Article 41 of the Saudi Law of Universities

This article deals with program accreditation, that is, accreditation of the academic programs the university offers.

The article contains the following elements:

• The wording: "the university works to achieve", wording that expresses striving and working toward the goal.
• The accrediting body: two options:
  • the Education and Training Evaluation Commission;
  • one of the international bodies the Commission recognizes.

The second option is important: according to the text, accreditation from an international body is acceptable, provided it is one of the bodies recognized by the Education and Training Evaluation Commission. Any international accreditation is not enough; the international body must be recognized by the Commission.

Note the difference between this article and Article 40:

• Article 40 concerns institutional accreditation, says "the university must obtain", and mentions only the Education and Training Evaluation Commission.
• Article 41 concerns program accreditation, says "works to achieve", and permits accreditation from an international body recognized by the Commission.

The article does not set out the criteria, procedures or duration of program accreditation, nor the consequences of not achieving it.

The importance of the article for a student is that he can ask about the accreditation of the program he enrolls in, because striving for program accreditation is part of what the Law requires of the university.

Article 42 moves on to advisory councils, permitting an international advisory council to be formed at the university by decision of the Board of Trustees, which sets its competences and rules of work.