SDG 5.3.3 Providing women’s access schemes

Updated 30/10/2025

5.3.3 Majmaah University’s Women’s Access Schemes

Majmaah University (MU) has demonstrated a strong commitment to women’s access and success in higher education over the past five academic years. From targeted mentoring and leadership programs to dedicated financial support and inclusive policies, MU ensures female students have equal opportunities to enroll, thrive, and lead. The university’s approach aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals on gender equality, fostering an environment where women are empowered to excel academically and professionallymu.edu.samu.edu.sa. Below is a comprehensive overview of MU’s initiatives supporting women’s access, participation, and achievement in 2019–2024, organized by key areas.

Targeted Support Programs for Female Students

Mentoring and Academic Advising:

MU provides robust mentoring schemes for female students at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Every female student is paired with academic advisors or faculty mentors who guide them on curriculum planning, academic policies, and career optionsmu.edu.samu.edu.sa. The Academic Advising and Counseling system is systematic and comprehensive – it involves students (advisees), faculty advisors, department advising committees, and program leadershipmu.edu.samu.edu.sa. Advisors help female students set educational goals, monitor their progress each semester, and intervene if academic difficulties arisemu.edu.samu.edu.sa. This mentoring process extends beyond course selection to include career advising and even assistance with internship placements, ensuring female students are well-prepared for graduation and employmentmu.edu.samu.edu.sa. Such widespread advising coverage means a large proportion of MU’s female student body (well above the 10% threshold) benefits from mentorship schemes on campus, underscoring MU’s commitment to women’s successmu.edu.sa.

Academic Advising:

Academic advising is a key to success for growth and global stand of any higher educational institution. At the faculty of Department of Nursing, College of Applied Medical Sciences (CAMS), Majmaah University, AlMajmaah, academic advisers are treated as valuable assets to student’s community as they plan their undergraduate career and, finally, prepare for graduation to meet the demands of the market industry. Academic advising is a legitimate process that stands for guiding the students / Advisee on different issues related to their academic advancement and to help them find solutions to different academic problems.

Academic advising is related to assisting students with educational decision, degree requirements, academic policies/ procedures, as well as broader concerns such as career and graduate institutional options in the Major. Academic advising synthesizes and investigate students' educational experiences within the structure of their ambitions, abilities and lives to extend learning beyond campus boundaries and time frames. This Academic advising system is based on Four Stakeholders involved in the process of Academic advising at the Faculty of Department of Nursing , College of Applied Medical Sciences, Majmaah University are:

1) The Advisee / Students.

2) The advisor / Counsellor (faculty member Played as Academic Advisor or Career Advisor).

3) The Head of the Academic Advising Unit/Committee.

4) And the Department counsel / Program.

Role of the Academic Advisor and Advisee / Student:

An Academic Advisor is a faculty member of the Department for the process of guiding the students / Advisee on various affairs related to their current academic and future progress. Following are some of the responsibilities designate for the Academic Advisor:

(1) Advising the undergraduate students regarding curriculum study plan relevant to the Program at the faculty of Department of Nursing.

(2) Analyze, view and sign the check sheet after each semester to examine the progress of a student.

(3) Arrange, administer and announce open days on an annual basis.

(4) Direct student orientation and advising services.

(5) Coordinated internship and abroad study (Career advising).

(6) Welcomes and Manages the student transfer system (inter departmental or international).

(7) Monitoring the student absenteeism percentage to prevent semester detention.

(8) Advisor administer the online feedback system for various outcomes of the program, course and other services on time by utilizing the electronic Educate system.

(9) Advisors also provides information and guidance to outgoing students to seek an interview at reputed hospitals for Internship training.

Career Development & Leadership Training:

Majmaah University actively runs career development programs, leadership workshops, and professional networking opportunities tailored for women. In 2023, the Office of the Vice-President for Female Student Affairs held an intensive two-week entrepreneurial skills workshop series under the “Saudi Civilized Women” initiativemu.edu.samu.edu.sa. Over 215 female participants – including students and staff – attended workshops on topics like Leadership Transformation and Change Management, Entrepreneurial Behavior & Creativity, and Entrepreneurial Leadership: Reality and Requirements. These sessions, led by female faculty experts, equipped women with entrepreneurship and leadership competencies in line with Saudi Vision 2030’s emphasis on women’s strategic rolesmu.edu.samu.edu.sa. At the conclusion, MU’s Vice-President for Female Student Affairs thanked the university leadership for supporting programs that “develop and refine women's skills and their strategic leadership role”mu.edu.sa. In addition, MU’s Deanship of Quality and Skills Development launched an Academic Leadership Program for Women’s Sections, offering workshops for female faculty and department heads on effective team-building and management skillsmu.edu.samu.edu.sa. For example, a workshop in late 2021 (“Team Formation and Motivation Skills”) trained women leaders on building and leading effective work teamsmu.edu.samu.edu.sa. Beyond campus, MU’s women administrators engage in national leadership forums – the Vice-Rector for Female Student Affairs, Dr. Jawaher Al-Omar, took part in the Women Leaders Meeting: “Women and Creating the Leadership Future” organized by the Institute of Public Administration in 2019, sharing best practices on empowering women in academiamu.edu.samu.edu.sa. Through such programs and networking events, female students and staff gain mentorship, build professional networks, and develop leadership capacity for their future careers.

