Effat University, Computer Science Department Strategic Plan 2022-2027

I. Department Chair's Message

The Computer Science (CS) Department is committed to providing a high-quality learning and research environment that yields Computer Science graduates who are insightful, creative, and high-caliber problem-solvers for local & global societies. The Computer Science Department always strives to deliver an exceptional pedagogic style that bridges the knowledge-practice divide while remaining creative and innovative.

Our highly experienced and motivated faculty members mold young minds to attain vital communication and critical-thinking skills towards holistic academic development. We develop the knowledge and skills for the future, imbibed with the futuristic vision of the country and the world. As a result, our students have achieved outstanding accomplishments, winning awards in numerous prestigious competitions and top conferences, as well as securing positions in well-known organizations such as Microsoft, Schlumberger, and Oracle. While cultivating the skillset to keep up with state-of-the-art technologies, our curriculum is modeled to support the industry requirements. This is enabled by a wide spectrum of courses like Database Systems, Computer Networks, Software Engineering, and more recent trends like Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Security.

As digital technology continues to disrupt academia, our strategic plan 2022 – 2027 aims to transform the research and pedagogy experience to new heights by fostering internationalization, participation in industry, innovation, and awareness of cutting-edge developments in the field. Our strategic plan 2022 –2027 is designed to charter our course forward towards creating problem solvers, change leaders, community creators, and future builders who will ultimately transform how people work, think, socialize, and even live. Hence, our strategic theme for the next 5 years is “Coding the Future”. Through the innovative teaching-learning process that we have, we will help our students to explore and visualize a new world of solutions for the community where the sky is no longer our limit.

II. College Vision, Mission, and Goals

Mission

To provide a high-quality learning & research environment that yields Computer Science graduates who are insightful, creative, and high-caliber problem-solvers for local & global societies.

Vision

To be a globally recognized provider of Computer Science education and research that produces technology leaders who spearhead transformational innovations through creative computing solutions for local and global problems.

Goals

Goal 1: Enhance the Computer Science department’s national and international recognition by deepening its impact and contribution to the community in alignment with the Saudi Vision 2030.

Goal 2: Progressing towards transparency and effective leadership in developing a creative work environment. As well as benchmarking with reputed national and international programs.

Goal 3: Provide Computer Science students with innovative and quality education to meet future needs in the market. In addition, maintain optimal utilization of departmental and educational resources conducive to a creative and dynamic learning environment.

Goal 4: Attract and attain an exceptional, diverse body of students by ensuring a holistic computer science education, extensive skill, lifetime learning, and talent development.

Goal 5: Attract highly qualified faculty in the emerging fields and support them with professional development activities and promotion.

Goal 6: Provide and maintain state-of-the-art

learning facilities that promote students’ hands-on and design experiences with a self-sufficient and expandable academic infrastructure. Moreover, enhance overall financial strength of the CS department through effective budgeting, external research funding, training, and consultancies.

Goal 7: Cultivate a vibrant research environment to increase the Computer Science faculty and students’ scholarly output and activities and serve the needs of the local and global communities.

Goal 8: Strengthen the Computer Science department relations and partnerships with the national and international community through fruitful joint relationships with nationwide and global partners.

III. Summary of Market Scan Findings

• IPSOS conducted an in-depth market research on the KSA Education market in December 2021 with the following objectives to develop a sound strategic plan for Effat University (EU):

with 875+ stakeholders (employers (50), current students (154), potential students (61) and parents (112) of the potential students), backed up by qualitative research for deeper insights.

Here are the key findings from the research:

• 80% of the population is employed by private companies while 20% are in government services.

• 56% of the employed population is at the bachelor’s or equivalent level.

• Human Capital Development Program (HCDP) has set a goal to raise the percentage of higher education graduates in employment within six months of graduation from 4.5% in 2019 to 20% in 2025.

1. Macroeconomic and Employment Landscape – Economic profile of KSA and its key industries, current and future demand of programs of KSA

2. POV - Employers – Interviewing potential employers within institutions in the target segment to understand the expectations from candidates and programs

3. POV – Students & Parents – Understanding the perceptions and attitudes of the current students and potential students and their parents, towards universities and programs

To achieve the objective, IPSOS conducted a comprehensive desk research, quantitative survey

Macroeconomic and Employment Landscape

• While oil remains the major export product for Saudi Arabia, its dominance of the total export share for the country has declined over the past few years as shown in the graph below:

PEmployer Point of View (POV)

• As shown in the chart above, several sectors can be tackled by the CS graduates. Computer Science graduates can be recruited in more than one sector using their skills respectively in software development, ICT, cyber security, artificial intelligence, and robotics. Such sectors include but not limited to education, manufacturing, public administration, and heath sector.

