Article 12 of the Saudi Law of Universities
المادة 12 من نظام الجامعات · الفصل الثالث: مجالس الأمناء
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 الخبرة والكفاية والاختصاص في المجال المالي والاستثماري والنظامي.
3- رئيس الجامعة.
4- ثلاثة من أعضاء هيئة التدريس في الجامعة يرشحهم مجلس الجامعة.
ويكون رئيس المجلس ونائبه من الوارد ذكرهم في الفقرتين (1) و (2) من هذه المادة.
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 12 explained in plain English
This article sets out the composition of the university board of trustees, a mix of internal and external expertise:
- Four members of experience, competence and expertise who have worked in the field of university education.
- Three members from the private sector of experience, competence and expertise in the financial, investment and legal fields.
- The university president.
- Three faculty members of the university nominated by the university council.
On this count the Council has eleven members.
The chair and his deputy: they are from the first or second category, that is, from the experts in university education or from the private sector. Under the text, therefore, the university president or one of the three faculty members may not chair the board.
This composition strikes a balance: academic expertise comes from the first category, financial, investment and legal expertise from the private sector, and the university's internal voice from its president and faculty members. Under Article 1, faculty members are professors, associate professors and assistant professors, and lecturers and teaching assistants are treated as such.
Article 11 provides that the chair, deputy and members of the board, 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 for three years, renewable once. The board's tasks are set out in Article 13, including approving the university's vision, mission and policies, approving its organizational structure and annual budget, and nominating its president.
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 12 of the Saudi Law of Universities
How many members does a university's board of trustees have?
On the count in the article: four university-education experts, three private-sector members, the university president and three faculty members.
Can the university president chair the board of trustees?
No. The chair and deputy are from the university-education experts or the private-sector members mentioned in paragraphs 1 and 2.
Who nominates the faculty members on the board of trustees?
The university council nominates them.
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 11
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.
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
- 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.