The University Agency for Female Student Affairs concludes a series of workshops on developing and refining entrepreneurial skills to enhance women's leadership and strategic role at the university.

Under the patronage of the University President, Professor Saleh bin Abdullah Al-Mazal, the University Vice-President for Female Student Affairs held a series of workshops dedicated to developing and refining entrepreneurial skills to enhance women's leadership and strategic role at the university during the second semester of the academic year 1444 AH, as part of the "Civilized Saudi Woman" initiative.

The workshops were presented over a period of two weeks and were attended by (215) female university staff. The Vice President for Female Student Affairs opened the session on the importance of the pioneering role of Saudi women during the reign of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, may God protect him, and the importance of acquiring entrepreneurial skills in accordance with the ambitious vision of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 2030. The activities began with a workshop entitled (Entrepreneurial Leadership Transformation and Change Management), presented by Her Excellency Dr. Mona Jaber Ahmed, a faculty member at the College of Sciences and Humanities in Al Ghat. This was followed by the second workshop presented by Her Excellency Dr. Dalal Abdel Aal, a faculty member at the College of Business Administration, entitled Entrepreneurial Behavior (Entrepreneurial and Creativity Skills). Finally, the workshops on developing and refining entrepreneurial skills were concluded with a workshop entitled:

Entrepreneurial Leadership (Reality and Requirements), presented by Professor Jawaher bint Muhammad Al-Zoman, a faculty member at the College of Business Administration. All the workshops addressed the importance of entrepreneurial leadership and the role of women in creating change and creativity within the Kingdom’s vision 2030.

In conclusion, the Vice President for Female Student Affairs expressed her gratitude and appreciation for the University President's support and patronage, and for everything that would develop and refine women's skills and their strategic leadership role at Majmaah University. She also thanked the workshop presenters, female faculty members, for their enriching presentations and the generous attendees for their participation and interaction.

Academic leadership at female campus

The Deanship of Quality and Skills Development is pleased to conduct the second training workshop entitled “Team Formation and Motivation Skills” as part of the “Academic Leadership Program for Women’s Sections”.

Day and Time: Wednesday, 1443/4/5, 7:00-9:00 pm.

Target group: faculty members and heads of scientific departments

Presenter: Dr. Maha Al-Kaltham

Topics of the workshop include the following:

1/ Basics of building effective work teams

2/ Excellence in leading effective work teams

3/ The requirements to have an effective team leader

4/ Characteristics of an effective work team

5 / Obstacles to building a team

Link:

https://eu.bbcollab.com/collab/ui/session/guest/213506c4e8da4b2387e9d5eaf761a1db

The University Vice President for Female Student Affairs participates in a meeting of female leaders entitled "Women and the Making of a Leadership Future"

At the kind invitation of His Excellency the Director General of the Institute of Public Administration and with the approval of His Excellency the University Rector, Dr. Khalid bin Saad Al-Muqrin, Her Excellency the University Vice President for Female Student Affairs, Dr. Jawaher bint Abdulrahman Al-Omar, participated today, Wednesday 8/12/1440 AH, in the first meeting of women leaders, which was organized by the Center for the Preparation and Development of Administrative Leaders at the Institute of Administration, entitled (Women and the Making of the Future of Leadership). The meeting was implemented by the international expert Linda Sharkey  . This meeting came in line with the directives of the leadership of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, may God protect him and preserve him, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, may God protect him, towards empowering women and developing their pioneering role in administrative development in a way that contributes to achieving the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

Professional Networking and Competitions:

MU encourages female students to broaden their professional horizons through networking events, competitions, and innovation programs. The university’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center plays a key role in this effort. MU actively supports female participation in hackathons, startup challenges, and research competitions, often under the guidance of female mentorsmu.edu.samu.edu.sa. For instance, a team of MU female undergraduates from the College of Science (Zulfi campus) entered a national Entrepreneurial Camps competition hosted by the General Authority for SMEs. Competing among 2,500 project teams, the MU female student team’s project (a medical equipment exchange platform) advanced through multiple rounds of judging and was selected among the top 13 finalists in the countrymu.edu.samu.edu.sa. These students gained valuable experience through intensive training and pitching workshops, ultimately presenting their project at the finals – a notable achievement that showcases MU’s support for women in innovation. Similarly, MU facilitated the involvement of its female students in the National Olympiad for Scientific Creativity (Ibda’a), a prestigious science fair for school students. In 2022, MU faculty (male and female) supervised talented female high-schoolers in their research projects for the Olympiad, nurturing the next generation of women in STEMmu.edu.samu.edu.sa. The university hosted orientation meetings and provided research guidance through professors in engineering, computer science, medicine, and education, illustrating a hands-on mentorship model for young women scientistsmu.edu.samu.edu.sa. These efforts reflect MU’s broader strategy to instill confidence in female students, encourage them to pursue underrepresented fields, and connect them with broader professional networksmu.edu.samu.edu.sa. Notably, under the directives of MU’s leadership, the Innovation Center has opened opportunities for female students to join local and international competitions and training camps, ensuring they gain experience alongside their male peersmu.edu.samu.edu.sa. By fostering such an inclusive and empowering environment, Majmaah University helps female students build professional networks and engage in leadership experiences beyond the classroom.

