Article 6 of the Saudi Law of Universities
المادة 6 من نظام الجامعات · الفصل الثاني: مجلس شؤون الجامعات
The article establishes the Council of University Affairs chaired by the Minister of Education, sets its members, and provides that the five university presidents and the experts are appointed by order of the Prime Minister for three years, renewable once.
Official text after amendments (Arabic)
Compiled from the original text and every officially published amendment; the amendments are shown in full below for comparison.
ينشأ مجلس يسمى "مجلس شؤون الجامعات" ويتكون من الآتي:
1- وزير التعليم رئيساً
2- نائب وزير التعليم عضواً
3- نائب وزير المالية عضواً
4- نائب وزير الخدمة المدنية عضواً
5- نائب وزير العمل والتنمية الاجتماعية عضواً
6- نائب وزير الاقتصاد والتخطيط عضواً
7- رئيس هيئة تقويم التعليم والتدريب عضواً
8- خمسة من رؤساء الجامعات أحدهم من رؤساء الجامعات الأهلية أعضاء
9- اثنان من ذوي الخبرة والاختصاص عضوين
ويرشح وزير التعليم الأعضاء الوارد ذكرهم في الفقرتين (8، 9)، ويصدر تعيينهم بأمر من رئيس مجلس الوزراء لمدة ثلاث سنوات قابلة للتجديد لمرة واحدة.
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 6 explained in plain English
This article establishes the Council of University Affairs, which under Article 1 is the authority competent to regulate the affairs of universities, set their policies and issue the regulations governing them.
First: composition
- The Minister of Education as chair.
- The Deputy Minister of Education.
- The deputy ministers of Finance, Civil Service, Human Resources and Social Development, and Economy and Planning.
- The head of the Education and Training Evaluation Commission.
- Five university presidents, one of whom is the president of a private university.
- Two persons of experience and expertise.
Second: appointment of some members
As for the five university presidents and the two persons of experience (paragraphs 8 and 9):
- They are nominated by the Minister of Education.
- Their appointment is issued by order of the Prime Minister.
- For three years, renewable once.
The remaining members' membership is linked to their positions under the text.
Third: amendment
Paragraph 2 was amended by Council of Ministers Resolution No. (514) dated 24/7/1447 AH, replacing the phrase "Deputy Minister of Education" for "Deputy Minister of Education for Universities, Research and Innovation".
Note that the representation of private universities on the Council is provided for by the text of the article. Article 7 then sets out the Council's competences, including approving policies and strategies for university education, approving the regulations governing private universities and colleges and branches of foreign universities and supervising them, and approving the financial, administrative and academic regulations of universities. Article 5 also shows that governance of the university itself is carried out by the board of trustees, the university council and the university 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 6 of the Saudi Law of Universities
Who chairs the Council of University Affairs?
The Minister of Education.
Are private universities represented on the Council of University Affairs?
Yes, one of the five university presidents who are members is the president of a private university.
How long is the membership of the university presidents and experts on the Council?
Three years, renewable once, and their appointment is issued by order of the Prime Minister on the nomination of the Minister of Education.
Amendment history
Amendment — 24/7/1447 AH
Official amendment text (Arabic)
- تعديل الفقرة (2) من هذه المادة وذلك بموجب قرار مجلس الوزراء رقم (514) وتاريخ 1447/7/24هـ، وذلك بإحلال عبارة "نائب وزير التعليم" محل عبارة "نائب وزير التعليم للجامعات والبحث والابتكار".
Original text before the amendments (Arabic)
ينشأ مجلس يسمى "مجلس شؤون الجامعات" ويتكون من الآتي:
1- وزير التعليم رئيساً
2- نائب وزير التعليم للجامعات والبحث والابتكار عضواً
3- نائب وزير المالية عضواً
4- نائب وزير الخدمة المدنية عضواً
5- نائب وزير العمل والتنمية الاجتماعية عضواً
6- نائب وزير الاقتصاد والتخطيط عضواً
7- رئيس هيئة تقويم التعليم والتدريب عضواً
8- خمسة من رؤساء الجامعات أحدهم من رؤساء الجامعات الأهلية أعضاء
9- اثنان من ذوي الخبرة والاختصاص عضوين
ويرشح وزير التعليم الأعضاء الوارد ذكرهم في الفقرتين (8، 9)، ويصدر تعيينهم بأمر من رئيس مجلس الوزراء لمدة ثلاث سنوات قابلة للتجديد لمرة واحدة.
More articles on Universities Affairs Council
- Article 7
The article lists the competences of the Council of University Affairs, including approving policies and regulations, university governance and evaluation, setting remuneration and salaries, supervising boards of trustees and resolving conflicts of jurisdiction.
مع مراعاة الاختصاصات الأخرى المسندة إليه بموجب النظام، يتولى مجلس شؤون الجامعات الاختصاصات الآتية: 1- إقرار السياسات والاستراتيجيات للتعليم الجامعي. 2- إقرار ال
- Article 8
The article regulates meetings of the Council of University Affairs at least once every four months, with a quorum of two thirds including the chair or deputy, and decisions by majority of those present, with non-members invited without a vote.
يعقد مجلس شؤون الجامعات اجتماعاته مرة كل أربعة أشهر في العام على الأقل بناءً على دعوة من رئيسه أو من ينوب عنه، ولا يصح انعقاد الاجتماع إلا إذا حضره ثلثا الأعضاء
- Article 9
The article provides that the Council of University Affairs has a secretary general assigned by order of the Prime Minister on the chair's nomination, with an operating program budget for its secretariat within the Ministry of Education's budget.
1- يكون لمجلس شؤون الجامعات أمين عام يتم تكليفه بأمر من رئيس مجلس الوزراء بناء على ترشيح رئيس مجلس شؤون الجامعات. 2- تُخصّص ميزانية برنامج تشغيلي لأمانة مجلس شؤ
- Article 10
The article sets out the competences of the General Secretariat of the Council of University Affairs, including supporting the Council, preparing its studies and meetings, notifying and following up its decisions, coordinating with government bodies, and administrative and financial work.
تختص الأمانة العامة لمجلس شؤون الجامعات بالقيام بما يأتي: 1- مساندة المجلس في أعماله ومسؤولياته، وإعداد دراساته، وتوفير البيانات والمعلومات اللازمة لاتخاذ قرارا
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.