Scholarship Students Care Unit

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has long been known for its care of students from every corner of the world, and Al-Ahsa in particular has been an attractive region for students of knowledge through its schools and institutes throughout the ages. Since the founding of King Faisal University in Al-Ahsa in 1395 AH (1975 AD), it has attracted and sponsored male and female students from the Gulf, Arab, and Islamic countries, and has graduated many of them. In fulfillment of the Kingdom's pioneering role in the world in sponsoring students, and what it has called for in international forums in this regard, Council of Ministers Resolution No. (94) dated 29/3/1431 AH was issued, and based on paragraph (a) of item nine of the "Regulations for Admitting Non-Saudi Scholarship Students in Higher Education Institutions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Their Care" from the honorable Council of Ministers Resolution No. (94) dated 29/3/1431 AH, which includes the establishment of a unit within the educational institution concerned with scholarship students, overseen by qualified supervisors.

In implementation of the idea of caring for scholarship students as stipulated in the Council of Ministers resolution, a committee concerned with scholarship care was formed, chaired by Dr. Saleh bin Ibrahim Al-Husayyin, with membership of Dr. Hamad bin Salem Al-Marri, Dr. Ahmed bin Fares Al-Salloum, and Mr. Abdulaziz bin Ibrahim Al-Muhanna (which continued for one year). Then a proposal was submitted by His Excellency Dr. Khalil bin Ibrahim Al-Huwaiji, Dean of Student Affairs, No. (30904) dated 24/4/1438 AH, requesting the formation of a unit to care for scholarship students, in implementation of what was stipulated in the Council of Ministers resolution. Accordingly, Administrative Decision No. (38/2/124) dated 24/4/1439 AH was issued, signed by His Excellency the President of King Faisal University, Prof. Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Ohali, establishing the "Scholarship Students Care Unit" in support of the proposal of the Dean of Student Affairs and in fulfillment of Council of Ministers Resolution No. 94. It included assigning supervision of the unit to His Excellency Dr. Hamad bin Salem Al-Marri, with membership of Dr. Ahmed bin Fares Al-Salloum, Mr. Abdulaziz bin Ibrahim Al-Muhanna, and Teaching Assistant Fahad bin Hassan Al-Arjani, as members of the unit.

Objectives

The objectives of the Scholarship Students Care Unit at King Faisal University are derived from Council of Ministers Resolution No. (94) dated 29/3/1431 AH and the resolution of His Excellency the President of King Faisal University No. 38/2/124 dated 24/4/1439 AH, as follows:

  • Attracting academically and culturally distinguished students to enrich scientific research and knowledge-based competition between them and university students.
  • Establishing scientific and cultural ties with Islamic academic institutions in the Islamic world.
  • Promoting solidarity and mutual understanding between the university and other educational institutions around the world.
  • Linking scholarship students with faculty members at King Faisal University, so that each group of them is supervised by a faculty member to guide and mentor them.
  • Establishing a charitable fund at King Faisal University to support scholarship programs, based on aid, donations, gifts, bequests, and endowments.
  • Providing all types of care and special attention to domestic and international scholarship students (male and female) for the duration of their stay at the university, in accordance with regulatory requirements.
  • Preparing programs for them to learn about the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, meet its scholars and officials, and benefit from their knowledge and experience.
  • Strengthening ties between them and Saudi students through joint activities and programs.
  • Working to resolve any problems or obstacles faced by scholarship students (male and female) during the course of their studies.
  • Providing academic, knowledge-based, and administrative guidance to scholarship students (male and female).
Operational Plans of the Unit

The unit strives to achieve its objectives through several purposeful plans and programs, including:

  • Visiting notable figures and sheikhs of the region to introduce them to scholarship students.
  • Organizing trips for scholarship students that achieve the goal of introducing them to the region while providing entertainment at the same time.
  • Preparing supportive academic programs to raise the academic level of scholarship students.
  • Holding development courses and training programs.
  • Facilitating Hajj and Umrah arrangements according to specific priorities.
  • Holding academic, recreational, and sports competitions.
  • Holding periodic meetings with scholarship students to follow up on their academic progress.
Services Provided

The agency serves as the liaison officer between the university and the Ministry of Higher Education on one hand, and as a link between the university sectors concerned with scholarship students on the other hand.

The services are therefore varied and numerous, as follows:

1- Financial Services
  • Arrival allowance reward.
  • Granting an annual ticket for continuing students and reimbursing travel tickets for new students.
  • Following up on financial procedures related to student rewards until they are regularized.
  • Providing emergency financial aid and assistance to students.
  • Employing some scholarship students.
2- Passport Services
  • Issuing new residency permits, renewals, and replacement of lost or damaged permits.
  • Issuing exit/re-entry visas, final exit visas, and visa cancellations.
  • Transferring information after passport renewal.