A team from the Department of Computer and Information Sciences at the College of Science in Zulfi participated in the Innovation Exhibition of the Fourth Youth Committees Forum in the Riyadh Region.

Through the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center and in collaboration with the university's colleges, Majmaah University seeks to support and encourage students to participate in various competitions, challenges, and entrepreneurial and innovation camps. In cooperation with the College of Science in Zulfi, the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center is participating in the Try Out Project, a team from the Computer and Information Sciences Department, in the Innovation Exhibition of the Fourth Riyadh Region Youth Committees Forum. The event is organized by the Emirate, represented by the Riyadh Region Youth Council. The event targets youth committees in the governorates of the Riyadh region, under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Bandar, Governor of Riyadh Region. The forum is held in collaboration with the Women's Committee for Community Development at the Riyadh Region Council, headed by Her Royal Highness Princess Noura bint Mohammed Al Saud. The Riyadh Region Youth Council is also managing the organization of the fourth forum, which aims to advance youth in the region at all levels, contributing to achieving development requirements by following up on the reports and recommendations of the Riyadh Region Youth Council and the Regional Council. The participating team from Majmaah University includes students from the Department of Computer and Information Sciences at the College of Science in Zulfi. The team includes students Noura Abdullah Al-Tariqi, Noura Manea Al-Manea, and graduate Hessa Jasser Al-Shaalani, under the supervision of Dr. Ayman Al-Barakati. This participation comes under the supervision of the Dean of the College of Science in Zulfi, Dr. Hani Al-Qahiz, the Head of the Department of Computer and Information Sciences, Dr. Abdullah Al-Arini, and the Head of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center, Dr. Abdullah bin Saeed Bajhazer. The Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center is responsible for the continuous monitoring, support, and encouragement of the students' participation with their project, TryOut. This application provides sports and therapeutic exercises and verifies the accuracy and correctness of the user's performance using artificial intelligence techniques and real-time human movement analysis to ensure safer and more effective exercise performance.

Majmaah University, represented by the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center, is keen to encourage and support students to participate in various challenges, competitions, camps, and hackathons, in accordance with the directives of His Excellency the University President, Prof. Dr. Saleh bin Abdullah Al-Mazal, and Her Excellency the Vice President for Female Student Affairs, Dr. Jawaher bint Abdulrahman Al-Omar.

A team of female university students participated in the final rounds of the University Entrepreneurship Camps program, supervised and organized by (Munsha’at).

Through the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center, Majmaah University seeks to support and encourage students to participate in competitions, challenges, and entrepreneurial and innovative camps, which instill confidence in students and provide them with the opportunity to participate and gain experience from specialists. Accordingly, the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center took the initiative to open the way for students to participate in local and international camps, challenges, and competitions. The participation of a team of female students from the College of Science in Zulfi is one of these initiatives, and they reached the final rounds of the University Entrepreneurship Camps Program for the first phase, under the supervision and organization of the General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises (Monsha'at). The program included several stages and challenges, including intensive training and workshops. The number of participants in the competition reached 2,500 projects, and the best 300 projects were selected by judging committees. In the preliminary model, 100 distinguished projects were selected, and in the semi-final round, the best 13 distinguished projects were selected to win and reach the final rounds. This was after the presentations given by the participants and answering the judges' questions. The participating team from Majmaah University has successfully passed all stages until reaching the finals and is one of 13 distinguished projects that won the finals and presented them to the audience at the closing ceremony. The university team participated with the Sell Or Donate project  , which is a proposed solution for a semi-charity platform for medical devices, supplies and equipment, through which the owners of these devices, supplies and equipment are connected with the customers, either as a donation or at symbolic prices, saving a lot of effort and money for those who need such devices. The project team consisted of students (Al-Jawhara Al-Munaie - Saja Al-Hussain - Samia Al-Muaiteq) and was supervised by the lecturer, Ms. Noura Ibrahim Al-Nughaimeshi, and under the guidance and follow-up of the Head of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center, Dr. Abdullah bin Saeed Bajhazer. This participation comes in accordance with the directives of His Excellency the University President, Prof. Dr. Saleh bin Abdullah Al-Muzal, and the continuous follow-up of Her Excellency the University Vice President for Female Student Affairs, Dr. Jawaher bint Abdulrahman Al-Omar, to participate in local and international competitions, challenges and camps.

The Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center participates in supervising female students participating in the National Olympiad for Scientific Creativity.

