation memorandum with the Saudi British Center for Education and Development to act as an accredited centre for IELTS testing. Providing such examination services through the university expands access to certified testing (a public educational resource) for non-students in the community [8].

Knowledge Colleges signs a memorandum of joint cooperation with the Saudi British Center for Education and Development by accrediting the colleges as an accredited center for IELTS tests

Occurred Knowledge Colleges: A memorandum of joint cooperation with the Saudi British Center for Education and Development by accrediting the colleges as an accredited testing center IELTS This comes to keep pace with the development pursued by the colleges.

The colleges were represented by His Excellency Mr. Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah Abu Bakr, Supervisor of Projects and Business Center, while he represented Saudi British Center for Education and Development His Excellency Dr. Othman bin Ali Al-Munaie.

The signing of this memorandum was attended by His Excellency Dr. Ibrahim bin Abdul Rahman Al-Mulhim, General Supervisor of the Colleges, His Excellency Dr. Nasser Al-Jarallah, Acting Dean of the College of Applied Sciences, and a number of college officials.Saudi British Center for Education and Development.

This memorandum aims to accredit knowledge colleges as an accredited testing center IELTS These tests are scheduled to be launched at the beginning of 2018, God willing. This is to serve new and current students and those taking tests ILETS.

For his part, His Excellency Dr. Ibrahim bin Abdul Rahman Al-Mulhim, General Supervisor of the Colleges, stated that this cooperation comes as a result of the colleges’ aspiration to expand the horizons of serving students and beneficiaries and provide distinguished services to them, taking into account the keenness of the colleges and their officials to raise the level of quality of their outputs, and to verify the effectiveness of applying such tests. Global and cooperation with its sources. To raise students’ skills in the field of English language in a way that qualifies them to begin and continue their academic career, God Almighty willing.

It is worth noting that this agreement comes as the first cooperation with... Saudi British Center for Education and Development And continue to establish many projects in the near future.

References