• According to the market study done by IPSOS, the scientific research and development grew by 14.6% in 2017 -2021 frame comparatively to the 2015-2016. Also, the programming and broadcasting activities grew by 16.7%. This is very good indicator to the recruitment of our Computer Science graduates where they can continue their scientific research, or work in ICT and communication fields.

• Also, based on the market study, in the technology sector, the IT spending in Saudi Arabia is expected to rise by 4.2% in 2021 and reach 41.6 billion: “Saudi Arabia aims to create 20,000 AI and data specialists and experts by 2030”. This area fits very well the updated CS program and gives the chance to our graduates to seek such jobs. On the other hand, in the industry sector, under the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NIDLP), 1,600,000 jobs are expected to be created by 2030, giving a very good opportunity to our graduates from all programs to secure a job.

• Overall, and according to the following chart, it is evident that engineering, electrical and electronics, oil and gas, and IT and ICT have 100% positive outlook reflecting the confidence of having come out the pandemic and on the path to recovery. This clearly indicates the needs for the CS program with its all tracks.

POV (Point of View) - Employer

• Despite a decline in overall population share, female share of total workforce has increased from 11% in 1990 to 16% in 2020.

• Wholesale and retail sector is the largest employer followed by public administration and defense as indicated in the chart below:

This module captures the willingness and likelihood of employers in KSA to hire graduates of Effat University. The findings were as follows:

• Driven by Saudization, employers across sectors noted that entry level hiring is likely to grow more than 5% in the next 3 to 5 years. 6 -10% of the employees are at entry level/fresh graduates. Saudization is expected to bring about 7.6%-12.5% growth in recruiting entry level/fresh graduate candidates.

• 70% of the employers surveyed also stated when it comes to recruiting candidates for entry level jobs, the University the candidate graduated from is the most important parameter.

• The key parameters used by employers to evaluate a university are the ‘Reputation’ of the university, its ‘Partnership with International Universities’, ‘Regional Ranking’ & ‘Past Experience’ with the students from the same university. Below is the snapshot of the universities considered as most reputed among employers:

% of the employers indicated the university name as most reputed (Unaided resoponses)

% of the employers indicated the university name as most reputed (Unaided resoponses)

• Effat University’s reputation stands tall amongst the private universities, with 56% of the employers considering EU as one of the most reputed universities.

• Majority of the employers state that they consider the candidates are technically sound, with very good communication skills, in addition to holding a recognized internationally accredited degree.

• EU has established strong partnerships with 15 global universities. The Computer Science department partnered with Syracuse University and Tokai University.

• The table below depicts the key skills preferred by the employers in order to hire candidates:

% of the employers indicated the university name as most reputed (Unaided resoponses)

• The combined share of business, administration, and law; health and welfare course enrollments among total higher education enrollments in Saudi Arabia increased from 45% in 2013 to 51% in 2019.

• EU is currently ranked as 61 – 70 in QS Arab Regional Ranking 2022, moved up from 101 – 110 ranking in 2019, tracing an upward trajectory.

• Graduates from Computer Science department show great technical knowledge, communication skills, interpersonal skills, problem-solving skills, and practical exposure, which are amongst the most important characteristics employers are looking for.

• The CS program requires a completion of 180 hours of internship. 62% of employers consider this an important skill in new employees.

• It is worth noting that students’ enrollment in the Ambassador Program and their participation in campus-wide activities and clubs, in addition to volunteering in events give them the practical exposure 70% of employers are looking for and the extra-curricular activities 56% of employers are looking for.

• Besides, CS program is ABET accredited which represents an international exposure for both programs; a certification that 80% of employers are looking for.

• Also, the market study showed that 70% of the employers who claimed that they are likely to hire from Effat, stated that it was due to several reasons amongst them: the Technical Knowledge especially the Science programs which relates to the computer science graduates.

