Ministry of Higher Education's Plan to. Achieve Excellence in Science and Technology

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3 Ministry of Higher Education's Plan to Achieve Excellence in Science and Technology Ministry of Higher Education Deputyship for Planning & Information General Department for Planning & Statistics (1431 H / 2010 G)

4 Ministry of Higher Education, General Department for Planning & Statistics, 2010 King Fahd National Library Cataloging in- Publication Data Saudi Arabia. Ministry of Higher Education. Deputyship for Planning and Information Ministry of Higher Education plan to achieve Excellence in Science & Technology. / Saudi Arabia Ministry of Higher Education. Deputyship for Planning and Information- 2. Riyadh, p ;..cm ISBN: Saudi Arabia - Higher Education 2 Saudi Arabia - Universities and colleges I-Title dc 1431/4352 L.D. no. 1431/4352 ISBN: IV

5 V Plans for Achieving Excellence in S&T in Higher Education

6 VI

7 Contents Executive summary 1 Introduction 2 1- Current State of Higher Education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 3 1-1: Educational Structure 3 1-2: The Educational process 7 1-3: Faculty members 8 1-4: Students : Scientific research : Investment in quality : Global leadership and international partnerships : Information technology Objectives of the main strategic plan for science and technology Prospective Projects : Ministry's five-year plan : Horizon (Afaq) plan for higher education : National long-term plan for science and technology : The National plan for communication and information technology : The Comprehensive industrial strategy 36 Summary 38 VII

8 Executive summary This report aims at surveying the Ministry of Higher Education's plan to achieve excellence in science and technology. We will provide an overview of the current state of the Ministry's initiatives and projects and report on the achievements that have been accomplished in science and technology through several indicators that measure the performance of the development and excellence processes. The developmental initiatives include updating and completing the infrastructure of universities, developing the systems of information technology, and creating a number of new colleges and universities such as King Abdullah University for Science and Technology. Furthermore, these initiatives focus on developing and preparing manpower within the system of Higher Education for faculty members and students. Targeting outstanding faculty members and students, a system of allowances and incentives is being implemented. It aims to raise the competency of faculty members and develop academic performance. The initiatives involve developing the educational process, expanding the graduate studies programs, consolidating scientific research, variegating its sources, and furnishing it with a suitable environment through science parks, techno valleys, and centers of research excellence. They also ensure quality by raising the level of internal competency and improving educational outputs through the creation of the National Commission for Assessment and Academic Accreditation (NCAAA). The distinctive features of these initiatives include keeping up with international trends and cultural exchanges; formation of partnerships and international alliances with distinguished universities, research centers, and organizations through cooperative agreements; creation of international consultative councils; and translation support for scientific books. The paper also surveys prospective plans to develop higher education and consolidate excellence in all areas, including science and technology curricula through the "Horizon" (Afaq) plan to develop higher education, the national plans for science and technology, and communication and information technology, as well as the comprehensive industrial national strategy. 1

9 Introduction : The Ministry of Higher Education assumes many tasks in implementing the state's educational policy in higher education including: complying with the regulations; supervising universities in terms of planning, coordination, follow-up; observing concomitance between current and futuristic development and available personnel so as to optimize the use thereof; meeting the actual future needs in terms of national, technical and administrative competencies and specialties; and supervising exchange students through cultural attaché bureaus which are meant to superintend those students academically, socially, and financially. At the same time, the Ministry works towards consolidating cultural relations with academic and educational institutions and organizations abroad, and acquainting them with the development, civilization, and progress the Kingdom is experiencing in various domains. The Ministry of Higher Education has prepared strategic plans to develop the system of higher education in various fields and contributes to building a knowledge-based society and an economic system based on the generation, dissemination and use of knowledge in order to keep up with contemporary international trends in higher education. For that purpose, the Ministry of Higher Education seeks to give priority to scientific and technical disciplines through consolidating the infrastructure, such as research centers and advanced labs; developing and qualifying personnel, scientifically and technically as well as developing the educational process and expanding graduate studies and multidisciplinary programs. 2

