AlMaarefa University provides dedicated training on the social aspects of sustainability, aligning with its commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).
Social Sustainability Training Initiatives
The university integrates social sustainability into its educational and community outreach programs through various initiatives:
Life Initiative:
https://www.iau-hesd.net/sites/default/files/media_files/life_initiative_1.pdf
Through its Social Responsibility Unit, AlMaarefa University launched the “Life Initiative” aimed at reducing health disparities and promoting health literacy. This program includes training on first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and awareness lectures on health and well-being, targeting school students and the broader community.
Initiative Goals:
- Training on cardiopulmonary resuscitation skills, airway obstruction, and various injuries in schools. ·
- Reducing the occurrence of serious complications of emergency situations in the surrounding environment.
- UM organizes awareness lectures and trainings that are related to Good Health & Well Being to expand the horizon of serving students and beneficiaries and provide them with distinguished services.
Social Responsibility Center
https://www.um.edu.sa/ar/node/193
A university – any university – has three functions: teaching, research, and community service. At Al-Maarefa University, these three functions were blended, and resulted in a community service center that aims to invest knowledge and scientific research to create products that are presented to the community in which it operates as part of its societal duty. For this purpose, health, cultural and community events are scheduled every year, and appropriate plans are prepared for community participation in these events in order to raise awareness, educate, train and research. These posts are distinguished by the fact that they come where the community is, and do not wait for the community to come to them, and this is the philosophy of community service that we adopt. Since our outlook is global, the university adopts every year some of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and plans appropriate programs aimed at well-being and sustainable charity for our community; our service does not end at the end of the event, but rather it is sustainability that reflects positive behavior that we observe in societal change.
Mission
Positioning social responsibility in the conscience of university employees as a culture of practice through continuous programs aimed at nurturing awareness of its importance, education and training on its applications, sponsoring initiatives, and fruitful community partnerships between the university community and the external community.
Vision
Initiative in the field of social service in accordance with human values.
Strategic Objectives:
• Employing the knowledge gained for the common good.
• Contribute to achieving the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 in the field of voluntary community service.
• Increasing awareness of social responsibility and its programs among university employees.
• Promote effective community participation to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
• Enabling and supporting university employees to exercise social responsibility.
Al-Maarefa University launches the Saudi Arabian Wellness Association (SAWA)
https://www.um.edu.sa/ar/node/442
Al-Maarefa University announced the launch of the Saudi Arabian Wellness Association (SAWA), and the launch of its visual identity in an official ceremony, under the patronage of His Excellency the President of the University, Prof. Walid bin Hussein Abu Al-Faraj, and the presence of a group of specialists and those interested in scientific, research and societal practices related to the wellness industry.
The (Sawa) Association was established on 23 Rajab 1443 corresponding to February 24, 2022 by a decision of the Council of Al-Maarefa University, and was included among the scientific societies under the supervision of the General Secretariat of the Council of Universities Affairs at the Ministry of Education. Its objectives are to develop and promote the wellness industry in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia based on advanced applied theoretical knowledge, employing modern trends, techniques and evidence-based research.
Through methodology and solid scientific practices, Sawa will work in cooperation with the public and private sectors to activate the enablers of the wellness industry to contribute to achieving the wellbeing goals emanating from the vision of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 2030, stimulating creativity and innovation to spread cognitive, directional and behavioral awareness of the importance of wellness in the comprehensive wellbeing matrix, and strengthening fruitful relations with government institutions, including vision realization offices in the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Health, The Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Sports, and other relevant ministries and bodies to shape policies and maximize wellness values and practices in the life of the individual and society.
It is worth mentioning that Sawa Association was established at the initiative of a team that includes a group of local and international specialized experts in the field of health and medical education, businessmen who believe in their social responsibility towards their society, and senior executives, to build a national entity that extends with local and international strategic relations, with an ambitious pioneering vision in Region, in a professional setting in line with the vision of the Global Wellness Institute: “Wellness is the constant pursuit of activities and lifestyle choices that lead to a state of holistic health.”
It is noteworthy that the nucleus of the establishment of the association was formed by the proposal of Prof. Dr. Ibtisam bint Muhammad Al-Madi, Advisor to His Excellency the President of AlMaarefa University for Scientific Research and Development, who combines in her wealth a rich cumulative experience in the duality of education and health, as she assumed several leadership positions, including: Vice President of Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University (the largest women’s university in the world), and the establishment and deanship of the College of Dentistry at the same university, in addition to her tireless activity in promoting the concept and practices of the wellness industry throughout her scientific, research, and professional career. Healthy.
On the occasion of the inauguration of the association, Prof. Dr. Al-Madi, Chairman of the Founding Committee, said: “Those who follow the current health and societal situation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia notice that spreading and empowering the community health knowledge culture and practices is the common denominator for all initiatives of the Saudi Vision 2030, which seeks to achieve the quality of life for every human being. Among these visions, came the establishment of the Sawa Association to contribute to the formation of a vibrant society.enjoys a decent living and good health. Therefore, we will seek to attract specialists and those interested in scientific and behavioral practices related to the wellness industry, to become a house of expertise for exchanging and developing ideas, and to make wellness a behavioral practice in our communities. Hence, the name of the association (SAWA) came to indicate its participatory relationship with its partners on the one hand, and its liassociative relationship with its community on the other hand.
Those wishing to know more information about the association, including membership, can visit the association’s website saudiwellness.org.sa, or write to the association directly [email protected]
Through these comprehensive efforts, AlMaarefa University demonstrates its commitment to fostering social sustainability by educating and engaging its students and the wider community on critical social issues.