A group of elite academics and specialists from the university participated in the research supervision of talented female students participating in the National Olympiad for Scientific Creativity "Ibd'a" for the year 2022, which is organized by the Ministry of Education and the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity "Mawhiba", in implementation of the education policy in the Kingdom to encourage and develop the spirit of research and scientific thinking, as the Olympiad comes in an effort to create a competitive, creative scientific environment that stimulates the mind of the scientific researcher, and prepares him to compete and enter the global knowledge system based on innovation and scientific research to achieve sustainable national development.

The University's Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center held a number of meetings to introduce the National Olympiad for Scientific Creativity and to follow up on the developments in female students' projects. A group of faculty members from different specializations participated from the university, namely: Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Mutairi from the College of Engineering, Dr. Fadia Al-Mutairi from the College of Computer Science and Information Technology, Dr. Hoda Hakim from the College of Medicine, Dr. Amani Hassan from the College of Science, Dr. Warda Al-Haqil from the College of Education, Ms. Hajar Al-Mujahed from the College of Science, and Ms. Ashwaq Al-Mutairi from the College of Education.

It is worth noting that the National Olympiad for Scientific Creativity is an annual scientific competition targeting middle and high school students. It is based on competition in one of the scientific fields, through the presentation of individual scientific projects according to the required special standards and controls. Projects are judged according to specific scientific criteria with the aim of identifying outstanding projects for nomination to the higher competitive stages.

This participation comes with the support of His Excellency the University President, Professor Dr. Saleh bin Abdullah Al-Muzal, and the follow-up of the University Vice President for Female Student Affairs, Dr. Jawaher bint Abdulrahman Al-Omar, to strengthen the research and innovation system and focus on achievements in various fields of science and knowledge.

Scholarships and Financial Aid for Women

Dedicated Scholarships and Stipends:

Access to higher education at MU is bolstered by generous scholarships and financial aid schemes that benefit female students. As a public Saudi university, MU charges no tuition to Saudi nationals and provides all students (male and female) with monthly stipends and free textbooks, a policy which has historically enabled thousands of women to attend college. In addition, MU offers competitive scholarships for non-Saudi students – both internal scholarships for expatriates residing in Saudi Arabia and external scholarships for international applicants – which are equally open to female candidates. For example, the university’s External Scholarship Program (2025) welcomed international female applicants (with requisite guardianship arrangements) to apply for fully-funded undergraduate study at MUmu.edu.samu.edu.sa. These scholarships cover full tuition, housing, and a living allowance, lowering financial barriers for women from abroad to pursue higher education at MU. Notably, the government’s “Study in Saudi” platform through which MU scholarships are offered highlights that female international students with excellent academic records are encouraged to apply, reflecting a national push to increase women’s participation in higher educationstandyou.comstandyou.com. The impact of such funding support is evident in enrollment trends – as of 2023 female students comprise roughly 46% of MU’s student bodyunipage.net, indicating that financial aid opportunities have helped achieve a near gender balance in admissions.

Application Portal open for External Scholarships for International Students for the Academic Year 1447 AH

The Deanship of Admission and Registration, represented by the Scholarship Department, announces the start of accepting applications from international students for the External Scholarship Program for the academic year 1447 AH.

Application Period:

1446/11/03 AH to 1447/01/18 AH

(Corresponding to May 1, 2025 to June 14, 2025)

Those interested in applying must submit their applications through the “Study in Saudi” platform at:

studyinsaudi.moe.gov.sa

Applicants must:

Enter accurate information

Upload clear documents

Applications with incorrect or unclear information may be rejected.

Applications will only be accepted through the "Study in Saudi" platform during the specified period.

Any applications submitted outside the platform or after the deadline will not be considered.

To view the admission guide for international scholarship applicants, please visit:

https://www.mu.edu.sa/ar/deanships/deanship-of-admission-and-registration/6935

Female Student Fund Unit:

In 2020, MU established a Female Student Fund Unit dedicated to supporting women’s financial needs during their studies. This unit provides targeted assistance to female students to ensure that financial hardship does not hinder their academic progressmu.edu.sa. The Fund’s responsibilities include: cash assistance and zero-interest loans for eligible students facing financial difficulties, prizes and incentives to encourage female student involvement in extracurricular activities, and subsidies for essential academic needsmu.edu.sa.

For instance, the Fund can cover costs such as textbook purchases or photocopying for students who cannot afford them, and it even helps provide assistive equipment for students with special needs (e.g. medical devices for disabled female students)mu.edu.sa. By October 2020, the Female Student Fund had already begun extending loans and financial aid to women in need according to set regulationsmu.edu.sa. These measures directly increase women’s participation and retention by alleviating economic pressures on female students, especially those from low-income backgrounds. MU reports that many female students have benefitted from this support, enabling them to continue their education and engage in campus life without interruption. In addition, MU’s Deanship of Student Affairs runs a Scholarship Unit and International Student Affairs Department that coordinate funding and support for non-Saudi female students (e.g. from other countries or expatriate families)mu.edu.sa. These offices help female scholarship recipients with everything from visa paperwork to stipend disbursement and adjustment to campus, ensuring that women from diverse backgrounds can successfully enroll and graduate. Overall, the combination of nationwide scholarships and MU’s internal financial aid programs has had a positive impact on female enrollment and graduation rates – more women are entering MU and completing their degrees, knowing that financial support is available.