10 1- Current State of Higher Education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Characteristics of developmental initiatives to accomplish excellence in science and technology 1. Variegating initiatives and making them comprehensive in the fields of science and technology 2. Observing the requirements of excellence in science and technology 3. Heading toward a knowledge-based economy 4. Accomplishing the criteria of total quality control 5. Benefiting from international practices 6. Creating a competitive environment among universities 7. Implementing the educated environment 1.1. Educational structure a. Building more public and private universities and colleges Over the last five years, the Ministry of Higher Education created twelve public universities, all the colleges of which fall under applied sciences. These colleges cover various disciplines such as medical sciences in all their branches (e.g., medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, applied medical sciences, and nursing). There are also colleges of engineering, computer science, and business technologies. Today, there are twenty-four public universities. The Ministry of Higher Education has expanded the inauguration of colleges that serve the requirements of national growth in order to accomplish excellence in science and technology. During the past four years alone, 154 colleges were created in various public universities, all of which were in applied medical specialties, engineering, and science. Meanwhile, private education has witnessed a steady growth in the Kingdom since its inception in 2001 (1421AH), with the number of institutions of higher educational reaching eight private universities and forty private colleges, accomplishing high distinction in terms of the quality of their programs and the developmental plans on the basis of which they act. 3

11 The following table clarifies the rate of growth in institutions of higher education: Specialty Number of colleges Growth rate Medicine and medical sciences % Science % Pharmacy % Computer science % Engineering % Community colleges % Growth rate in a number of special-discipline colleges in the Kingdom between 2003 and 2009 b. Developing the infrastructure of the institutions of higher education The Ministry is finalizing infrastructure projects for the newly-created universities in order to enable them to carry out their respective missions as required. The expenses from the budgets of these new universities reaching the amount of SAR14 billion in the fiscal year ( H) and involving more than 171 projects, as well as over SAR1 billion from the budgetary surplus spent on supplementary projects of university cities in five other universities. c. Creating King Abdullah University for Science and Technology King Abdullah University for Science and Technology is an international research university at the post-graduate level. Research at the University focuses on areas that are crucial for the future of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the region, and the world as a whole. Such research is to be carried out within international caliber facilities serving students, researchers, and faculty members in areas such as energy, environment, water desalination, industrial biotechnology, and computer science applications. The University offers and supports the highest standards of academic scholarships by giving both males and females throughout the world opportunities based on meritocracy. 4

12 King Abdullah University for Science and Technology is run by an independent and permanent board of trustees, and supported by several billion dollars worth of endowment. It rests on the principle of meritocracy, and commits itself to the following foundation principles: Forming an international community of scholars that spares no effort to develop advanced sciences Welcoming leaders in science, technology, commerce, business, and education through nomination and partnership Giving researchers free access to experimentation in order to achieve excellence Embodying the highest international standards in the fields of science, research, education, and learning Facilitating access to information, exchange of expert knowledge and skill to accomplish growth and economic prosperity Fostering and protecting freedom of research, intellect, and discussion of scientific work. King Abdullah University for Science and Technology awards postgraduate scientific degrees only, and the research plan is the basis of educational syllabi at both the Master's and the PhD levels. The University awards scientific degrees in eleven educational fields: applied mathematics and computer science, biology, chemical and biological engineering, chemistry, computer science, earth engineering, electrical engineering, environmental science and engineering, maritime science and engineering, matter science and engineering, and mechanical engineering. King Abdullah University for Science and Technology endeavors to accomplish its educational programs and research plan through four strategic axes based on science and technology that concern the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the region, and the world, which are the following: Resources, energy, and the environment Biology and biological engineering Materials science and engineering Applied mathematics and computer science The University has established several multidisciplinary research centers to 5

13 consolidate these axes. Research centers are the basic research units at King Abdullah University and have a strategic nature based on objective fields that drive research projects toward accomplishing their objectives. The research centers at King Abdullah University rely upon the following fields: Chemical catalysis Computer-based biology Engineering modeling and scientific imaging Membranes Genomic stress in plants Solar energy and alternative energy for science and engineering Science and engineering of the Red Sea Clean combustion Compound and nano-technological substances Ground and subterranean sensing Research center for nano-chemistry Ultra-Hertz technology Water desalination A typical research center at King Abdullah University includes eight to ten faculty members and number of graduate graduate students, scholars, research engineers, postdoctoral researchers, visiting researchers (including visiting scholars from industry), administrative employees, and technicians. In addition to the aforementioned research centers, field centers and stations are being created at King Abdullah University, specifically: The Center for Maritime Research and Ocean Research in collaboration with Woods Hall Institute for Oceanography: This center is expected to provide an operations base for the scientific research that King Abdullah University and other universities and leading scientific institutions in this field are doing in the Red Sea area The Center for the History of Islamic Science and Technology, where researchers from various parts of the world do genuine research and contribute in organizing and explaining special groupings of archeological tools that cast light upon the historic role of Islam in scientific excellence and discoveries. Through time, these groupings 6

