Private Higher Education Overview

Introduction

Education, at all levels, has received special, high care from the era of King Abdul Aziz to the current era of King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, who availed all capabilities to support education, in general, and higher education specifically. He is supported, in this, by HRH Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz, Crown Prince.

History of the stipulations of regulations related to private universities and colleges :

• In 1412H, Ministry of Higher Education started a study on the private higher education.
• The Council of Ministers Decree No. 33, issued on 18/2/1418H, stipulated the authorization of the Minister of Higher Education to prepare a new vision for the establishment of private colleges, and enabling the private sector to establish non-profit educational institutions.
• The Higher Education Board Decree No. 3/10/1419 of 6/2/1419H, stipulated the approval of the regulations related to non-profit private colleges, which enabled the charity foundations to establish non-profit private colleges.
• The Council of Ministers Decree No. 127 of 8/6/1419H stipulated that the Ministry of Higher Education will handle the establishment of charity foundations.
• The Decree of HH Minister of Higher Education No. 334 of 4/1/1420H stipulated the approval of the executive rules of the establishment of charity foundations related to educational purposes post secondary (high school) level, an licensing them.
• The Council of Ministers Decree No. 212 of 1/9/1421H stipulated the approval of the regulations related to private colleges, which enabled private sector and charity foundations to establish private colleges.
• The Decree of HH Minister of Higher Education No. 35/1/1398 of 15/1/1422H stipulated the approval of the executive rules, administrative procedures, and technical regulations related to private colleges.
• Royal Decree No. 7/B/10466 of 1/4/1423H stipulated the approval of the establishment of Prince Sultan University and Faisal University.
• The Council of Ministers Decree No. 87 of 6/4/1423H stipulated the approval of leasing government lands for very low rents, and granting easy loans to private colleges.
• Royal Decree No. 7/B/6024 of 9/2/1424H stipulated the approval of the regulations related to private universities.
• Royal Decree No. 6304/MB of 18/8/1427H stipulated the approval of the scholarships project for private higher education students.

The Relation between the private colleges and the Ministry of Higher Education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

The Ministry of Higher Education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia defined the criteria, rules and principles of the relation between the Ministry of Higher Education and the private colleges in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which committed to the sound education, with regards to the application of the academic administration functions in the major part of this relation. The major principles of this relations can be defined in the following points :

1. Joint Planning: planning, here, passes in two phases :
• First Phase: it is the initial phase of the private college project, with clear vision of the objectives of the college and its contribution to the development in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, thru the specialties needed by it, in addition to the demand for these specialties, so the private college will not face problems in future. This is done by the evaluation of the feasibility study presented by the prospect establishers/owners of the private college by specialized experts prior to granting the preliminary license.
• Second Phase: it is the planning during the operation of the college, thru forming a Council of Trustees in the college, consisting of :
• Five members of the owners of private college, or those nominated by them.
• An academic representative nominated by the Ministry of Higher Education.
• Two of the teaching staff specialized in Saudi universities, nominated by the Minister of Higher Education.

The purpose of forming the council of trustees is to form a teamwork with mixed members, from the investors and academic experts, so the college educational level is continuously developed, and the investors participate in the strategic decisions related to the college, such as the expansion of the number of students, specialties, the scientific research, in selecting the teaching staff, and, finally, in the method of funding this expansion.

2. Joint Organization: the Ministry of Higher Education shall define the necessary principles in order to set the relation between the ministry and the private colleges in an organized perspective agreed upon by both parties, so the flow of information between the ministry and the private colleges will be smooth. This can be achieved by :
• The General Approval Committee, in the Ministry, evaluates the college with regards to whether the extent of capabilities/facilities available at the college complies with the criteria for general approval or not, so the reputation of the college and the higher education in the kingdom is maintained.
• The Ministry evaluates the teaching syllabus for each specialty thru :
• Sending the syllabus to an accredited governmental university or an accredited research and consultancy institutions to evaluate it.
• The final approval of the syllabus is granted by the General Committee for Licensing and Approvals.
• Joint Supervision: it is done thru two ways :
• Self-supervision: its source is the college, thru predefined reports from the college, whether academic, financial or administrative reports, or those required by the ministry.
• Field Supervision: thru specialized committees that pay periodical visits agreed upon by the ministry and the private college. The purpose is to evaluate the relation between the students and teaching staff, other teachers/lecturers, and the administrative staff, in order to know the extent of the academic and personal satisfaction of all parties, which is necessary for the success of the college. This will achieve the following to the Ministry of Higher Education in the Kingdom and the private colleges :
• Continuation of operation of the private colleges.
• Achieve good revenue which helps the college to expand in the scientific research, and develop academic, technical and administrative programs and cadre.
• Achieve the objectives of the development plan, thru the qualification of graduates required by the work market.