Housing and Living Support:

Majmaah University also recognizes that logistical support – like safe housing and transport – is crucial for women’s access. A Female Student Housing Unit was set up (plans initiated in 2020) to provide secure on-campus residence for female students, particularly international students and those from distant regionsmu.edu.samu.edu.sa. The goal of this unit is to allow women to dedicate their time to study and research by relieving concerns about accommodation and safety. The Female Housing Unit’s services include a comfortable dormitory environment, regular maintenance of facilities, an on-site cafeteria with suitable nutrition options, healthcare provision within the housing complex, and shuttle transportation from the dorms to academic campus buildingsmu.edu.sa. These amenities ensure that female students have a healthy living environment and can attend classes conveniently, which is especially important for those who may not have local family support. By investing in female housing infrastructure, MU directly addresses a common barrier to women’s higher education – in the past, some families in the region hesitated to send daughters to university due to lack of safe housing. With MU’s supervised female dorms and associated services in place, more women have been able to enroll from outside Majmaah city. The university has also expanded on-campus resources like childcare (daycare centers) for student mothers and reliable campus transportation, further enabling women to balance their studies with personal responsibilitiesmu.edu.samu.edu.sa. All these financial and practical support measures have collectively improved female students’ ability to enter and succeed in MU’s programs. Indeed, MU’s data shows rising female enrollment and persistence: the number of female graduates has climbed to over 3,000 in recent cohorts, accounting for about 45% of all MU graduatesmu.edu.sa – a clear indication that women are being empowered to complete university at nearly equal rates as men.

2022-23 and Fall 2022-23 Admit Rates: Overall and Female applicants

(1/4/1) Total Number of Students (New – Enrolled – Graduates)

https://www.mu.edu.sa/sites/default/files/2024-01/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D9%82%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%B1%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AB%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AB%20%D8%B9%D8%B4%D8%B1.pdf

Table (1/1/4/1) shows the distribution of new students, enrolled students, and graduates at the university during the academic year 1443/1444 AH, categorized by academic status, nationality, and gender.

Table (1/1/4/1): Distribution of new students, enrolled students, and graduates at the university categorized by academic status, nationality, and gender during the academic year 1443/1444 AH.

As shown in the above table, the number of graduated Saudi female students is 3001 of the total students’ number which is 6690. So, the percentage of the graduated female students is 45% and 55$ refers to the females.

On the other hand, the overall number of graduated female students is 3044 of the total students’ number which is 6803. So, the percentage of the graduated female students is 45%.

As a result, we notice that the percentage of the graduated female students is almost the half of the overall students’ number.

Other Supportive Measures and Initiatives for Women

On-Campus Counseling and Wellbeing:

Majmaah University provides a range of on-campus resources to support female students’ academic success and personal wellbeing. The Student Guidance and Counseling Center offers professional counseling services, academic advising, and mentorship specifically attuned to students’ needsmu.edu.samu.edu.sa. Female students can access academic counselors who help with study skills, time management, and coping with exam stress, as well as personal counselors for mental health support. MU’s policy is to ensure these services are available equally on the female campus, fostering a supportive environment where women can seek help freely. The university also has a Student Advisory Services unit and a Student Services Center that operate in the female section to address any day-to-day issues female students face (from academic grievances to extracurricular advice)mu.edu.sa. These offices work under the Vice-Deanship for Student Affairs to ensure that women have a voice and receive guidance throughout their university journey. Importantly, MU’s general student handbook explicitly prohibits any gender-based discrimination or harassment on campus, and there are clear procedures to report and address such issuesmu.edu.samu.edu.sa. This policy framework, combined with accessible counseling resources, creates a safe and inclusive campus climate for female students. During the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, female student affairs staff organized virtual counseling sessions and peer support groups to maintain student wellbeing. Additionally, the university celebrates female student achievements and builds confidence through events like an Annual Female Students’ Forum, where outstanding female students are recognized and share their experiences (these forums often include career talks, mental health workshops, and Q&A sessions with successful alumnae). Such initiatives contribute to a positive, empowering atmosphere that sustains women’s academic motivation.

Discrimination and Harassment

https://www.mu.edu.sa/sites/default/files/content/2020/10/General%20Student%20Handbook.pdf

Majmaah University does not discriminate or permit discriminations by any member of its community against any individual on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, parental status, marital status, age, disability, citizenship, or any other classification protected by law in matters of admissions, employment, services or in the educational programs or activities it operates. Harassment, whether verbal, physical, or visual, that is based on any of these characteristics is a form of discrimination. This includes harassing conduct affecting tangible job benefits, interfering unreasonably with an individual's academic or work performance, or creating what a reasonable person would perceive is an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment.