• As for the employers’ propensity to hire candidates by different programs offered by Effat University, as indicated in the chart below, there is high demand for all degrees offered by the computer science department; mainly driven by AI/VR, cloud technology, IT/ICT especially programming and coding, Data Management, Automation in Manufacturing and New Technologies.

• 100% of the employers in Jeddah and Makkah are aware of Effat University, followed by 60% in Riyadh, while the awareness is lower in other regions of KSA.

• 70% of the employers that are aware of EU are inclined to recruit candidates from EU in the coming years.

• While the employers (~10) that are likely to recruit from Effat in the coming years are content with the positive reputation of the university, technical skills of the students, positive relationship with EU, etc., they have suggested that the candidates from EU would have a scope to work on their confidence level and interpersonal/presentation skills.

• 75% of the employers would like to receive direct communication from EU about their updated curriculum to the industry needs and newsletters about their students’ achievements which will increase their likelihood of hiring from the university.

• There is high demand across individual programs offered by Effat College of Engineering. Employers also noted the research done on Smart Building and Virtual Reality by EU.

• Several other programs/subjects suggested by employers that are likely to be in demand in the coming years are as follows:

Demand likely to be in the following sectors These programs, drive the innovation and start ups in the kingdom

POV (Point of View)– Students & Parents

• A student’s journey to choosing a university is described as follows:

• Before deciding on EU, current students planned on visiting the university’s official website, seeking advice from their families, and visiting the university’s campus, as shown in the figure below:

Current Student

• Location, preferred subjects, and reputation are the key parameters for evaluation among the universities.

• Even though the EU placement test (English & Math) is considered moderately difficult, the overall admission process at EU was seen as smooth.

• As shown in the figure below, the Computer Science program with its two tracks (Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity) is leading the ECoE program by reaching 11% of the interests of the total EU student body. The Electrical and Computer Engineering program reached 6% of the students.

• According to current students, offering scholarships, the availability of preferred programs and the quality of education are the reasons behind choosing EU as shown in the table below:

According to current students, Computer Science (Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity tracks) is the graduation stream of preferred choice for higher or further education, as shown in the figure below. It represents 14% of the most preferred option among all others and 12% of other preferred:

• When looking at Computer Science among Effat University programs, Artificial Intelligence was classified as one of the top choices with 21% while cyber security field reached the interest of 14% as show below:

• After considering the overall experience as a student at EU, 6 in 10 students are satisfied with the institution. This is depicted by the figure below:

Internet and social media are the types of media most viewed by high school student. Instagram, Twitter and Facebook are the social media platforms accessed regularly as shown in the charts below:

Potential UG Students

• Quality of education, reputation of the university and the career opportunities are the top reasons high school students consider Effat University. When comparing results with the overall universities, availability of dorms, international affiliations and ties with foreign universities are significantly higher for Effat University as shown in the chart below:

Potential PG Students

• Top reasons behind considering Effat University by postgraduate students are having affordable fees, quality of education and the alumni network. When comparing the results with the overall universities, affordable fee, alumni network, international affiliations and the faculty’s profile are reasons that are significantly higher as shown in the table below:

• Internet and social media as well as the television are the types of media most viewed by potential postgraduates. Instagram and Twitter are the social media platforms accessed regularly as depicted in the charts below:

V. Strategic Area 2: Governance, Leadership & Management

Objective 1: Revise Organizational Structure

IV. Strategic Plan Strategic Area 1: Mission, Vision, and Strategic Planning

Objective 1: Implement CS Strategic Plan

Evaluate leadership performance

Actions by Initiatives

Restructure CS Units

Actions by Initiatives

Implement Annual Operational Plan

• Formulate and set the 5-year strategic plan.

• Develop and implement the annual operational plan.

• Assess and report on the achievement of the annual operational plan for all units every Fall and Spring semester.

• Provide recommendation and improve the operational plan of the following year.

Objective 2: Appraise CS Mission Objective and Success

Actions by Initiatives

Evaluate the Achievement of CS Mission Statement

• Identify the relevant KPIs that best represent the Mission components.

• Evaluate and report on the related KPIs and assess the overall achievement of the Mission.

• Provide recommendation and improvement plans where necessary.

Percentage

Percentage of performance achieved by leaderships

• Review the current CS Department structure and number of Departmental units by benchmarking with other universities of similar size and age to recommend updates at all levels.

• Monitor the effectiveness of the organizational structure based on a set of criteria and make updates if needed.