14 can develop into a leading international library and museum, which will make King Abdullah University a leading international university in this field of study The educational process a. Creating science and technology-related programs, covering the specializations of medical, engineering, computer science, and natural sciences. b. Updating syllabi and programs: This consists in revising syllabi and programs, and linking education with outputs or what is known as outcome-based learning. This is a new approach taken by the majority of international universities, because of its importance in improving output quality, which is in harmony with another trend known as problem-based learning. Several universities such as King Khalid University, Al-Qaseem University, King Faysal University, and Teeba University have already revised the syllabi and programs of some departments, which have been developed according to the most recent international trends, the requirements of growth, and the job market. c. Restructuring colleges: This consists in doing away with some departments and merging some others, separating some programs and transforming them into full departments, and transforming departments into colleges, whereby over 100 new colleges have been established, and 573 departments have been restructured into 690 scientific departments, taking into consideration male and female student interests, science and technology specializations, the needs of the job market, and the national need for personnel in various specializations such as medical sciences, engineering, computer science, humanities, and languages and translation, which are in harmony with the futuristic strategic plans for developing the Saudi institutions of higher education. d. Expanding science and technology-related graduate study programs, which have reached 482 programs, with the number of dissertations in Master's and PhD programs in 2008 totaling 349 in science and technology, and the scientific databases available totaling 655 in university libraries to consolidate scientific research carried out by graduate students. 7

15 e. Creating multidisciplinary programs in vital disciplines such as nanotechnology, biotechnology, petrochemicals, bioinformatics, etc. A sum of SAR150 million has been allotted for the project of creating science and technology-related multidisciplinary programs Faculty members a. Implementing the development of innovation and excellence of faculty members at universities The number of faculty members in science and technology in all Saudi universities total 5,484 members. Believing in the importance of faculty members and seeking to raise the level of quality at Saudi universities, the Ministry has been following-up and finalizing the project of innovation and excellence of faculty members that it started implementing three years ago. This significant project includes a number of programs and training sessions to develop faculty member skills in collaboration with distinguished international universities and expert institutions. Such programs include: Teaching, electronic publishing, and using the Internet in education Effective teaching skills Scientific research skills, training, and statistical analysis Designing tests and evaluation skills Communication and academic leadership skills Independent topics (strategic planning, developing knowledge, thought engineering, quality applications) Faculty members participated in over 733 training sessions and external workshops in b. Allowance and incentive system Incentive system: The Council of Higher Education approved to a number of benefits, compensations, allowances, and supplementary incentives for faculty members at Saudi universities. The set of benefits are meant to represent a developed concept of salary increases that are effectively and directly correlated with the quality and level of performance, which would constitute a rich reward technically and financially. The decision grants a faculty member preference based on several factors that include the scarcity 8

16 of his/her specialty and his/her research that is of such a standard as to comete with local, regional, and international prizes in several fields, most importantly science and technology. The incentive system shall contribute to developing innovation and excellence at Saudi universities as well as increase the competency of faculty members and prepare better work environments, because these new incentives ensure psychological stability, drive the development of academic performance forward, create a sense of competition, and achieve a tremendous support for the outputs of higher education. The law states that the excellence allowance amounts to 10% of the basic salary for those who obtained a local prize, 20% for a regional prize, 30% for an international prize, and 40% for an invention patent. c. Creation of deanships for skills and academic development Deanships and vice-deanships for academic development have been created at universities that do not include such units. It is expected that each deanship will sponor important activities such as a quality and academic accreditation center, the development of academic syllabi, updating systems, professional development of faculty members, development of innovation and excellence, etc. The Ministry has directed universities to create deanships, vice-deanships, units, and offices of quality and development. In response, King Saud University has created a "deanship of skills development," and a "vice-deanship for development and quality" in each college. At King Faysal University, a "total quality control unit" and "quality offices" have been created at colleges. King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals is in the process of developing an "office for quality and planning" and an "office of internal control." King Abdulaziz University is busy creating a "center for standards, evaluation, and academic accreditation" and an "institute for administrative development and excellence." At Teeba University, a "deanship of academic development for evaluation and academic accreditation" is being established, while the Islamic University is establishing a "center for academic accreditation and comprehensive quality." 9