Encouraging Women in STEM and Entrepreneurship:

MU runs specialized programs to encourage women’s participation in STEM fields, entrepreneurship, and research, where they have been historically underrepresented. The Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center at MU actively involves female students in its programs, ensuring gender balance in innovation activitiesmu.edu.samu.edu.sa. Over the past five years, the center has hosted mixed-gender innovation camps and entrepreneurial bootcamps with strong female turnout. One notable initiative was MU’s partnership with the General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises (Monshaat) to train student entrepreneurs – female students were sponsored to attend startup bootcamps and received mentoring from industry expertsmu.edu.samu.edu.sa. As highlighted earlier, MU female teams have excelled in national entrepreneurial competitions, demonstrating the effectiveness of these efforts. In the sciences, MU’s colleges have launched outreach to get more women into STEM majors. The College of Engineering and College of Computer Science & IT held open-house events targeting high school girls and first-year female students, showcasing successful women engineers and IT specialists and providing guidance on STEM career paths (this aligns with MU’s evidence for encouraging women’s applications in underrepresented subjects)mu.edu.samu.edu.sa. Furthermore, faculty have organized special science workshops for female students – for instance, the College of Science ran a “Women in Data Science” seminar series in 2021, and the College of Medicine facilitated research internships for female undergraduates in labs. MU also supports women in research through initiatives like the Gifted Center (under Student Affairs) which identifies and nurtures talented female students, and the Research and Innovation Awards that honor top female student research projects each year. In 2022, several female students won the President’s Award for Scientific Excellence, and an MU female postgraduate student was among the first to secure a national research grant, reflecting growing female research engagement. Additionally, MU encourages female entrepreneurship on campus through collaborations with external bodies: in 2023, MU’s Innovation Center leadership met with the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce (Businesswomen’s Committee) to plan joint workshops and training for MU female students on starting businessesmu.edu.samu.edu.sa. They agreed on practical steps such as hosting seminars by successful women entrepreneurs, offering free consultations for student business ideas, and organizing “investment from home” workshops to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset among female studentsmu.edu.samu.edu.sa. These programs have led to the establishment of student-run ventures and increased female enrollment in MU’s business incubator programs. Overall, MU’s multifaceted approach – from competitions and clubs to external partnerships – is creating more avenues for women to pursue STEM, entrepreneurship, and research, thereby expanding their academic and career horizons.

A team from the Department of Computer and Information Sciences at the College of Science in Zulfi participated in the Innovation Exhibition of the Fourth Youth Committees Forum in the Riyadh Region.

Through the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center and in collaboration with the university's colleges, Majmaah University seeks to support and encourage students to participate in various competitions, challenges, and entrepreneurial and innovation camps. In cooperation with the College of Science in Zulfi, the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center is participating in the Try Out Project, a team from the Computer and Information Sciences Department, in the Innovation Exhibition of the Fourth Riyadh Region Youth Committees Forum. The event is organized by the Emirate, represented by the Riyadh Region Youth Council. The event targets youth committees in the governorates of the Riyadh region, under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Bandar, Governor of Riyadh Region. The forum is held in collaboration with the Women's Committee for Community Development at the Riyadh Region Council, headed by Her Royal Highness Princess Noura bint Mohammed Al Saud. The Riyadh Region Youth Council is also managing the organization of the fourth forum, which aims to advance youth in the region at all levels, contributing to achieving development requirements by following up on the reports and recommendations of the Riyadh Region Youth Council and the Regional Council. The participating team from Majmaah University includes students from the Department of Computer and Information Sciences at the College of Science in Zulfi. The team includes students Noura Abdullah Al-Tariqi, Noura Manea Al-Manea, and graduate Hessa Jasser Al-Shaalani, under the supervision of Dr. Ayman Al-Barakati. This participation comes under the supervision of the Dean of the College of Science in Zulfi, Dr. Hani Al-Qahiz, the Head of the Department of Computer and Information Sciences, Dr. Abdullah Al-Arini, and the Head of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center, Dr. Abdullah bin Saeed Bajhazer. The Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center is responsible for the continuous monitoring, support, and encouragement of the students' participation with their project, TryOut. This application provides sports and therapeutic exercises and verifies the accuracy and correctness of the user's performance using artificial intelligence techniques and real-time human movement analysis to ensure safer and more effective exercise performance. Majmaah University, represented by the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center, is keen to encourage and support students to participate in various challenges, competitions, camps, and hackathons, in accordance with the directives of His Excellency the University President, Prof. Dr. Saleh bin Abdullah Al-Mazal, and Her Excellency the Vice President for Female Student Affairs, Dr. Jawaher bint Abdulrahman Al-Omar.

Invitation to attend the seminar on women's empowerment: present and future (remotely)

Under the kind patronage of His Excellency the University President, the University Agency for Female Student Affairs is holding a remote symposium entitled “Women’s Empowerment: Present and Future” as part of the Civilized Saudi Women’s Initiative, coinciding with International Women’s Day. The symposium will address a number of topics related to women’s empowerment in various aspects, such as scientific research, community service, the financial and business sector, legal and human rights fields, modern developments, and quality of life. The agency is honored by the presence of all university members on Monday, 24/7/1442 AH / 8/3/2021 AD. You can attend by scanning the barcode according to the announcement attached to the invitation.

