Article 30 of the Saudi Law of Universities
المادة 30 من نظام الجامعات · الفصل الثامن: رئيس الجامعة ونوابه
The article provides that the university president is assigned by order of the Prime Minister on the recommendation of the chair of the Council of University Affairs after nomination by the board of trustees, and is contracted under the Labor Law for three years, renewable.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يكلف رئيس الجامعة بأمر من رئيس مجلس الوزراء، بناء على توصية رئيس مجلس شؤون الجامعات بعد ترشيح مجلس الأمناء، ويكون التعاقد معه على نظام العمل لمدة ثلاث سنوات قابلة للتجديد.
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 30 explained in plain English
This article regulates how the university president is chosen and the nature of the contractual relationship with him.
First: stages of selection
- Nomination by the board of trustees.
- Recommendation by the chair of the Council of University Affairs, after that nomination.
- An order from the Prime Minister assigning him.
The choice of a university president therefore passes through three bodies, starting inside the university (the board of trustees) and ending at the highest level (the Prime Minister).
Second: contracting
- The university president is contracted under the Labor Law.
- For three years, renewable.
Note that the text does not specify the number of times of renewal, and that it makes the contract with the university president subject to the Labor Law.
This article does not state the candidate's conditions or qualifications, or his salary.
Under Article 1, the board of trustees is the authority competent for the governance of the university and supervision of its performance, and the Council of University Affairs is the authority competent to regulate the affairs of universities and set their policies.
Article 31 then sets out the university president's responsibility and powers: he is accountable to the chair of the Council of University Affairs in accordance with the Law, and manages the university and conducts all its affairs, subject to the competences of the board of trustees and the university council. The article is also linked to Article 29, which regulates department council meetings.
A person with a matter concerning the contract or assignment of a university president may consult a lawyer specialized in administrative cases.
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 30 of the Saudi Law of Universities
How is a university president appointed in Saudi Arabia?
He is assigned by order of the Prime Minister, on the recommendation of the chair of the Council of University Affairs after nomination by the board of trustees.
What is the university president's term?
He is contracted for three years, renewable.
Is the university president's contract subject to the Labor Law?
Yes, the article provides that he is contracted under the Labor Law.
More articles on University President and Vice Presidents
- 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 31
The article makes the university president accountable to the chair of the Council of University Affairs and responsible for managing the university, and lists his powers, including representing it before the courts, assigning deans and heads of departments, and the annual report.
مع مراعاة اختصاصات مجلس الأمناء ومجلس الجامعة، يكون رئيس الجامعة مسؤولاً أمام رئيس مجلس شؤون الجامعات طبقاً للنظام، ويتولى رئيس الجامعة إدارة الجامعة وتصريف جمي
- Article 32
The article allows a university president who holds a public post or was a faculty member to keep his post during his presidency, and counts the presidency in his service for periodic raises, promotion and retirement.
إذا كان رئيس الجامعة يشغل وظيفة عامة، أو كان عضو هيئة تدريس، فيحق له الاحتفاظ بوظيفته خلال مدة رئاسته للجامعة، وتحتسب تلك المدة في الخدمة لأغراض العلاوة الدورية
- Article 33
The article provides that each university president has one or more deputies from among the faculty members, assigned by the board of trustees on the president's nomination for three years, renewable once, subject to an exception by the Council of University Affairs.
يكون لكل رئيس جامعة نائب أو أكثر من أعضاء هيئة التدريس، ويكون تكليفهم بقرار من مجلس الأمناء بناء على ترشيح رئيس الجامعة، ويكون التكليف لمدة ثلاث سنوات قابلة للت
- Article 34
The article makes the deputies assistants of the university president with powers set by the regulations, lets the president assign one of them to act in his absence, and lets the chair of the Council of University Affairs name whoever runs the university when the presidency is vacant.
يعاون النواب رئيس الجامعة في إدارة شؤونها، وتحدد اللوائح صلاحياتهم، ولرئيس الجامعة تكليف أحدهم -عند تعددهم- للقيام بمهمات رئيس الجامعة عند غيابه، ولرئيس مجلس شؤ
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.