1.3.2 Does your university as a body have graduation/completion targets for students who fall into the bottom 20% of household income group in the country?
Al Maarefa University is committed to ensuring that all students, regardless of their socioeconomic background, have the opportunity to complete their education successfully. However, while the university provides robust support for students from low-income households through scholarships, mentorship programs, and academic support services, it does not currently have explicit, formal graduation or completion targets for students falling into the bottom 20% of household income in Saudi Arabia.
University Initiatives for Low-Income Students:
- Scholarships and Financial Aid: The university offers financial aid and scholarships to ensure students from disadvantaged families can continue their education without financial interruptions.
- Academic and Social Support: Programs aimed at supporting students’ academic performance and well-being are in place, helping reduce drop-out rates among vulnerable groups.
- Monitoring and Mentorship: Al Maarefa tracks the progress of financially supported students to provide tailored assistance, including counseling and career guidance.
National Context:
Saudi Vision 2030 emphasizes the importance of inclusivity and equitable access to education. Government programs, such as financial assistance for students in need, complement Al Maarefa’s efforts by helping students persist through their academic journey.
Potential Area for Growth:
The university could further enhance its commitment by establishing formalized graduation targets for low-income students, aligning with broader efforts to measure and improve equity in higher education outcomes. Such measures would strengthen its role in fostering socioeconomic mobility and contributing to national goals.
This approach reflects Al Maarefa University’s dedication to equity and inclusivity, providing a supportive environment for students from all backgrounds to achieve their academic and career aspirations.
WAMY team meets with the students and see the progress of the educational Process
Within the framework of the efforts made by the World Assembly of Muslim Youth in following up the students of the symposium scholarships studying in Saudi universities- including students who fall into the bottom 20% of household income group in the country- , the Department of Educational Affairs has prepared a program of visits and communication with the educational institutions in which the students of the symposium grants study, and in this context, a delegation from the Department of Educational Affairs consisting of the Head of the Scholarship Department, Mr. Abdullah bin Ali Al-Hamali, and Mr. Hussein bin Ahmed Al-Amoudi, visited the National Knowledge Colleges in Riyadh to discuss a number of common topics related to the educational process.
During the visit, officials in the faculties met and discussed a number of educational and academic issues related to the students of the symposium.
The delegation also held a meeting during the visit with the students of the symposium scholarships studying in the faculties, and a lengthy discussion took place, during which they answered the students’ inquiries and tried to find solutions to some of the obstacles that they may face during their studies.
It is worth mentioning that the World Assembly of Muslim Youth has been linked to the colleges by a joint memorandum of understanding for more than five years and has (22) male and female students studying in colleges, including (13) male and female students studying in human medicine and nine female students in pharmacy. Note that most students are currently studying in the internship year and their academic grade is not less than (excellent).
It is worth noting that the Global Symposium has 150 students within the scholarship program, studying in a number of public and private universities within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Alumni Unit
Strengthening the relationship between the university and its graduates enhances the affiliation and loyalty of graduates to the university, and contributes to the development of the university and the achievement of its future goals. This is achieved by building bridges of cooperation between the university and the various training and employment bodies with the aim of developing the skills of graduates in all disciplines and raising their competencies, as well as the contribution of graduates and training and employment bodies in developing study plans and academic programs at the university in line with the requirements and developments of the labor market.
The Alumni Unit follows up on the affairs of graduates to identify their employers and the nature of their jobs, and to identify the extent to which their specializations are compatible with the needs of the labor market. It also receives their suggestions about the programs they have studied and coordination with the concerned departments and the Quality Center within the university. One of the tasks of the unit is also to provide them with information services from training and employment opportunities available in the private and public sectors, and help them obtain appropriate jobs that are compatible with their specializations and the requirements of the labor market, and introduce the public and private sectors to the competencies of university graduates in various disciplines every year.
Vision
Leadership and excellence in building a sustainable interactive relationship between the university and its graduates.