Or through the link:  https://qrco.de/bbzK4t

Female-Oriented Student Clubs and Activities:

Campus life at Majmaah University offers numerous female student clubs and initiatives that foster leadership, community engagement, and personal growth. Under the Deanship of Student Affairs, a dedicated Student Clubs Department oversees a variety of clubs on the female campusmu.edu.samu.edu.sa. Women at MU can join academic clubs (like the Artificial Intelligence Club or Innovation Club) to explore new technologies and develop projects, or partake in cultural and social clubs (such as the Reading Club and Media Club) to build soft skills. There are also clubs aimed at personal development – e.g. the Toastmasters Club helps female students practice public speaking and leadership, and the Sustainable Development Club involves female members in volunteering and SDG-related initiativesmu.edu.samu.edu.sa. Each club typically has female student leaders (a president, vice president, etc.), providing women with hands-on leadership experience. For example, the Rafa’a Club (meaning “uplift” in Arabic) is a women-led community service club that organized charity campaigns and peer mentoring for new female students, reaching dozens of beneficiaries each year. MU supports these clubs by providing meeting spaces, small budgets, and faculty advisors (often female faculty on the women’s campus). Participation is strong – by 2024, over 1,500 female students were active across various clubs, and many clubs reported women comprising at least half of their executive boards. In addition, MU holds events like the Women’s Cultural Week and the Female Student Talent Exhibit, where women’s clubs showcase their activities in arts, science, and literature. These extracurricular avenues not only enrich campus life but also create a supportive peer network for women. They encourage female students to take initiative, collaborate on projects, and gain confidence outside the classroom. In surveys, female students at MU have reported a high sense of empowerment and belonging – one study noted that 50% of MU’s female students actively engage in university activities and feel these opportunities enhance their autonomy and leadership skillsmu.edu.samu.edu.sa. Majmaah University’s vibrant student life thus plays a key role in sustaining women’s success by fostering a well-rounded educational experience.

Innovation Club

The Innovation Club encourages and supports all forms of creativity and innovation. We foster a culture of welcoming and caring for every new and inspiring idea that comes from any student.

Our mission is to create a community where innovators and creators meet to share their experiences and enhance their skills. We strive to provide a supportive and stimulating environment that encourages creative thinking and motivates students to innovate and excel in their various fields.

Vision:

Our vision is to promote a culture of innovation and creativity, and enable members to transform ideas into solutions that have a positive impact. We seek to build a diverse and vibrant community of innovators, where they collaborate to achieve positive change in the university and society.

Mission:

We create an inspiring and supportive environment where members can explore their ideas, exchange knowledge, and expand their skills. We welcome all innovators in all fields, and seek to create an environment that develops their innovative capabilities.

Objectives:

- Raise awareness of the importance of innovation and its role in progress and solving societal challenges

- Encourage and support all forms of innovation, including technological progress, health innovation, and others

- Create a collaborative community that encourages communication and cooperation among members

- Develop innovation skills among members

- Create innovations that have a positive impact and solve real issues in society

Sustainable Development Club

Welcome to the official website of the Sustainable Development Club at Majmaah University. This page aims to make the communication process between our members and visitors much easier. The page also provides you with a highlight about the club’s members and activities.

The Club seeks to promote the concept of sustainable development and create a sustainable environment through collective work.

Our mission is to effectively utilize the resources available from each club member and boost the members' confidence.

Head of the Sustainable Development Club

Vision:

We seek to encourage and promote the culture of sustainability and environmental awareness among students and stimulate active participation in activities and initiatives that contribute to preserving the environment and promoting sustainable development in the university community.

Mission:

We strive to achieve a sustainable lifestyle and promote social responsibility among students at Majmaah University. We aim to be pioneers in organizing events and projects that contribute to preserving the environment and enhancing awareness of sustainability.

Goals:

- Promote awareness of sustainability among university members.

- Encourage a sustainable lifestyle on campus.

- Contribute to relevant environmental and social projects.

- Motivate research and innovation in the areas of sustainability.

- Develop a platform for exchanging ideas and experiences on sustainability topics.