17 1.4. Students a. Consolidating student skills programs A graduate student is the target of each institution of higher education. For that, the Ministry supports a number of university programs devoted to developing the quality of the output of higher education through a two-fold plan: an academic specialization path, which focuses on equipping students with the necessary qualifications in their area of specialization; and a professional skills path, focusing on the development of student skills in communication, the use of technology, and personal skills. These programs have emerged after a thorough study of outstanding universities and some training universities in developed countries. Examples of these programs include the preparatory year, centers for developing and polishing personal skills, communication and research skills, and self-learning for male and female students. The Ministry and universities have secured agreements with companies and institutions to train students and organize periodic field visits. b. Entrepreneurship program This program aims to develop leadership thinking and knowledge-based economies through an integrated system of activities whose objective is to implement the concept of knowledge-based society and to move toward applied, productive education. The activities of this program are centered around five main fields, which are: education, training, consultancy, scientific research, and communication. Applied research in science and technology represents the largest part of scientific applications and consultancy. c. The Ministry of Higher Education's program for distinguished students The Program aims to organize specialized programs for distinguished students abroad to be offered by expert companies and universities. It involves developing English language skills and various educational and research skills. Ninety percent of distinguished students within this program have been attracted to work at Saudi universities in research and the applied technical field, and finish their postgraduate studies in science and technology. 10

18 d. Developing student counseling services at Saudi universities The Ministry of Higher Education has launched a competitive project among universities to develop the programs and services of students counseling in order to make available a nucleus for specialized counseling centers that aim at rendering various advisory services and developmental, therapeutic, and preventive programs, satisfying the student's psychological, social, educational, and professional needs. The Ministry has supported over 58 advisory programs in a number of Saudi universities. Within these programs come initiatives related to excellence, the development of innovation, and incentives for students in science and technology Scientific research a. Variegation of funding sources for scientific research The Ministry has encouraged the launch of special programs that stimulate the wealthy and businessmen to allot endowments for universities. For instance, King Saud University has launched the University Endowment Program, and was able to collect SAR1.5 billion of a target amount of SAR10 billion. The overall amount from the donations to the fund for supporting research and educational programs at King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, has reached SAR200 million. King Abdulaziz University and other universities in the Kingdom have created university endowment programs to diversify their sources of income. Moreover, the Ministry has supported investment in some university facilities, heading toward the construction of strategic relations with the business sector in the Kingdom through a number of tools and programs. And, some universities, such as King Saud and King Fahd universities plan to invest tens of millions in businesses and towers that will be built in techno valleys. Other universities have developed executive Master's programs in business management and programs in parallel education and community service. 11

19 b. Creation of research excellence centers at universities The Ministry of Higher Education has adopted this project to support public universities' research capabilities through the creation of a number of research centers that excel in their management, funding, and evaluation. This has led to the focus of each university on one or more research fields to be funded by the Ministry in the form of contracts. This project is aimed at the distinctiveness of universities in specific fields of scientific research. Approval of seven research excellence centers has been issued, representing the first stage of an overall budget of SAR450 million. Later on, six research excellence centers have been approved, representing the second stage of an overall budget of SAR150 million, with the two stages amounting to SAR600 million. The centers are: 1. Research excellence center for bone fragility 2. Research excellence center for water desalination 3. Research excellence center for corrosion 4. Research excellence center for developing science and mathematics teaching 5. Research Center for Hajj and Umra Research 6. Research Center for Palm Trees and Dates 7. Research Center for Medical Genome 8. Research Center for Environmental Studies 9. Research Center for Biotechnology 10. Research Center for Engineering Materials 11. Research Center for Renewable Energy 12. Research Center for Refining Petroleum and Chemicals 13. Research Center for Animal Wealth and Veterinary Epidemics There are currently 1,167 research labs and 89 specialized research centers at Saudi universities. 12