• Conduct an interim comprehensive review of organizational changes and make updates, as necessary.

• Conduct a comprehensive review of the CS Department structure by the end of the planning period in preparation for the next 5-year strategic plan..

Update Leadership Roles

• Evaluate leadership roles and responsibilities by revising and updating the specific descriptions of these roles of leaders at different levels.

• Set specific authorities, responsibilities, and tasks for each leadership role based on the College Charter and the Ministry bylaws.

• Review the leadership succession plan regularly.

• Ensure the effective and efficient distribution of the responsibilities of academic and administrative leaders to achieve harmony among the different units.

• Monitor and evaluate the adherence of leaders to the description of their leadership roles and tasks annually and be ready to adjust the description based on work needs.

• Review the leadership roles and their tasks by the end of the third year of the strategic plan and make changes as needed.

• Conduct a comprehensive review of leadership roles by the end of 2026-2027 in preparation for the next 5-year strategic plan.

Review and Revise Reporting Lines

• Revise the CS Department reporting system and reporting lines to ensure a clear and smooth flow of information from bottom-up and top-down among academic and administrative units to achieve cooperative teamwork environment.

• Update efficient reporting templates used for producing semester reports for all academic and administrative units for Falls and Springs.

• Agree on the reporting lines and templates with all units.

• Pilot the reporting system in Fall and Spring 2022-2023 to adjust as needed for use in subsequent semesters.

• Conduct an interim review of the reporting system by the third year of the strategic plan and adjust the reporting system and reporting lines, as necessary.

• Conduct a comprehensive review of the reporting system and reporting templates in preparation for the next 5-year strategic plan.

• Evaluate Leadership Performancee

• Assess how far the CS Department leaders have managed to achieve their units’ annual objectives and help them set their new objectives for the subsequent year for their units as part of oversight and accountability of the CS Department governance system.

• Conduct an interim review by revising the tools for leadership assessment and make changes as needed.

• Conduct a final comprehensive review of leadership assessment tools in preparation for the following 5-year strategic plan.

Objective 2: Restructure CS Responsibilities

Percentage

Percentage

Objective 3: Streamline Committee Structures

Evaluate the per-formance of indi-viduals carrying the new strategic roles

Actions by Initiatives

Establish New CS Strategic Roles & Develop Role Descriptions

Percentage of performance achieved by the individuals.

• Update the CS Departmental strategic roles at the level of colleges and departments and specify their authorities, responsibilities, and tasks taking into consideration that they have both academic and technical skills to achieve effective governance.

• Update the Governance Manual to include the updated strategic roles at the levels of the CS Department and their job descriptions/authorities, responsibilities and tasks.

• Evaluate the Governance Manual that includes the administrative and organizational flowcharts and job authorities, responsibilities and tasks by the end of the third year of the strategic plan to make changes, as necessary.

• Conduct a comprehensive review of strategic roles at and the CS Department levels and their descriptions to make organizational changes by the end of the planning period in preparation for the next 5-year strategic plan..

Evaluate the performance of individuals carrying the new strategic roles:

• Evaluate individuals carrying out new strategic roles based on an agreed criteria (e.g., competence and skills) for evaluation every Spring.

• Give recommendations for improvement to the concerned individuals to improve their performance for implementation in the following year.

Actions by Initiatives

Review and Evaluate CS Committees

• Evaluate the efficiency of current standing committees based on a set criterion and recommend improvements and updates of their mandate, structure and/or function, as necessary.

• Update and implement the standing committees based on the evaluation conducted in Fall 2022-2023.

• Monitor the initiatives and projects carried out by all committees and give a final report on their performance in Spring each year.

• Conduct a comprehensive review of the standing committees to give final assessment of their work and recommend changes for the subsequent 5-year strategic plan accordingly.

Review and Evaluate CS Committees

• Evaluate the efficiency of current CS Department committees based on a set criterion and recommend improvements and updates of their mandate, structure and/or function, as necessary.

• Update and implement the CS Department committees based on the evaluation conducted in Fall 2022-2023.

• Monitor the initiatives and projects carried out by all the CS Department committees and give a final report on their performance in Spring each year.

• Conduct a comprehensive review of current the CS Dep. committees to give final assessment of their work and recommend changes for the subsequent 5-year strategic plan accordingly.

