SDG 5: GENDER EQUALITY

5.3.3 Does your university as a body provide women’s access schemes?

Scholarships and Financial Support for Women

AlMaarefa University provides a structured scholarship portfolio, excellence scholarships, early-payment discounts and targeted financial aid, to reduce financial barriers and expand access for qualified students, including female applicants.

Public summary of scholarship types offered (merit-based up to 50% of tuition; need-based, aid for international students). Not specific by gender, but confirms the existence of institutional financial aid schemes. AlMaarefa University, located in Saudi Arabia, is a private educational institution that focuses on providing higher education in fields. It was established with the aim of contributing to the educational and cultural development of the country. The university offers a range of undergraduate and graduate programs in areas such as medical sciences, health sciences, and engineering, along with programs in business and management [1].

#جامعة_المعرفة announces the opening of admission to bachelor’s degree programs for male and female students for the second semester of the academic year 2020-1441 in all disciplines. The university also provides the opportunity to benefit from #منح_المعرفة_الدرة programs [2].

Al-Maarefa College offers scholarships from five donors across four colleges: Medicine, Pharmacy, Applied Sciences, and Computer Science and Information Systems [3]. #AlMaarefaCollege and here show evidence in ceremony You don't forget your gestures. #Al-Merfa_University today honors the donors who extended their generous hands to support the scholarship students, sponsored by His Highness the Governor of Al-Daria. #Al-MerfaUniversity [4]

AlMaarefa University offers a package of scholarships for outstanding male and female students for the first semester of the academic year 2024-2025.

Progress Almaarefa university A package of scholarships to attract distinguished students for the first semester of the academic year 2024-2025 .

For more, please visit the link:https://t.co/j7CG1W8fJG@AlMaarefa pic.twitter.com/1wG5kmGYK7 [5].

Agreement to launch the Educational Financing Fund (Sulaiman Al-Rajhi Foundation) — Qard Al-Hassan financing

AlMaarefa established an Educational Financing Fund in partnership with Sulaiman Al-Rajhi Foundation to provide interest-free, flexible financing (Qard Al-Hassan), increasing opportunities for students from lower incomes, including women, to continue studies.

The scholars are among the martyrs on the truth, because God Almighty said: {God witnessed that there is no god but He and the angels and the first of knowledge based on the installment, there is no god but the one who is the one who is [6].

Al-Maarifa University, represented by His Excellency Mr. Abdulaziz Abu Bakr, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors - CEO and Managing Director, signed an agreement to launch the Educational Finance Fund with the Sulaiman Al-Rajhi Foundation for Development Finance, represented by His Excellency Mr. Muhammad Al-Khamis, CEO of the Foundation, on Sunday, 1/26/2020 AD, to provide programs Facilitated financing for students under the Qard Al-Hassan system [6].

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

The signing ceremony was attended by His Excellency Professor Dr. Walid Abu Al-Faraj, Director of the University, and from the institution’s side, His Excellency Dr. Abdul Rahman Suleiman Al-Rajhi, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, and a group of officials from both parties.

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 society, as it will facilitate the payment of the burden of the size of the educational costs on families, in easy installments that take into account the income level of these families in sharing support for private higher education with the private sector.

Mentorship Programs and Career Development Initiatives

The Deanship of Admission, Registration, and Student Affairs is one of the university’s supporting deanships, responsible for providing academic and administrative support to colleges in all matters related to the educational and administrative processes at the university. It serves as the main body that manages and organizes the academic and administrative relationship between the student and the university. Moreover, it represents the first point of contact for students—from the moment they are admitted until their graduation. Through the Department of Student Activities and Affairs, the Deanship also supervises the implementation of extracurricular programs and student services. The department is responsible for organizing cultural, social, sports, and artistic activities, and for encouraging active student participation to strengthen the spirit of belonging and teamwork. This is achieved by supporting and overseeing student clubs, providing the necessary resources for their programs and activities both inside and outside the university. Additionally, the department develops guidance and orientation programs, particularly for new students, to help them integrate smoothly into university life and to familiarize them with their rights and responsibilities [7].

In a significant step towards empowering women and developing local healthcare expertise, #AlMaarefaUniversity, represented by the Dean of the College of Applied Medical Sciences, Dr. Ali Al-Hayiti, signed a cooperation agreement with the #MinistryofHealth, represented by the Director General of Women's Empowerment, Ms. Raneem Al-Salem. The agreement includes awareness programs for students, knowledge exchange and training, and development [8].

A strategic partnership between the Ministry of Health and Almaarefa University to empower women and develop future leaders in the healthcare sector

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This agreement comes within the framework of supporting the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, as it aims to localize human capital in the health sector by leveraging the qualified competencies offered by AlMaarefa University, and to empower women through the utilization of shared resources to strengthen their active role in the Kingdom’s healthcare system [9].

The areas of cooperation include implementing awareness programs and career guidance targeting male and female students in health-related specialties, in addition to holding joint workshops and exchanging expertise between specialists from both parties. The partnership also aims to support and enhance scientific research through knowledge exchange and training, contributing to the development of an advanced research environment that supports the Kingdom’s strategic objectives [9].

The meeting witnessed extensive discussions on the mechanisms for implementing the terms of the agreement and setting priorities to ensure optimal benefit from the resources and expertise available to both sides. At the conclusion of the meeting, emphasis was placed on the importance of continued constructive cooperation between the University and the Ministry of Health, and its role in supporting health and knowledge development, as well as strengthening integration between academic and governmental institutions to achieve shared national goals [9].

MOE with Ministry of Education

AlMaarefa University is formally licensed and supervised by the Saudi Ministry of Education, and therefore operates under the national higher-education regulatory framework, which includes explicit provisions on fair access, equity, and non-discrimination. Compliance with these national regulations ensures that the university’s admissions, student services, and academic processes adhere to standards that protect equal opportunities for female applicants and students.

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