20 c. Promising research centers Motivated by its own drive to consolidate scientific research at universities, the Ministry of Higher Education has launched the initiative of promising research centers in order to finalize and consolidate the scientific research system, and give the opportunity to nascent universities to establish centers of scientific research that would be the nucleus for larger research centers serving several new fields, and that would keep up with international scientific trends. d. Nanotechnology program The program is a direct translation of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz's concern for nanotechnology and its utmost exploitation towards the development of the Saudi community, whereby the King, May Allah Preserve Him, has donated SAR36 million to create nanotechnology research programs and centers. The sum has been distributed over the following three universities: King Saud, King Fahd, and King Abdulaziz, with SAR12 million for each. The Ministry has been following up with these universities to finalize the infrastructure of nanotechnology research programs and centers. King Saud University has already created King Abdullah Institute for Nanotechnology. e. Science parks and technological incubators The Ministry has supported the creation of technological incubators, whereby King Saud University created Riyadh Techno Valley, which includes a number of technological incubators. On the other hand, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals established Dhahran Techno Valley. So far, three companies have joined business incubators, and there exists at the university a support fund for research and educational programs, with donations amounting to SAR100 million. f. Scientific research chairs program The Ministry has strongly supported universities in establishing and 13

21 disseminating the culture of scientific research chairs. For instance, the number of research chairs at King Saud University amounts to over 94 chairs. At King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, there are 24 research chairs. King Abdulaziz University has over 13 research chairs, while Imam Mohamed bin Saud Islamic University has over 15 chairs. g. Attraction of distinguished faculty members and scholars This program focuses on quality while contracting with distinguished faculty members. It offers incentives for expatriates at Saudi universities to promote the quality of scientific research. Indeed, Saudi universities are attracting distinguished researchers and faculty members to teach and supervise postgraduate students. For instance, King Saud University has signed service contracts with fourteen Nobel Prize laureates. Likewise, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals has attracted a number of distinguished expatriate faculty members. h. Attraction of researchers and postgraduate students This program attracts outstanding non-saudi postgraduate students. Indeed, Saudi universities such the Islamic University, Imam University, King Saud University, and King Fahd University, have attracted a big number of foreign students to study and work in research programs, fill research chairs, and work in labs. The number of non-saudi students affiliated to graduate programs at Saudi universities, has reached 1,820 students in i. Encouragement of distinguished research This program seeks to encourage distinguished research and publication in international scientific journals through offering incentives for invention patents and publication in distinguished international journals. Thirteen faculty members at King Saud University, King Abdulaziz University, and King Fahd University have won a number of invention patents and have been honored by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, May Allah Preserve Him, who granted them King Abdualaziz first degree medal in consideration of their efforts and to motivate their colleagues to follow their example. The number of registered invention patents reached 33 in

22 j. Criteria of measurement and evaluation of scientific research The project aims to determine the referential level and study the current state of scientific research in higher education. It contributes to drawing futuristic strategic policies for scientific research in the Kingdom. The project includes the following criteria areas: Researchers and their competencies Allotted financial support Scientific research products (publication, patents, etc) Opportunity and training Graduate studies Scientific research activities 1.6. Investment in quality a. National Commission for Evaluation and Academic Accreditation (NCEAA) The objective of the NCEAA is to raise the external capabilities of universities via improving and ascertaining the quality of outputs. It follows universities' accomplishment of the required self-evaluation, improvement of national qualifications, and commitment to quality in syllabi, students, administration, faculty members, as well as other requirements. b. National Center for Measurement and Evaluation (NCME) There is now an incinternational trend to establish national centers for measurement and evaluation across the world, with various science experts and faculty members, with the support of a team of measurement and evaluation specialists in humanities, psychology, sociology, mathematics, and analytic statistics. For this reason, the Ministry established the National Center for Measurement and Evaluation in 2000 in order to determine and implement the criteria of admission and measurement in the Kingdom. The center started its activities in 2002 through programs that serve the educational process in the institutions of higher education. NCME renders its 15

23 services to a number of institutions of higher education seeking to perform objective scientific educational measurements that accomplish further justice for students' admission to the institutions of higher education Global leadership and international partnerships a. King Abdullah Scholarship Program The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' program for foreign exchange was launched to send students to study abroad in view of accomplishing a qualitative leap in higher education outputs in science and technology at the Bachelor, Master's, PhD, and medical fellowship levels, and raising these outputs to international standards. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz' program for foreign exchange started in 2005 with 2,800 exchange students and has reached now 50,000 in vital specialization in outstanding universities in countries such as the United States, Britain, Germany, Italy, Spain, Holland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, France, Japan, Malaysia, China, India, Singapore, and South Korea. b. Partnerships and international alliances The Ministry has supported some universities in entering into cooperative agreements and partnerships with a number of international universities and research centers. For instance, King Saud University has signed about 54 agreements with universities and research centers in France, the United States, Italy, India, China, Germany, Sweden, and Singapore. Likewise, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals has developed collaborative and strategic relations with international institutions and local centers, as well as 10 active agreements. Moreover, the National Center for e-learning and Distance Education has made agreements with an international expert organization. In 2008, the number of faculty members participating in international research teams with research projects has reached 369. c. Consultative international councils The Ministry has supported the creation of consultative international councils at some universities whose philosophy is based on attracting distinguished international experts and benefiting from them in the development process 16

