المملكة: A new board of trustees and insurance… amendments to the public university system

The University Affairs Council proposed amendments to the university system, with the aim of developing it through the governance of councils and enhancing their roles and responsibilities to achieve a high degree of efficiency in decision-making, ensuring the disciplined independence of universities, and raising the university’s competitive value locally, regionally and internationally.
This project, which was presented on the polling platform, also aims to develop the university system by amending some of its texts in line with the national goals and the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 by considering the governance of the councils stipulated in the system.

Most notable modifications

The amendments stipulate that public universities shall be established by order of the Prime Minister based on a decision of the University Affairs Council. This council shall be established under the chairmanship of the Minister of Education and the membership of the Ministers of Finance, Human Resources, Economy, Culture and Health, as chairs of the two bodies for the development of research, development and innovation and the evaluation of education and training, and two chairmen of the boards of trustees. , two experienced and specialized people, 3 university presidents, one of whom is from a private university or college, and a secretary of the council.
The amendments specified the council’s powers, the most prominent of which are determining rewards and benefits, approving policies and strategies for university education, adopting plans for classification, differentiation and leadership of universities and approving the regulations governing them in order to achieve national visions and goals, and approving the regulations governing investment and the university’s own revenues.

Work and insurance system

All university employees – including faculty members, administrators and technicians – are subject to; The labor system and the social insurance system.
According to the amendments, the university’s Board of Trustees consists of four members with experience, competence, and specialization who have worked in the field of university education, three members from the private sector with experience, competence, and specialization in the financial, investment, and regulatory fields, the president of the university, and three faculty members from within the university. Or outside.
The Council specified 29 powers for the “Board of Trustees”, the most prominent of which is approving the establishment of scientific chairs, preparing scientific research plans, monitoring the performance of the university’s relevant councils, and approving the determination of the financial compensation for study programmes, diplomas and courses, including related services and support for all programmes, and in the event of the expiration of the assignment period. The Board of Trustees continues to perform its work until it is reconstituted.

Renewable

The amendments stipulate that the University Council will have a Secretary-General from among the university’s employees, who will be appointed by a decision of the Council – based on the nomination of the President of the Council – for a period of three years, renewable once.
The Scientific Council is responsible for supervising and encouraging the scientific affairs of faculty members, research, studies, and publication in a way that achieves the university’s goals. It may, in particular, recommend the appointment of faculty members, approve the academic promotion of faculty members, recommend the establishment of scientific societies, and propose rules for scholarships and training.