SDG 5: GENDER EQUALITY

5.3.4 Does your university as a body encourage applications by women in subjects where they are underrepresented?

Strategic partnership to empower women for the labour market

AlMaarefa University is partnering with the Ministry of Health to deliver joint training and career-guidance programs that specifically support female students and graduates in health disciplines, thereby encouraging applications and progression in healthcare careers.

The Dean of the Nursing College at AlMaarefa University, Dr. Ali Al-Hayti, met with a delegation from the Ministry of Health led by Ms. Raneem Al-Salem, General Director of Women's Empowerment.

The meeting discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between AlMaarefa University and the Ministry of Health in empowering women through training programs and initiatives aligned with the needs of the labor market. Both parties emphasized the importance of creating opportunities that equip female graduates with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in the healthcare sector.

This partnership represents a step toward supporting the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, especially those focused on increasing women’s participation in the workforce and enhancing collaboration between academic institutions and government entities [1].

AI Enablthone – “جسور الذكاء” Hackathon

AlMaarefa hosted an AI-focused hackathon to develop solutions for persons with disabilities — such practical, skills-based events provide experience, mentorship and visibility that encourage women to enter underrepresented technical fields [2].

Scientific Research Day

The University’s Research Day compilation documents broad student and staff research engagement; female participation is prominent in multiple posters/papers, evidencing institutional support for research pathways that attract women into technical and applied subjects [3].

AlMaarefa University organizes an annual Scientific Research Day, a flagship academic event designed to promote research dissemination and foster scholarly dialogue. The university issues an open call for abstracts each year, with invitations explicitly extended to students and emerging researchers from other Saudi universities. This inclusive approach transforms the event into a public academic platform that encourages cross-institutional participation and the exchange of scientific ideas.

During the Scientific Research Day, participants present posters, research papers, and innovative projects across a variety of disciplines, enabling constructive feedback from faculty experts, peers, and invited guests. By facilitating collaboration beyond its own student body, AlMaarefa University actively contributes to strengthening the national research ecosystem and cultivating a culture of inquiry and knowledge-sharing.

This initiative underscores the university’s commitment to open access to academic opportunities, community engagement, and the advancement of scientific research at both the institutional and national levels.

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

.

AlMaarefa’s strategic partnerships with governmental bodies and research centers enable joint initiatives (training, mentorship and capacity building) targeted at graduates and students, forming institutional routes to encourage women into underrepresented fields.

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 [4].

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 [4].

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 [4].

Female Medical Students...Research Excellence In An International Conference

Medical students were able to: Shajoun Al-Azzam, Jana Samir, Sarah Al-Amer, and Amjad Al-Anzi Under the supervision of Dr. Suzan Muhammad achieved third place in their participation in the research submitted to the Third Saudi International Conference on Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, which was held in the period (26-27 November 2021) under the auspices of the Saudi Society for Women’s Health, entitled: “The extent of awareness of females residing in the city of Riyadh about the virus vaccine.” Papilloma", with the aim of measuring the degree of awareness of women over the age of 18 about the virus, its relationship to cervical cancer, methods of transmission, and the extent of their knowledge about the availability of a safe vaccine that protects against cervical cancer, especially since the vaccine is available in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia [5].

The study - which competed with studies presented by doctors and medical students from several universities - was distinguished by its diagnosis of the cognitive reality (awareness) of the papilloma virus, and the availability of an anti-papilloma virus vaccine among the female community in the city of Riyadh, where the percentage of knowledge about the existence of the virus reached only (30%), and ( 15%) for those who know of the availability of a vaccine against it, from a sample consisting of (1003) individuals from multiple age, societal and educational segments; As for the level of awareness among female health workers who participated in the study, the study revealed that (58%) knew about the virus, and (47%) knew that there was a vaccine for the virus.

The study concluded that the level of awareness about the papilloma virus and the vaccine against it is low among females in the city of Riyadh. This requires the need to prepare and design awareness campaigns to educate about prevention, in addition to spreading knowledge about the availability of the vaccine and its ability to prevent cervical cancer.

Dr. commented. Saad Asiri, Vice Dean of the College of Medicine, in this regard, saying: The college invests in the scientific and research excellence of its students to prepare accurate scientific studies as part of the university’s social responsibility to reveal the level of collective awareness of diseases and how to prevent them, so that the decision maker will have a clear vision to address the cognitive and behavioral deficiencies of community members. ; He stressed that the student committee at the College of Medicine is keen to include in its strategic composition practical plans to prepare the future doctor with scientific preparation that enables him to master solid research skills to ensure the continuity of his scientific and practical excellence. He concluded his statement by congratulating the winning students and thanking the supervising doctor, praying to God Almighty for continued success and excellence for the students and staff. University of Knowledge.

For her part, Prof. Dr. Ibtisam Al-Madhi, Advisor to His Excellency the President of the University, said that research excellence in any university is a natural extension of the excellence of educational inputs, and therefore Al-Maarifa University is keen in its strategic plans to improve the inputs to achieve excellence in the outputs. Scientific research is a cumulative skill that the student acquires through theoretical scientific training and practical training to achieve the desired research quality.

References