The following words and phrases - wherever they appear in the Regulation - shall have the meanings indicated next to each, unless the context requires otherwise:

• Law of Universities: The Law of Universities issued by Royal Decree No. (M/27) dated 2/3/1441 AH.

• Regulation: The organizational regulation for universities and private colleges.

• Executive Rules: The executive rules for the organizational regulation for universities and private colleges.

• Council: Council of Universities Affairs.

• Minister: Minister of Education, Chairman of the Council of Universities Affairs.

• General Secretariat: The General Secretariat of the Council of Universities Affairs.

• Committee: A permanent committee to study requests for the establishment of universities and private colleges.

• University: A private higher education institution consisting of three or more colleges/institutes.

• Independent College: A private higher education institution consisting of one or more academic departments and not affiliated with a university.

• College: A scientific establishment affiliated with the university consisting of one or more academic departments belonging to a general scientific field.

• Higher Education Institution: The university or independent college.

• Board of Trustees: The Board of Trustees of the higher education institution.

• Board of the Higher Education Institution: The university council or the council of the independent college.

• Owner: The entity owning the higher education institution.

• Bylaws: A document approved by the Board of Trustees that includes the name of the higher education institution, its location, identification of the owner, legal form, organizational structure, rules, procedures, and administrative, financial, and academic policies.

• License: A document issued by the General Secretariat - after the Minister's approval - granting the higher education institution permission to conduct its activities.

• Faculty Members: Professors, associate professors, and assistant professors, and the following are considered as faculty members: lecturers, teaching assistants, and language instructors.

The Higher Education Institution aims to provide educational programs (post-secondary level) and contribute to raising the level of education and scientific research, serving the community, and providing appropriate scientific specializations, with the possibility of offering training programs in the scientific specializations it provides, all within the framework of the educational policy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The purpose of this regulation is to organize the affairs of private higher education to achieve high-efficiency outcomes, within the framework of the educational policy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The entity wishing to establish a higher education institution shall submit a construction request to the General Secretariat, accompanied by the following requirements:

• 1. The legal form of the entity submitting the construction request.

• 2. A study that clarifies and proves the feasibility of establishing the higher education institution, approved by a licensed consulting office in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

• 3. Evidence that the entity submitting the construction request has the financial solvency and capabilities to establish and operate the higher education institution in accordance with the provisions set forth in the executive regulations.

• 4. The name and location of the higher education institution.

• 5. A statement of the colleges (in the university), scientific departments, and specializations.

• The committee may set the conditions, instructions, forms, and commitments governing this matter.

The Committee is formed in the General Secretariat by a Decision from the Minister, and the Decision issued for its formation specifies its organizational structure and secretariat. The Committee is responsible for studying the claims submitted for the establishment of higher education institutions and requests to convert independent colleges into a university, and recommending their elevation to the Council.

The approval for the establishment of the higher education institution shall be in accordance with the Universities Law and any amendments thereto.

The owner, after obtaining approval for the establishment of the higher education institution, submits a request to the General Secretariat for the issuance of a License. The higher education institution is not permitted to commence its activities before the License is issued by the General Secretariat, and the executive regulations specify the requirements and procedures for obtaining the License.

The General Secretariat undertakes the following tasks:

• 1. Study the claims submitted for obtaining, renewing, or amending the license and recommend their submission to the Minister for approval.

• 2. Study the request to establish colleges and institutes within the university, or to merge or cancel them, and recommend their submission to the Council.

• 3. Study the request to establish scientific departments, or to merge or cancel them, or to amend their names, and to establish research centers, and recommend their submission to the Council.

• 4. Approve academic programs.

• 5. Approve the organization of conferences and seminars.

• 6. Monitor the performance of the higher education institution.

• The General Secretariat may seek assistance from public or private entities to carry out some tasks and procedures.