24 at universities. For instance, King Fahd University and King Abdulaziz University established the "Consultative International Council," and a number of consultative meetings of the Council have been organized. d. Translation of books in higher education The Ministry has launched a two-track ambitious project. The first track aims to enrich university libraries in Arabic by a number of leading international books in higher-education-related areas, especially higher education planning, management, quality, methods of learning, etc. The series of translated books has totaled 68 books that have been reviewed and published throughout the world. However, the second track aims to translate the most prominent textbooks in the various specializations of fundamental sciences, engineering, humanities, and others. This project constitutes a practical step to facilitate the acquisition of modern scientific knowledge in Arabic by university students and to enrich the Arabic library with the most internationally widespread scientific reference books and textbooks. e. Scientific societies Scientific societies play a leading role in developing scientific and professional performance. They determine the criteria and value of scientific specialties, create scientific communities focusing on the advancement of the specialty, determine the levels of quality, and contribute to building knowledge-based societies. Saudi universities host 123 scientific societies. For that, the Ministry has launched competitive projects among universities to encourage scientific societies. The Ministry also encourages universities to undertake innovative activities that accomplish their objectives according to modern international trends in the field of scientific societies, the development of executive rules and the level of administrative and technical organization, the development of their personnel standards, the diversification of sources of funding that support their activities and programs, and the establishment of international partnerships. Moreover, the Ministry supports societies through funding the creation of their headquarters, which enables them to have independent activities and develop their professional work. 17

25 1.8. Information technology The Ministry has endeavored to accomplish its objectives, arrive at the higest performance levels, keep up with modern developments, and implement electronic governance. In these endearors, the Ministry realizes that dealing with government transactions electronically importantly accomplishes the strategic orientation toward information technology in the Kingdom, and renders e-services to individuals, public and private institutions, and the state's various sectors. Based on this, the Ministry has prepared a strategic plan for information technology whose objectives coincide with the Ministry's strategic plans, the "Horizon" (Afaq) plan for higher education, and the five-year plan for science and technology, which aims to develop information technology at the Ministry. The objectives of the main strategic information and technology plan are: Pursuing the accomplishment of complementarity and congruity between current information systems and those planned for in the future at the Ministry. Supporting a harmonious relationship within the Ministry between its information systems, networks, objectives, and responsibilities. This will raise its competency and improve its performance while assisting in the accomplishment of Ministry objectives and strategies, and meeting the requierments of networking between the Ministry and its annexes and other governmental bodies. Raising the competency and capabilities of information systems and networks at the Ministry as required by its strategic role Constantly seeking better benefits from the resources of information technology at the Ministry. 18

26 a. Ministry s infrastructure Bearing in mind the importance of a sound infrastructure that can handle services currently being offered by the Ministry and can satisfy prospective expansion by adding new services, the Ministry of Higher Education has set up a fully-integrated information center. This infrastructure will host all servers within the Ministry and will incorporate plans and policies that will to ensure the security and confidentiality of information and communications in order to make optimal use of modern technology. b. Automation of the workflow of the Ministry and Cultural Missions. The Ministry has set up a number of systems to facilitate its tasks and those of its cultural missions. Such systems are geared to help offer services to its beneficiaries. There are twenty-eight systems that have either been installed, are in progress or are in planning stages. Such systems include, for instance, the electronic service for the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques scholarship program, the administrative and financial affairs system, the student exchange system (annexation, follow-up, promotion, and records), the national education system, the national private higher education system, and the system of recommended universities. c. E-services at the Ministry and its attaché bureaus The Ministry has made over 125 different types of e-services available within fourteen systems to help facilitate the National Plan for Communication and Information Technology and to keep up with the developments in e-service execution methods for the Ministry s employees, exchange students, and applicants for the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program and government institutions. An additional eight systems are being set up by the Ministry to help increase the number of services offered. Among such e-services are applications that serve the needs of exchange students, beginning with their application for scholarship through their return home, including initiation to the job market and ticketing in the cultural adjunct institutions. In addition, there are e-services related to diploma and certificate equivalency, (such as equivalency application forms, conditions, etc.), and many more. 19