Support and encouraging incentives presented to the private higher education sector :

Based on the generous support and special care provided by the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to the education in general, and on the support for encouraging the private sector to handle different economic activities, many resolutions related to the private higher education, and to the encouragement of the investors in the private sectors to invest in it. Following are examples of this support :

1. The Council of Ministers Decree No. 87 of 6/4/1423H stipulated the approval of leasing government lands, possessed by the Ministry of Rural and Municipality Affairs and other governmental authorities, for very low rents, in order to establish licensed private colleges, thru a rent contract entered between the governmental entity and the private college, for the duration of the license. This should be in coordination with the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Higher Education, the Ministry of Rural and Municipality Affairs and the concerned governmental authority.
2. The Ministry of Finance will coordinate with the Ministry of Higher Education for granting easy loans to licensed private colleges, just as the private hospitals, for which the Council of Ministers Decree No. 1832 of 27/9/1394H was issued.
3. Royal Decree No. 6304/MB of 18/8/1427H stipulated the approval of the scholarships project for private higher education students.

The Ministry of Higher Education endeavor hard looking for other encouraging motivations that can be provided directly to the private universities and colleges to support their cause in serving the nation, as they provide the work market with qualified graduates in different specialties.

Steps to get the license for establishing private colleges in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia :

The Ministry of Higher Education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the authority that grants licenses for private universities and colleges. In this regard, a General Committee for licensing and approvals of colleges has been formed, presided by a president of one of the universities. The executive and procedural regulations, organizing the licensing process, suggested by the Committee defined the criteria to be followed by the Ministry in granting the licenses to private universities and colleges. Among the features of these organizing regulations are :

• Defining the relation between the Ministry of Higher Education and the colleges and universities.
• Achieve the major objecting of enabling the private sector to invest in private higher education.
• Define the stages to be followed to get the final licensing for colleges and universities. The four stages are :

1. Preliminary Licensing: it aims at knowing the objective of establishing the college, what will it add to the higher education in the Kingdom, thru the scientific specialties that it will provide, and how serious the license applicants are.
2. General Approval: it is involved in providing the minimum number of buildings (teaching halls, laboratories, library, offices for teaching staff, and other teachers/lectures, class activities, sports activities, etc.)
3. Special Approval: it is involved in the extent of availability of equipment for laboratory, workshops and library; the qualification of the teaching staff, and other teachers/lectures; whether the qualifications of the administrators comply with the positions suggested in the college organization chart; evaluating the suggested syllabus by specialized committees from accredited universities; and in determining the council of trustees in the college.
4. Final Licensing: its procedures focus on the review of all previous stages, ensuring the necessary guarantees for the continuation of the college.

To pay interest to the outcomes of these colleges and universities, specialized committees do periodical follow-ups, meeting the teaching staff, the students, and the administrators; review the academic file of the subjects taught; and, finally, after students' graduation, their performance in the work market is evaluated.

Conclusion :

The Ministry of Higher Education endeavor hard to launch the private higher education as powerfully and trustworthily as possible to ensure its quality outcomes, and to have a lasting role, shouldering the governmental universities. In addition, the diversity of the fields of the programs it provides will fulfill the needs of the work market, and match the scientific and technical development in the world, which will enable these colleges to effectively contribute to the education and qualification of the Saudi manpower. The implication of the licensing process is to define the acceptable criteria of unique quality in the performance of the private higher education institutions, and in the level of their programs, and their abilities to maintain the required level at present and in the future. The Ministry enjoys a considerable role in following up the establishment and the operation of the private colleges in the Kingdom, in all fields, thru licensing them, the evaluation of their academic and administrative staff, and, later, the evaluation of the performance of their graduates in both governmental and private sectors.

And Allah is the grantor of success,

General Supervisor
Professor Waleed AbdulRazzaq Al Dali