Objective 4: Attain and Maintain Program Recognition

Obtain and main-tain Institutional and Program national accreditation

Obtain and main-tain Institutional and Program interna-tional accreditation

Attain and maintain institutional and subject ranking

bench-marking data anal-ysis annually

KPI-I-02 Proportion of accredited programs

Position in ranking (national, regional, worldwide)

Proportion of Programs conducting benchmarking systematically annually

FACULTY

LEAD: DEPT CHAIR

FACULTY

LEAD:

DEPT CHAIR

FACULTY

Actions by Initiatives

Obtain and Maintain Program National Accreditation

• Establish a schedule for the national program accreditations for the department programs that have not received them and renew accreditations for the programs that have been accredited over the 5 years.

• Monitor, manage, and coordinate all national accreditations in preparation or in progress with the institution and concerned programs starting Fall 2022 and over all subsequent semesters.

• Implement an automated system that documents the required excellence level of accredited Department programs.

• Conduct an interim review of the effectiveness of QA oversight processes in steering national accreditations and recommend improvements and changes, as necessary.

• Conduct a final review of the effectiveness of QA oversight of national accreditations and recommend improvements for the next 5-year strategic plan.

Obtain and Maintain Program International Accreditation

• Review, and revise, as necessary, the current approach to international accreditation.

• Set a schedule for supporting the university in achieving international accreditation from NECHE over the 5-year planning period.

• Set a schedule for monitoring and supporting Departments programs in maintaining/renewing currently achieved international accreditations (ABET) over the 5-year planning period.

• Set a plan for applying for other professional accreditations for all applicable programs in the Department.

• Conduct an interim review of the effectiveness of QA oversight processes in steering international accreditations and recommend improvements and changes, as necessary.

• Conduct a final review of the effectiveness of QA oversight of international accreditations by the end of the planning period and recommend improvements for the next 5-year strategic plan.

Attain and Maintain Subject Ranking

• Establish protocols for improving institutional and subject ranking based on monitoring and analyzing benchmarking data of the top ranked universities nationally and internationally to develop a plan to acquire the targeted subject rankings over the remaining 5-year planning period.

• Monitor subject ranking achieved annually and set plans for improvement.

• Conduct an interim review of the protocols for subject ranking and revise, as necessary.

• Conduct a final assessment of the achievements of subject rankings by the end of the planning period and provide recommendations for improvement for the next 5-year strategic plan accordingly.

Conduct Benchmarking Data Analysis Annually

• Review, and revise, as necessary, policies and procedures for benchmarking.

• Supervise data collection and analysis of benchmarking data annually.

• Make use of the benchmarking data to reinforce and streamline the KPI management process by introducing a sound KPI framework.

• Automate the KPI management process by continually raising the benchmarks every subsequent year.

• Review the action plan for benchmarking to introduce improvements as required annually.

Objective 5: Monitor the Effectiveness of the Governance System

Initiative

Ensure the compli-ance of the govern-ing bodies, bylaws, and policies and procedures with relevant authorities (e.g., MoE)

Ensure the dissem-ination of circula-tions and decisions made by all govern-ing bodies

Ensure that CS members follow Effat Ethical Con-duct

Actions by Initiatives

2022-2027

2022 2023 2024 2025 2026

KPIs Responsibility

Percentage of adherence of the governing bodies, bylaws and policies and procedures to relevant authorities (e.g., MoE)

Percentage of circulations and decisions disseminated.

Percentage of violations of the code of ethical conduct (Tarbawyyat).

LEAD: DEAN

OTHERS: DEPT CHAIRS/FACULTY

LEAD: DEAN

OTHERS: DEPT CHAIRS/FACULTY

LEAD: DEAN

OTHERS: DEPT CHAIRS/FACULTY

Ensure the Compliance of the Governing Bodies, Bylaws, and Policies and Procedures with Relevant Authorities (e.g., MoE)

• Review, and revise, as necessary, the governance system, bylaws and policies and procedures for ensuring their compliance with regulatory authorities.

• Monitor compliance activities with regulatory authorities based on the agreed criteria and set action for improvement as necessary every semester.

• Evaluate the effectiveness of the governing bodies 4-Conduct an interim review of the effectiveness of the governing body, bylaw, policies and procedures for ensuring compliance with regulatory authorities by the third year of the planning period and revise, as necessary.