27 d. Smart buildings Through acknowledgment of the important role of educational facilities in securing an integrated educational environment that helps universities carry out their respective missions, the Ministry has adopted a smart buildings program which involves utilizing advanced technology in the management of facilities. Smart buildings are one of the advantages of the rapid development of information technology. They help carry out tasks of measurement, assessment, response and compliance with on-going developments in order to ensure firm control of all operations inside the building. e. The educational network This project aims to maintain continuous communication with the universities, providing services and knowledge sources as well as programs and databases. The project would enable universities to take part in the services provided by the Ministry. The current programs and databases are undergoing a major transitional phase due to the mounting needs for higher education and the use of technology. This circumstance necessitates the collaboration of the Ministry and the universities in order to improve the services and legislation within the higher educational system in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This project has resulted in engaging the Ministry with certain universities to carry out a number of applications in the field of journalism, conferences, and symposia systems while more are being planned for the future. f. Higher educational statistics This subprogram is designed to develop a higher educational statistics system in order to make accurate information on higher education and documented data available to assist in policy and strategy development, in order to achieve higher education objectives and realize the aspirations and hopes of officials and law makers. 20

28 g. Improving the University's websites Websites and electronic portals constitute the real façade of universities and the most frequently used tools to access information. Ample services are offered through such portals to those affiliated with the universities as well as visitors and researchers. The Ministry came up with an initiative to improve these portals through workshops and various training programs meant to upgrade them and update their contents, in addition to offering a variety of interactive information services. h. Creating the National Center for e-learning and Distance Education The National Center for e-learning and Distance Education embodies the vision and strategy of the Kingdom for the promising future horizons of education. The center is the cornerstone and main support of e-learning. Established in 2006, the Center is a constructive step on the part of the Ministry of Higher Education to work for the realization of a vision that is based on accomplishing the mission of the Kingdom in disseminating science and knowledge according to magnanimous Islamic values through the establishment of a national center that supports the educational operation at all its stages, categories, and layers. The Center provides the opportunity to create distinguished broad educational environments known as integrated education to cover the needs of higher education in the Kingdom and spread e-learning centers in its quarters. The Center's mission stems from the belief that all available capabilities should be exploited to support the educational operation in the institutions of higher education through the best use of information technology so that communication can be consolidated and the community's needs can be satisfied, including facilitating the realization of the ambitions of individuals. The accomplishment of individual s ambitions to develop scientific and practical capabilities. 21 i. Deanships of information technology transactions The Ministry is creating deanships of information technology transactions at Saudi universities in order to enhance and upgrade such transactions. This is carried out by putting forth a strategy for information technology, building applied systems that help automate manual work procedures in the various administrations, and training or enhancing the computer science skills of university staff member.

29 2. Prospective Projects Within the framework of the rapid developments that have taken place in the field of educational reform in the Kingdom, several changes have occurred in the higher education sector. The Ministry s prospective objectives have been formulated, especially in the field of communication and information technology, to ensure consonance with international trends. The Ministry s strategic plan takes into consideration the objectives and projects of the strategic plans of the goverment sectors affiliated to the Ministry. The prospective projects have been divided in accordance with the plans devised for them. The most important of such plans are: 1. The long-term national plan for science and technology 2. The Ministry s five-year plan 3. Horizon (Afaq) plan for higher education 4. National communication and information technology plan 5. Comprehensive industrial strategy 2.1. Ministry's strategic Plan The Ministry of Higher Education is keen on working out its strategic plans and ensuring their compatibility with the government s development plan. To this effect, the Ministry has put in perspective a number of vital objectives in its ninth five-year plan while attempting to benefit from the international trends by attracting international experts in the field of higher education strategic planning. The plan has also included the distribution of programs and projects based on its objectives, as well as the adoption of specific performance criteria in order to monitor the execution process of projects. Among the most prominent of such objectives are: Research and development The research and development program is one of the five-year plan s main programs. It consists of four subprograms: 22

