Article 11 of the Saudi Law of Universities
المادة 11 من نظام الجامعات · الفصل الثالث: مجالس الأمناء
The article provides that each university has a board of trustees whose members, other than the university president, are assigned by order of the Prime Minister for three years, renewable once, and its chair is accountable to the chair of the Council of University Affairs.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يكون لكل جامعة مجلس أمناء يكلف رئيسه ونائبه وأعضاؤه -فيما عدا رئيس الجامعة- بأمر من رئيس مجلس الوزراء -بناءً على ترشيح رئيس مجلس شؤون الجامعات- لمدة ثلاث سنوات قابلة للتجديد مرة واحدة، ويكون رئيس مجلس الأمناء مسؤولاً أمام رئيس مجلس شؤون الجامعات فيما يختص به مجلس الأمناء طبقاً للنظام.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 11 explained in plain English
This article opens the provisions on the university board of trustees, which under Article 1 is the authority competent for the governance of the university and supervision of its academic, administrative and financial performance.
First: the board is required
Each university has a board of trustees.
Second: method of assignment
- The chair, deputy and members of the board are assigned.
- Other than the university president, who does not need this assignment.
- The assignment is by order of the Prime Minister.
- On the nomination of the chair of the Council of University Affairs.
Third: the term
Three years, renewable once, so under the text the maximum continuous term for a member is six years.
Fourth: accountability
The chair of the board of trustees is accountable to the chair of the Council of University Affairs for matters within the board's competence under the Law. This links the governance of each university to the body that regulates the affairs of all universities.
Article 12 then sets out the composition of the board of trustees: four persons of experience who have worked in university education, three from the private sector with experience in the financial, investment and legal fields, the university president, and three faculty members nominated by the university council, with the chair and deputy chair of the board to be from the first two categories.
The article is also linked to Article 10, which sets out the competences of the General Secretariat of the Council of University Affairs.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 11 of the Saudi Law of Universities
Who appoints the members of a university's board of trustees?
Its chair, deputy and members, other than the university president, are assigned by order of the Prime Minister on the nomination of the chair of the Council of University Affairs.
How long is membership of a university's board of trustees?
Three years, renewable once.
To whom is the chair of the board of trustees accountable?
To the chair of the Council of University Affairs, for matters within the board of trustees' competence under the Law.
More articles on University Board of Trustees
- Article 5
The article specifies the bodies that undertake the governance, management and conduct of the university's affairs: the Board of Trustees, the University Council and the university president.
يتولى حوكمة وإدارة وتصريف شؤون الجامعة: مجلس الأمناء مجلس الجامعة رئيس الجامعة
- Article 12
The article sets the composition of the university board of trustees: four university-education experts, three private-sector members, the university president and three faculty members, with the chair and deputy chosen from the experts.
يتكون مجلس أمناء الجامعة من الآتي: 1- أربعة أعضاء من ذوي الخبرة والكفاية والاختصاص ممن عملوا في مجال التعليم الجامعي. 2- ثلاثة أعضاء من القطاع الخاص من ذوي الخب
- Article 13
The article sets the tasks of the university board of trustees, including approving the university's vision, policies, structure and budget, nominating its president, appointing the external auditor, approving the founding of companies and awarding honorary doctorates.
يتولى مجلس أمناء الجامعة -وفقاً لأحكام النظام وما يصدره مجلس شؤون الجامعات من لوائح وقواعد- المهمات الآتية: 1- إقرار رؤية الجامعة ورسالتها وأهدافها، ورسم سياسات
- Article 14
The article regulates meetings of the university board of trustees at least once every three months with a quorum of two thirds including the chair or deputy, and makes its decisions effective fifteen days after the meeting date.
يجتمع مجلس أمناء الجامعة مرة كل ثلاثة أشهر على الأقل في العام الدراسي، وللرئيس أن يدعو المجلس للاجتماع إذا دعت الحاجة إلى ذلك، ولا تصح اجتماعات المجلس إلا بحضور
- Article 15
The article allows the board of trustees to choose a university staff member as its secretary in coordination with the university president, and provides for appointing a replacement for the remaining term when a post becomes vacant.
1- يختار مجلس الأمناء من يراه من منسوبي الجامعة ليتولى أمانة المجلس بالتنسيق مع رئيس الجامعة. 2- إذا شغر منصب رئيس مجلس الأمناء أو نائبه أو أي عضو فيه فيعين بدي
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.