• Conduct a final review of the effectiveness of policies and procedures for ensuring compliance with regulatory authorities over the whole planning period and revise as necessary for the next 5-year strategic planning cycle.

Ensure the Dissemination of Circulations and Decisions made by all Governing Bodies

• Review, and revise, as necessary, policies and procedures for internal and external dissemination of CS decisions.

• Monitor dissemination of relevant information to stakeholders and set and implement actions for improvement as necessary every semester.

• Evaluate the levels of awareness by stakeholders of disseminated circulations and decisions and set improvements accordingly.

• Conduct an interim review of the effectiveness of policies and procedures for dissemination of CS decisions and circulations and introduce improvements as needed.

• Conduct a final review of the effectiveness of policies and procedures for dissemination of CS circulations and decisions and circulations by Spring 2027 in preparation for the next 5-year strategic planning cycle.

Ensure that CS Members follow Effat Ethical Conduct

• Review, and revise, as necessary, protocols for monitoring ethical conduct across CS.

• Monitor and report on the violations of ethical conduct in line with the approved protocols and take actions for improvement as necessary every semester.

• Conduct an interim review of the effectiveness of ethical protocols followed over the previous planning period and revise, as necessary.

• Conduct a final review of the effectiveness of ethical protocols over the planning period and revise, as necessary.

Risk Management

The following table indicates the key risks associated with each strategic recommended area and a corresponding mitigation plan for every risk:

Topic Risk Mitigation Plan

Enhanced Governance and Improvised Organizational Structure

Develop and Maintain Professional Accreditations

Communication gap between levels in the hierarchy Regular committee meetings to align all organization personnel on the updated policies

Proposing additional responsibilities and defining objectives Adherence to NCAAA standards while using best and innovative industry practices

Stringent requirements to obtain the accreditations Task force to be established to oversee the execution of all operational steps

VI. Strategic Area 3: Teaching & Learning

Objective 1: Redevelop the Academic Portfolio

Initiative 2022-2027 KPIs Responsibility 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026

Review and reassess the current academic portfolio

Develop new academic programs

Monitor and respond to national policy on international HE regarding academic offering

Review existing, and identify new, international educational partnership opportunities (DDs, Minors)

Actions by Initiatives

Review and Reassess the Current Academic Portfolio

Percentage of all programs reviewed

Percentage of nominated programs revised

Number of new programs developed - (BSC, MS, PhD, Minors, DM, DD, Ass Degree, Diploma, Certificate)

LEAD: DEPT CHAIR OTHERS: FACULTY

LEAD: DEPT CHAIR OTHERS: FACULTY

Percentage of operational steps completed LEAD: DEPT CHAIR OTHERS: FACULTY

Number of existing partnerships per program

Degree of fulfillment of the educational partnership agreements

Number of international DDs and Minors introduced

LEAD: DEPT CHAIR OTHERS: FACULTY.

• Assess the current portfolio strengths and weaknesses, to strengthen the existing portfolio and incorporate new programs to expand the current portfolio.

• Based on the chart below, the total percentage enrolment in higher education in engineering, Communication and IT related subjects is 31% which is covered the ECoE programs.

• Continue overseeing working parties at CS levels to follow up on the Program Review schedule.

• Ensure all academic programs conduct regular assessment processes to continually improve the curriculum, through a feedback system for all teaching faculty.

• Deploy an assessment committee that reviews the reports periodically and provides feedback to the respective departments to re-assess the existing academic programs.

• Benchmark the academic programs with the leading national and international universities to review and assess the programs.

Develop New Academic Programs

• Assess the current portfolio strengths and weaknesses, to strengthen the existing portfolio and incorporate new programs to expand the current portfolio. We recommend a framework that incorporates competitors’ strength, current students’ ratings, and sector outlook to determine if the potential course is an opportunity or not.

• As per the table below, there is a weak competition for the computer science tracks: Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity. Regarding the sector outlook, it evident from the first part of this study that employers demand all these tracks.

• Accordingly, we recommend the following framework to support future planning, including the current CS program appraisal:

Objective 2: Establish E-Learning Provision

Review and revise e-learning facilities and resources Percentage

Develop and operate e-learning strategy Percentage

Actions by Initiatives

• Based on the market gaps and CS capabilities, the following decision-making academic program portfolio matrix with actionable outcomes to each scenario is recommended:

Review and Revise e-learning Facilities and Resources

• Continue activities, finalize proposals and submit to Teaching and Learning Committee for approval.