Mission
To contribute to the development of graduates’ knowledge and skills and the development of university programs in line with the requirements of the labor market, in support of the university’s mission, objectives and vision.
Objectives
· Enhance communication with graduates.
· Building a real partnership and strengthening belonging and loyalty to the university.
· Supporting graduates in the field of employment, training and career guidance.
· Supporting the private sector in implementing its programs and initiatives related to training, rehabilitation and employment.
· Benefit from the experiences of graduates after engaging in the labor market.
· Providing an integrated database of statistics and studies related to graduates and the labor market.
· Benefiting from feedback from the beneficiaries of the university’s graduates in the public and private sectors and the level of their outputs.
The percentage of the postgraduate completion rate is 21.1%, and the percentage of graduate employment is 78.9%.
Tasks of the Alumni Unit:
· Preparing and updating a directory for graduates that contains contact data and employer.
· Create a comprehensive database of graduates that is constantly updated in cooperation with the alumni committees in the faculties of the university.
· Support the contributions of the University Alumni Association.
· Holding programs, seminars and workshops to support the employment of graduates and qualify them for the labor market, such as Career Day.
· Inviting graduates to participate in the university’s events, celebrations and various programs.
· Preparing opinion polls for graduates and employees.
· Preparing mechanisms for communicating with graduates and employers and strengthening the relationship with them.
· Assisting graduates in searching for jobs in the private sector according to their specializations.
· Informing graduates of developments within the university in the academic and research aspects.
· Receiving the proposals of graduates and employers, analyzing them, preparing periodic reports on them, and submitting them to the Quality Center for Development and Raising the efficiency of performance.
Graduate Studies Unit
Goal
Organizing, supervising and monitoring admission services for graduate programs in coordination with the Deanship of Admissions and Registration, students’ affairs and related colleges.
tasks
· Implementing the graduate programs within the general plan approved by the university.
· Implementing, scrutinizing and documenting academic track on the records of graduate students (equivalence, grading, deprivation, etc.) in coordination with the Department of Admissions and Registration in the Deanship of Admissions and Registration and Students’ Affairs.
· Organizing and supervising the admissions and registration processes for graduate students at the university in coordination with the Department of Admissions and Registration in the Deanship of Admissions and Registration and students’ affairs.
· Receiving applicants for admission to graduate programs and providing services to them in accordance with the instructions and procedures for admissions and registration processes.
· Providing student services for admissions and registration processes for graduate students at the university.
· Preparing admission tests in graduate programs, interviews and admissions test committees in coordination with the Department of Admissions and Registration in the Deanship of Admissions and Registration and Students’ Affairs.
· Screening candidates from applicants for graduate programs and submitting them to the Dean of Graduate Studies and Scientific Research.
· Supervising the registration of students for study courses and issuing study schedules to them in coordination with the Deanship of Admissions and Registration, student affairs, colleges and scientific departments at the university.
· Supervising the registration of departments for graduate programs in the various colleges of the university.
· Prepare lists of graduates for Graduate programs and submit them to the Dean of Graduate Studies and Scientific Research.
· Keeping and archiving the documents and records of the students of studies in dedicated Safe in coordination with the Department of Admissions and Registration in the Deanship of Admissions and Registration and students’ affairs.
· Receiving the applications of graduate students for admissions and registration processes and studying them and taking the necessary measures towards them in accordance with the regulations and instructions.
· Coordination with colleges, scientific departments, deanship of admissions, registration and students’ affairs in relation to modifying the information of the courses or existing study plans for graduate programs or adding study plans for the new graduate programs of the student information system (e-register) after the approval of the authority concerned.
· Coordination with the Department of Admissions and Registration in the deanship of admissions and students’ affairs to update the web pages of admission and registration on the university’s website with regard to the admission and registration of graduate students and follow up their development and modernization in coordination with departments
· Propose the development of admission and registration procedures and mechanisms in coordination with the Department of Admissions and Registration in the Deanship of Admissions and Registration and Students’ affairs.