30 a. Research and development studies for higher education Working in conjunction with universities in the Kingdom, the Ministry is preparing studies and research projects that will help upgrade higher education and put an end to the problems hindering its progress and development. Prominent among such studies and research endeavors are the future need for creating more universities and colleges throughout the Kingdom, factors influencing learning and performance among college students, upgrading community colleges, reforming exchange students programs, and addressing the problem of failure and dropouts within the higher educational institutions and elsewhere. b. Collaboration and coordination among universities This subprogram aims to maintain and consolidate positive collaboration among universities in particular, and between universities and other higher educational institutions in general, while maintaining sound coordination between and among them through conferences, symposia, and exchange of expertise. c. National universities and colleges This is aimed at supporting and motivating the private sectors in their investment endeavors to build more national universities and colleges, therefore taking part in the higher educational process in accordance with the set principles and bases in this respect. d. Research excellence centers This subprogram aims to encourage universities to take interest in research and development by providing support for research projects and trends at Saudi universities in a number of disciplines and fields, while highlighting strengths and excellence areas therein and seeking to crystallize them in academic research centers in order to achieve prominence at both the national and international levels. 23

31 Scholarship and cultural exchange programs The Scholarship and cultural exchange programs consist of the following three subprograms: a. Cultural collaboration and exchange at home and abroad This subprogram is geared to corroborate and consolidate cultural ties with scientific institutions and organizations at home and abroad by continuing to work out international agreements, and organize cultural exchange, visits, joint research, symposia, discussions, and other academic ties between universities within the Kingdom and abroad. b. Supervision of exchange students The cultural bureaus assume the task of supervising exchange students, and providing them with outstanding advisory services. The plan envisages the creation of four new cultural bureaus in Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, and Russia. c. Scholarships The Ministry s plan covers 29,521 exchange male and female students at all educational levels in the next five years as follows: Doctoral 6,827 Masters 12,150 Fellowship 4,886 Bachelors 4,105 Diploma 1, Horizon (Afaq) Plan for Higher Education The higher educational system plays a pivotal role in meeting development requirements by securing a scientifically-qualified human force with highprofile technical expertise and good ethics within the framework of the Islamic law. 24

32 In the same way as other, similar systems throughout much of the world, higher education in Saudi Arabia faces a number of challenges. Prominent among such challenges are the mounting demand for higher education, the correspondence level between the capacity of its institutions and those of the production and service sectors in the field of scientific research and technical development, its capacity to keep up with modern and contemporary technological developments in education that have been prompted by international changes and economic globalization, the task of upgrading the performance level of its institutions at home, and bolstering the compatibility level between its outputs, the requirements of the development process, and the job market needs. In light of the above, the Ministry of Higher Education took upon itself to engage a comprehensive reform process of the higher educational system in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This should be carried out by devising a longterm plan that would help face up to the various challenges standing in its way, work out effective solutions for its shortcomings, and seek to bolster its positive aspects in a scientific and balanced way. The plan included all higher educational institutions in the process of project development, and had its own share in this regard by carrying out a number of projects such as: Developing creativity and excellence among faculty members This program aims at setting up a framework (or system) for the development of faculity members performance. It would provide faculity members with the necessary means and resources to help them upgrade their creativity and effeciency levels in the fields of teaching and research. More precisely, the set objectives in this respect are as follows: - Adopting effective methods in the areas of teaching/learning and scientific research - Enhancing faculty potential in order to achieve excellence in teaching and scientific research - Exchanging expertise and resources between universities in the field of faculty performance development - Sponsoring and guiding the relevant initiatives in the Ministry of Higher Education 25

33 Developing student skills This program is geared to assist universities in helping graduate highly productive individuals who could play an effective role in the nation s development. It focuses on developing the necessary learning, job market, and social skills in general. More precisely, the program is aimed at achieving the following goals: - Developing basic student skills that are needed in the job market and society in general - Improving the students ability to continue their education, find appropriate solutions to problems, and develop their thinking skills - Developing graduates vocational, social, and personal skills - Enabling students to broaden their knowledge bases The availability of a unit in charge of guiding and coordinating student skill development activities would render the process more apt to optimize the exploitation of resources and confirm its ability to realize its objectives. Creating applied programs This program generally aims to make available a new series of applied programs that are meant to help qualify graduates for jobs that are much in demand in the job market, in addition to its contribution to the Kingdom s economic development. The program s special objectives are: - Contributing to the Kingdom s economic development - Catering for the needs of development in the regions - Preparing students and equipping them with the necessary working skills and knowledge - Enriching and diversifying the programs offered at Saudi universities - Encouraging Saudi students to work in applied fields - Maximizing compatibility between college learning outcomes and the Saudi job market 26