SDG 5: GENDER EQUALITY

5.6.8 Does your university as a body have a policy that protects those reporting discrimination from educational or employment disadvantage?

Student Conduct and Discipline Rules

AlMaarefa University’s Student Conduct & Discipline Rules (approved 28 May 2024) establish a comprehensive framework that protects students who report discrimination or misconduct from any form of educational or disciplinary disadvantage. The regulations outline clear grievance-submission procedures, the formation of impartial disciplinary committees, confidentiality requirements during investigations, and a structured, multi-level appeals process [1].

These mechanisms ensure that complainants can raise concerns or report incidents without fear of retaliation, bias, or negative impact on their academic standing or future opportunities. By embedding due process guarantees and safeguarding the rights of individuals throughout the investigation and resolution stages, AlMaarefa University demonstrates its institutional commitment to creating a safe, fair, and non-discriminatory academic environment [1].

Deanship of Admission, Registration and Student Affair

The Deanship provides grievance forms, processes for handling student complaints and coordinates with disciplinary committees — constituting the formal student channel to raise concerns and seek remedies [2].

Meeting new students

University communications (e.g., 'Meeting new students') demonstrate that students are informed of their rights and the grievance procedures at the start of the academic year, supporting awareness of complaint channels.

Under the generous patronage of His Excellency the General Supervisor of Colleges, Dr. Ibrahim bin Abdul Rahman Al-Mulhim, and in the presence of His Excellency the Vice Dean of Colleges for Admission, Registration, and Student Affairs, Dr. Muhammad bin Abdullah Al-Zamil, the Student Affairs Administration organized on Thursday, 10/5/2017, a meeting for new students for the first semester of the 2017 academic year. – 2018 AD at 10:30 AM in Diriyah Grand Hall [3].

The meeting began with fragrant verses from the Holy Qur’an, recited by the student Abdullah Al-Nasser, then a welcome speech from the student Nasser Al-Habjar, who congratulated his new colleagues on their successful choice of Al-Maarifa Colleges of Science and Technology, wishing them all the best and success. The speech was then given by the Acting Head of the General Preparation Department, Dr. Hassan Al-Naamna, congratulating the students. In the new academic year, he explained to them their rights guaranteed to them by the colleges’ grievance regulations, and the duties assigned to them. He also pointed out the importance of student guidance, both psychological and academic, for the student in his university career [3].

After that, it was the turn of the colleges’ representative for admission, registration, and student affairs, Dr. Muhammad bin Abdullah Al-Zamil, who welcomed his fellow students and congratulated them on joining the family of knowledge colleges, stressing the importance of these meetings that aim to introduce the colleges’ rules and regulations, calling on students to abide by them and adhering to them, stressing also the keenness of the leaders. Colleges must open communication channels at any time to listen to students’ comments, suggestions, and all their inquiries. His Excellency also introduced the partial scholarships offered by colleges and the mechanism for obtaining them. After that, a film was shown about the student activities that were completed last academic year 2016-2017, and the meeting ended with everyone thanking everyone for attending [3].

Staff Handbook

The College/department staff handbook includes standing rules of procedure for complaints and grievances applicable to academic staff, indicating formal channels and escalation routes for staff raising work-related or conduct issues [4].

Regulations Governing the Training of Interns

Intern regulations explicitly grant intern doctors the right to appeal to the Grievance and Disciplinary Committee and describe the steps for lodging and processing complaints, providing procedural protection to trainees [5].

Human Resources Management

Al-Maarefa’s Human Resources unit states its mission to align policies with fairness and to preserve employee rights, indicating institutional commitment to fair treatment and to internal processes for addressing employee complaints [6].

References