· Preparing the necessary periodic statistical reports on the admissions and registration processes for graduate students and submitting them to the Dean of Graduate Studies and Scientific Research.
· Propose the development of admissions and registration processes and complete them for continuous development and submit them to the Dean of Graduate Studies and Scientific Research.
· Maintaining the property and facilities of the university and the equipment it contains and ensuring that periodic maintenance is provided to it in coordination with the relevant departments.
· Continuous monitoring of occupational safety requirements and prevention procedures; thus reducing the level of risk for its staff. 20. Keep track of the regular procedures in relation to the financial and administrative aspects.
· Prepare quarterly and annual reports on the unit’s activity, achievement levels, performance improvement and development proposals, and submit them to the Dean of Graduate Studies and Scientific Research.
· Participating in the preparation of the university’s annual achievement report.
· Perform any task assigned to him/her in her/his field of competence.
Student affairs:
Goal
Organizing, supervising and monitoring student’s affairs services for the graduate program in coordination with the Department of Students’ Affairs and related departments.
Organizational link
It is linked to the Dean of Graduate Studies and Scientific Research.
Tasks:
· Implementing the services of graduate students within the general plan approved by the university.
· Coordination with the Department of Students Affairs in the deanship of admissions and registration to provide appropriate students activities for Graduate students and submit them to the Dean of Graduate Studies and Scientific Research for approval.
· Receiving the applications of graduate students related to students and guidance services and studying them, and taking the necessary measures on them or referring them to the department concerned.
· Providing various students support and services to graduate students to help them develop their abilities and increase their achievement.
· Providing guidance services and solving the problems of graduate students in coordination with colleges and scientific departments to help students overcome obstacles to their achievement and learning.
· Coordination with the Center for Talent and Creativity to provide the necessary support and care to talented graduate students at the university.
· Provide the necessary services to graduates of the post -graduate programs and help them in the search for appropriate career opportunities in the private and public sectors. 8. Prepare the required statistics and student data and submit them to the Dean of Graduate Studies and Scientific Research.
· Prepare the required statistics and student data and submit them to the Dean of Graduate Studies and Scientific Research.
· Study and examine the grievances and complaints of graduate students in accordance with the regulations of grievance and discipline, coordination with the Department of Student Affairs with the dean of admission and registration, and raising the matter to the Dean of Graduate Studies and scientific research to complete the necessary procedures in accordance with the regulations and instructions.
· Study and examine the irregularities and students’ problems of graduate students in accordance with the regulations of grievance and discipline, coordination with the Department of Students’ Affairs with the dean of admission and registration, and raise the issue to the dean of graduate studies and scientific research to complete the necessary procedures in accordance with the regulations and instructions
· Participating in investigations of complaints, irregularities and Graduate students’ problems in accordance with the complaint and disciplinary regulations.
· Propose the development of the procedures and mechanisms of the unit’s work and submit it to the Dean of Graduate Studies and Scientific Research.
· Prepare a statistical report at the end of each academic year and submit it to the Dean of Graduate Studies and Scientific Research.
· Coordination with the Department of Student Affairs in the deanship of admissions and student affairs to update the pages of Students’ Affairs on the university’s website regarding the affairs of Graduate students and follow up their development and modernization in coordination with the relevant departments.
· Maintaining the property and facilities of the university and the equipment it contains and ensure that periodic maintenance is provided to it in coordination with the relevant departments.
· Continuous monitoring of occupational safety requirements and prevention procedures and reducing the level of risk for the unit’s staff.
· Follow-up of the regular procedures in relation to the financial and administrative aspects.
· Prepare quarterly and annual reports on the unit’s activity, achievement levels, performance improvement and development proposals, and submit them to the Dean of Graduate Studies and Scientific Research.