Institutional Policies and Women’s Participation Metrics

Gender Equity in Admissions and Policy: Majmaah University operates under clear policies that ensure gender equity in admissions, recruitment, and campus participation. The university’s official policy on non-discrimination explicitly prohibits any bias on the basis of sex in admissions or educational programsmu.edu.samu.edu.sa. Female applicants are evaluated by the same academic criteria as males, and MU has a policy of equal opportunity which has opened virtually all fields of study to women. In fact, MU continuously monitors the intake of female students and has taken steps to encourage women’s applications in fields where they were fewer. Thanks to these efforts, women now enroll in diverse disciplines ranging from Nursing and Education to Engineering and Computer Science. MU’s admissions data show that female students have high acceptance rates: for the 2022/2023 academic year, 83% of female undergraduate applicants received admission offers, slightly higher than the overall admit rate of 81%mu.edu.samu.edu.sa. A similar trend is seen at the postgraduate level, with women’s acceptance rates (around 81%) on par with or above the averagemu.edu.sa. These figures indicate that MU not only welcomes female applicants but also may be achieving a higher yield of qualified female candidates. The university systematically tracks women’s application, entry, and completion rates as part of its strategic planningmu.edu.sa. By collecting gender-disaggregated data on admissions and outcomes, MU can identify any gaps and respond with targeted initiatives (for example, if a certain STEM program had low female intake, the university could introduce outreach or bridging courses for female students). This data-driven approach is reflected in MU’s SDG Gender Equality reportingmu.edu.sa, affirming that the institution monitors women’s progress through the academic pipeline.

Enrollment, Retention, and Graduation Trends: The past five years have seen a steady increase in women’s enrollment and academic attainment at Majmaah University. Total female enrollment grew significantly, now constituting about 45–46% of the student populationunipage.net. This is a notable achievement in a region where female higher education participation was much lower a decade ago. Moreover, women at MU are persisting and graduating at rates comparable to their male counterparts. University records for recent cohorts indicate that female students represent roughly 45% of graduating students each year, with 3,044 female graduates out of 6,803 total graduates (44.7%) in the latest analysismu.edu.sa. In other words, women are not only enrolling in large numbers but also successfully completing their degrees in proportionate numbers. MU also tracks the completion rate and time-to-graduation by gender; this helps ensure that female students are not facing unseen obstacles. Thus far, the data suggests no significant gender gap in completion – female students’ likelihood of graduating is on par with or even slightly above that of male students, after accounting for program lengthsmu.edu.samu.edu.sa. Retention initiatives (such as the mentoring, counseling, and financial support described above) have been key to this success. For example, the academic advising programs have helped reduce dropout rates among women by intervening early when students encounter academic difficulties. Additionally, MU’s flexible policies like maternity leave for pregnant students and on-campus childcare for mothers have enabled more women to continue their studies without interruptionmu.edu.samu.edu.sa. On the staffing side, MU has increased the presence of women in faculty and leadership roles, which creates a supportive academic environment for female students. The proportion of women in senior university positions (e.g. deans, vice-rectors) has risen over this period – MU appointed its first female Vice-Rector for Female Student Affairs and several female vice-deans, joining the top management ranksmu.edu.samu.edu.sa. Having women in governance roles means that policies and decisions increasingly reflect the needs and perspectives of female students. The university leadership actively includes the Vice-Rector for Female Student Affairs in strategic planning and coordination with other institutions, as seen in her participation in the national meeting of female vice-rectors to discuss improving women students’ experiences across Saudi universitiesmu.edu.samu.edu.sa. MU’s commitment to gender-balanced leadership is also evident in its academic units – for instance, female faculty members head departments in the Colleges of Science, Education, and Computer Science on the women’s campuses, and women serve as members of the University Council and various committees. This representation at decision-making levels has earned MU recognition; the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings noted MU’s initiatives in promoting women’s leadership and governance as a strong aspect of its SDG 5 (Gender Equality) performancetimeshighereducation.com.

At a 2019 women’s leadership forum, Majmaah University’s Vice-President for Female Student Affairs joins national women leaders to discuss empowering female students and shaping future leadershipmu.edu.samu.edu.sa.

The University Vice President for Female Student Affairs participates in a meeting of female leaders entitled "Women and the Making of a Leadership Future"

At the kind invitation of His Excellency the Director General of the Institute of Public Administration and with the approval of His Excellency the University Rector, Dr. Khalid bin Saad Al-Muqrin, Her Excellency the University Vice President for Female Student Affairs, Dr. Jawaher bint Abdulrahman Al-Omar, participated today, Wednesday 8/12/1440 AH, in the first meeting of women leaders, which was organized by the Center for the Preparation and Development of Administrative Leaders at the Institute of Administration, entitled (Women and the Making of the Future of Leadership). The meeting was implemented by the international expert Linda Sharkey  . This meeting came in line with the directives of the leadership of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, may God protect him and preserve him, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, may God protect him, towards empowering women and developing their pioneering role in administrative development in a way that contributes to achieving the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

In summary, Majmaah University has implemented a comprehensive suite of women’s access schemes between 2019 and 2025 that cover mentoring, skill development, financial aid, supportive services, and inclusive policies. Key programs like academic advising and the Female Student Fund directly remove barriers for women, while leadership workshops, entrepreneurship initiatives, and student clubs enable women to excel and lead. The impact is evident in the metrics: high female enrollment and graduation rates, and increasing female representation in all facets of university life. MU’s efforts have been acknowledged as aligning with global best practices in gender equality in higher education. Moving forward, the university is well-poised to continue this progress, building on its successes to further enhance women’s participation and achievement in the years to come. Through sustained commitment and innovation, Majmaah University is empowering its female students and contributing to a more equitable and educated societymu.edu.samu.edu.sa.