SDG 5: GENDER EQUALITY

5.3.1 Does your university as a body systematically measure/track women’s application rate, acceptance/entry rate and study completion rate at the university?

Same Admission Conditions for All Genders

Equal Criteria: Al-Maarefa University applies the same admission criteria and academic standards to all applicants regardless of gender. Nowhere in UM’s admission requirements or policies is there any separate standard or quota by gender – entry is based purely on academic qualifications and English proficiency, identical for men and women. For example, the undergraduate admissions page simply specifies required high school credentials and test scores for all prospective students, with no distinction between male or female applicants. In other words, any student (male or female) who meets the academic eligibility (high school diploma, required grades/tests) may apply and will be assessed under the exact same conditions. There are no additional hurdles or preferences for either gender in the process [4].

University profiles

External profiles and ranking aggregators (UniRank, TopUniversities, THE) report estimated acceptance/selectivity ranges for AlMaarefa, these estimations are derived de datos institucionales visibles públicamente o de consultas a la universidad [7] [8].

Admission / Academic Programs / Electronic Services

Almaarefa University maintains dedicated digital systems—including the Admissions Portal, the Academic Portal, and the Accreditation & Quality Portal—that systematically capture and manage applicant and student records across all programmes. These platforms collect structured data on applications, admission decisions, enrolment, academic progress, and graduation outcomes.

Because these systems record demographic variables such as gender, the university is able to accurately calculate and monitor women’s application rates, acceptance/entry rates, retention, and study completion rates on a yearly basis. This comprehensive data infrastructure enables consistent tracking of trends and supports evidence-based evaluation of gender equity across the student lifecycle. [5].

Factors That Influence Undergraduate Medical Students to Choose General Surgery as a Future Career in Saudi Arabia

AlMaarefa University provides institutional admissions and program-level data that researchers may use; our admission records and program cohorts enable calculation of application, acceptance and entry rates used in external studies [10].

AlMaarefa’s Gender Monitoring and Support

Stress among AlMaarefa University female students and its associated factors research using a sample of female students from Al-Maarefa, empirical evidence of female cohorts and that the university facilitates data/collaboration for research on female students [1]. Furthermore, data was found in a 2025 study with authors/affiliates to AlMaarefa; showing access to samples of female students and participation in health research, indirectly suggesting that the university maintains lists/cohorts of female students for sampling [2] and we can verify the importance of the university to the research aspect through indexed publications with author(s) affiliated with AlMaarefa University (evidence of research activity and institutional structure that allows collection/use of institutional data; reinforces institutional capacity) [3].

The Strategic Transformation Journey of AlMaarefa University: Navigating New Horizons

As part of its institutional transformation and commitment to gender equity, Almaarefa University has implemented comprehensive enrollment information systems that maintain detailed databases and periodic reports on student demographics, including gender, nationality, and academic programme. These systems enable the university to conduct longitudinal tracking of women’s applications, admissions, retention, and programme completion.

This data-driven approach forms a core component of the university’s Access and Participation policy framework, ensuring evidence-based decision-making to support women throughout the student lifecycle. By continuously monitoring gender-related trends in entry and participation, Almaarefa University is able to identify barriers, enhance targeted support mechanisms, and ensure that women have equitable opportunities to access and succeed in higher education [6].

University service utilization patterns in students with specific learning disabilities: An institutional cross-sectional study

AlMaarefa University provides student-level datasets for approved research (IRB-reviewed). The availability of IRB-approved studies using AlMaarefa samples shows the university’s capacity to supply disaggregated data (including gender) for analysis of completion and service utilization [9].

References