Plan for the Future of University Education in the Kingdom (AAFAQ)

Nature of the plan
The Ministry of Higher Education took the initiative of undertaking a comprehensive development project, one of whose main points was the preparation of a long-term plan for university education in the Kingdom, with the objective of improving its positive aspects and facing both current and future challenges. This project was known as “Plan for the Future of University Education in the ” (AAFAQ). The range of operation of this plan has been defined as university education, that is, the public and private universities and colleges operating under the auspices of the Ministry of Higher Education, while taking into consideration issues of common concern with other relevant parties.
The project aimed to prepare a twenty-five year plan to define the outlook and mission of university education in the Kingdom, along with its needs, forms, various outcomes, and sources of financial support. It also sought to develop an executive plan for the first five years of the project, and to set up a mechanism for the adoption of methods of strategic planning in university education institutions.
The process followed in the preparation of the plan depended on many basic principles derived from adherence to Islamic teachings, and the fulfillment of the expectations and directives of the political leadership which has given its attention to different aspects of development, with priority given to the education sector. It also sought to fulfill the objectives of higher education policies in the Kingdom, building on the initiatives and achievements accomplished in this sector during the last few years. These principles include: future-based planning, synchronization with other national plans, coordination with international trends and experience in higher education, increasing the participation of relevant parties and incorporating their expectations, building a culture of strategic planning in the universities, along with a commitment to ensure quality.

The Strategic Objectives of the Plan for the Future of University Education

• Offer opportunities for university education to qualified students, and to respond to the increased eased demand for them.
• Meet the future requirements of information production, fulfill the needs of the labor market, to develop society, and to increase external qualification.
• Increase the internal qualification of university education institutions.
• Achieve a balanced student/faculty ratio consistent with the general average for optimal international practices.
• Increase the percentage of faculty holding doctoral degrees, develop their skills, motivate them, and retain them.
• Increase the performance level of employees, raise their qualifications, and develop their skills.
• Increase the competitive capabilities of students, develop their skills, and strengthen their qualifications.
• Improve educational content, teaching and learning methods, methods of assessment, through creativity and diversification.
• Improve the quality of academic programs and obtain local and international accreditation.
• Provide an adequate number of researchers consistent with international averages.
• Increase spending on scientific research in accordance with optimal international practices.
• Bolster research productive capacity and originality, along with an increase in quality.
• Strengthen the methodology of scientific research management, realize coordination in it, and provide a motivating environment for it.
• Strengthen flexibility and response while keeping corporate accountability in the university education system.
• Distinction in leadership, cooperation, and transparency in the university education system.
• Continue to provide free university education along with diversification of the sources of finance.
• Provide a low-cost high-speed Internet-based communications network for university education institutions.
• Match and complement information technology strategies and educational, research and administrative applications and systems in university education institutions.
• Produce and publish digital information content in all fields, available to those associated with higher education and to the society at large.
• Continue infrastructure development, and to provide a stimulating environment for the educational process and scientific research.