Governance in Saudi Higher Education

Governance is the 'process of decision-making within an institution that enables an institution to set its policies, to attain its mission, and to monitor its progress' (Oxford University Gazette 2006:1). Differences in funding, resources, government policies and organisational cultures lead to different governance arrangements for higher education institutions across different nations (Coble 2001; Kezar 2004). This chapter describes the traditional academic governance pattern that has been the normal practice for decades across Saudi universities. The chapter also reviews the recent changes in governance that have taken place in response to higher education reforms in Saudi Arabia with the introduction of the 'knowledge society' ideology and the quest for international accreditation and world recognition. Further, the chapter highlights current capitalist and managerialist regimes in the Saudi private higher education sector, with examples of recent evolution towards stakeholder boards and corporate management. Finally, the chapter suggests strategies and tactics that might be adopted locally to create more academic integrity with fewer political ramifications in the Saudi higher education system. Existing strengths, opportunities and weaknesses are highlighted, with emphasis on the potential transformation towards autonomy. Also, pragmatic difficulties associated with bringing about governance transformation are discussed.