• Invest in an adequate e-learning platform.

• Review the adequacy of the e-learning facilities and resources through satisfaction rate of the stakeholders (Faculty, students).

Develop and Operate e-learning Strategy

• Develop e-learning programs per college

• Offer the programs as per the approved schedule

• Assess the successful implementation of the offered e-learning programs by assessing:

a. Number of students registered compared to the projection,

b.Satisfaction rates of Faculty

c. Satisfaction rate of students

Objective

Develop and Extend Novel Pedagogies

• There exists an opportunity for more enrolments at the post-graduate level as there are currently very few (~4) PG courses offered. PG courses in demand should be found out using the given framework and incorporated in the academic portfolio.

• Program feasibility studies to be conducted for four to five programs per academic year.

Monitor and Respond to National Policy on International HE Regarding Academic Offering

• Monitor developments of national policies on internationalization in higher education.

• Monitor internationalization activities in other Saudi higher education institutions.

• Monitor international higher education institutions’ activities in the Kingdom.

• Develop response policies and activities considering changing environment.

Review Existing, and Identify New, International Educational Partnership Opportunities (DDs, Minors)

• Review current partners

• Evaluate effectiveness

• Recommend renewing contract or identifying new partners

• Develop and offer joint programs with international partner

Increase integration of project-based learning

Strengthen Research/Teaching nexus in educational delivery

Review, revise and extend cocurricular education and the Effat Ambassador Program

Proportion of courses involving project-based learning

Proportion of courses embedding the research/teaching nexus leading to publication (With Research Publication)

Percentage of operational steps completed

OTHERS: FACULTY

FACULTY

3:

Actions by Initiatives

Increase Integration of Project-based Learning

• Emphasize project and problem-based learning, helping students learn by constructing solutions to real-life problems through three main characteristics that are central to the twenty-first century pedagogy:

a. Problem statements are tied to curriculum and learning goals of the university.

b.Focus on the central concepts or principles of topics.

c. Projects are based on real-world problems and are presented in the form of case studies.

Strengthen Research/Teaching Nexus in Educational Delivery

• Foster the concept of learning beyond classrooms using technology to gain a deeper understanding of complex ideas and ability to work in global teams to generate new ideas and theories.

• Lead the students to publish their work in journal/conferences.

Review, Revise and Extend Co-curricular Education and the Effat Ambassador Program

• Deploy teaching metacognitive skills, that will help the students to plan, monitor and evaluate one’s own understanding and Deploy teaching metacognitive skills, that will help the students to plan, monitor and evaluate one’s own understanding and performance, thereby allowing them to reflect on their own critical awareness about how they think and learn, enhancing their personality.

• Conduct Focus group to revise the co- and extracurricular activities.

• Update the co- extra-curricular activities.

• Implement the programs.

• Assess the successful implementation of the program through EGC achievement and students’ satisfaction of the EAP.

Objective 4: Embed Employability in Teaching and Learning

Initiative

Integrate service learning within all programs

2022-2027

2022 2023 2024 2025 2026

KPIs Responsibility

Percentage of programs that integrate service learning

1- Number of programs aligned (NQF, KSA Job Classification)

2- Percentage of students acquiring Professional and training Certificates

3- Students’ performance in professional and/or national examinations *** (SR 1.1.1) (KPI-P-06)

LEAD: DEPT CHAIR

OTHERS: FACULTY

Align PLOs with market needs

4- Graduate employability and enrolment in post graduate programs ** (KPI-I-05)(KPI_P-07) (KPI-PG-07) - (Annually)

National - International and within 6 months)”

5- Employer evaluation of the institution graduate proficiency ** (KPI-I-08)(KPI-P-09)(KPI-PG-08)

LEAD: DEPT CHAIR

OTHERS: FACULTY

Deploy professional experts in teaching

Provide on-campus and off- campus field experiences

Integrate state-of-the art technology within all programs

Actions by Initiatives

Integrate Service Learning within all Programs

Proportion of courses professional experts deployed for teaching

Proportion of programs with on-campus and off-campus field experience

Percentage of programs that utilize state-of-the-art technology

• Identify the courses that can be conducted with Service-Learning component.

• Discuss at the beginning of the semester the projects and companies to collaborate with.