· Participate in the preparation of the university’s annual achievement report.
· Perform any task assigned to him in his field of competence.
Al Maarefa Pride Forum
Al Maarefa Pride Forum aimed to enhance communication between the university and its graduates, to open horizons of cooperation between graduates and their fellow students in the knowledge, scientific and career future, and to introduce graduate students to the practical side of the labor market and prepare them for it.
Objectives of the Forum:
· Reviewing and honoring the career of distinguished graduates.
· Reviewing the university’s achievements for graduates and the awards it has received and introducing them.
· Review the latest developments in academic and research programs, facilities and training.
· Updating the graduates’ data.
· The role of the graduate in achieving the university’s goals:
· Contribute to the development of curricula and study plans.
· Contribute to marketing the university’s outputs through external relations in the field of employment and training.
· Assist male and female students in determining the appropriate specialization for their abilities and personal inclinations.
· Assisting male and female students in charting the appropriate career path for them.
· Informing male and female students about the latest developments in the labor market.
· Guiding students on how to enhance their abilities and skills to face the changes in the labor market.
Advantages of graduates:
· Supporting research, supporting participations and initiatives, patenting and supporting entrepreneurship.
· PhD and fellowship holders have visiting professor coverage and research grant coverage in their field from the Research Support Program.
· Priority in participating in the university’s volunteer initiatives such as the King Salman Relief Center.
· Awarding distinguished graduates the President’s Award for Excellence. (in the fields of scientific publishing, innovation, patent, award)
· Providing the opportunity for appropriate vocational training and qualification and then employment.
· Access to the electronic library and research resources.
· Introducing the university’s developments and inviting them to participate in events, conferences, training courses and workshops.
· Representing the university in some of its external events.
· Granting a graduate card (a card provided to the graduate after graduation that enables him to benefit from special benefits such as discounts and knowledge benefits, allowing him to enter the campus and benefit from sports facilities, library, etc…)
· Email grants linked to the university.
· Priority in postgraduate studies according to the controls.
Financial assistance through funds to start-ups (graduated students)
Agreement to launch the Educational Financing Fund
The people of knowledge are among the martyrs of the truth for the Almighty to say: {Allah testified that there is no god except him and the angels, and the knowledge is based on the cost, there is no god but the Mighty and the Wise} [Al-Imran: 18].
Al-Maarefa 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 Financing Fund with Sulaiman Al-Rajhi Foundation for Development Finance, represented by His Excellency Mr. Muhammad Al-Khamis, CEO of the Foundation, on Sunday, 26/1/2020 AD, to provide easy financing programs for students under the Qard Al-Hassan
system. 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 on 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 Prof. Dr. Walid Abu Al-Faraj, Chancellor of the University, and on the part of the Foundation, 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 real partnership between the two parties that will be launched in order to serve the student and the community, as it will facilitate the payment of the burden of the size of the tuition costs on families, in easy installments that take into account the income level of these families in sharing the support of private higher education with the private sector.
Honoring the winning students in the competition for the best scientific research
Under the patronage of the Dean of the College of Applied Sciences, Dr. Nasser Al-Jarallah, and the Head of the Department of General Sciences and English, Dr. Ibrahim Al-Atoum, and in the interest of Al-Maarefa University to appreciate and motivate its distinguished students, Ahmed Muhammad Al-Baba and Abdul Karim Kamel Al-Masri, students of medicine and surgery at the university, were honored for winning the best scientific research competition, which is entitled “Chemical Influence Human’s allergies” “It was admired by the competition committee, which was held on Sunday, 5/5/2019 at the university’s headquarters.
The Dean of the College graciously honored them for their distinguished performance in the presence of the student’s father, Ahmed Muhammad Al-Baba, and the supervising professor, Mr. Muhammad Wajih.
Theuniversity administration thanks them and wishes them success and payment, providing them with a commemorative shield on this occasion.