• Plan for the workshop with the company to launch the project.

• Present the outcomes.

• Assess the successful implementation through companies and students’ satisfactions.

Align PLOs with Market Needs

• Establish and activate CS Committee on Academic Portfolio (CAP).

LEAD: DEPT CHAIR

OTHERS: FACULTY

LEAD: DEPT CHAIR

OTHERS: FACULTY

LEAD: DEPT CHAIR

OTHERS: FACULTY

• Continue Overseeing working parties at college and departmental levels to follow up on the Program Review schedule.

• Finalize new proposals to Curriculum Committee for approval if any.

Deploy Professional Experts in Teaching

• Conduct workshops regularly within the CS by inviting professional experts such as language experts, soft skill experts, etc. to prepare the students for their career ahead..

Provide on-campus and off- campus Field Experiences

• Integrate employability skills into the course to foster skills such as team effort, time management, project management, ethics and moral dilemmas, code of conducts, communication skills, etc. to prepare the students to face real-world corporate and entrepreneur challenges.

Integrate State-of-the art Technology within all Programs

• Learning activities must be designed on relevant and real-world incidents using appropriate technologies

Attain the Effat Graduate Characteristics

Attain the English Level proficiency

Actions by Initiatives

Monitor Academic Excellence

Average number of students in the class (KPI-P-08)

Students’ evaluation of quality of learning experience in the programs (PES) ** (KPI-I-03; KPI-P-02; KPI-PG-02)

Evaluation of Faculty members to the learning Environment (FSS) ***

SR 1.2.3

Grade distribution (% [A+, A] and % [D+, D, F] is less than 20%).

GPA distribution (>= 2) of the graduates and continuing students

% of students progressed out of the risk status at all levels (UG & G).

First-year students retention rate (Undergraduate) ** (KPI-I-04; KPI-P-05)

Average time for students’ graduation (in semesters) (KPIPG-05) (post graduate)

Completion of Graduation rate for Undergraduate/graduate Students in the specified period ** (KPI-I-06 & KPI-P-04; KPI-PG-06)

Students’ evaluation of the quality of the courses on five-point scale. (+Participation rate). ** (KPI-P-03 & KPI-PG-03)

Achievement of Program learning outcomes

Students Evaluation of Quality of Scientific Supervision (KPI-PG-4)

Rate of Students Dropping out of Program (KPI-PG-6)

% of students achieving the four Effat Graduate Characteristics annually

% of attainment of requested English level by Effat University students

• Closely monitor every student’s scores obtained in their respective programs.

LEAD: DEPT CHAIR

OTHERS: FACULTY

Attain the Effat Graduate Characteristics

• Review and monitor the progress of students and provide aid to assist the attainment goals.

Attain the English Level proficiency:

• Conduct regular workshops to empower students’ English proficiency and encourage obtaining professional language certifications.

Objective 6: Revise Learning Resources

Initiative

Review and improve learning resources

Actions by Initiatives

2022-2027

2022 2023 2024 2025 2026

Review and Improve Learning Resources

KPIs Responsibility

Satisfaction of beneficiaries with learning resources ** (KPI-I-07 & KPI-P-17 & KPI-PG-13)

LEAD: DEPT CHAIR

OTHERS: FACULTY

• Improvisation to the learning resources (textbooks, videos, relevant reading material, etc.) should be done every academic year by taking the collective feedback of both the students and the faculty.

• Constantly expand the learning resources used in the Effat library to broaden the learning gamut.

Risk Management

• The following table indicates the key risks associated with each strategic recommended area and a corresponding mitigation plan for every risk:

Topic Risk Mitigation Plan

Market data are challenging to acquire

Reputation of the newly launched program in the region

Conduct a thorough research project to procure data for the analysis

Effective marketing to convey the prospects (employer demand) of the newly launched program

Reinforcing the academic portfolio

Shortage of faculty with expertise in the newly launched program

Hire additional staff with prior experience in the newly launched program, along with newly graduated talent, as an assistant

LEAD: DEPT CHAIR

OTHERS: FACULTY

LEAD: DEPT CHAIR

OTHERS: FACULTY

• Actions must be taken after every trimester to ensure performance improvement every subsequent trimester.

• Post monitoring, we recommend the following framework to improve the academic performance of every student:

• Define student success as: timely degree completion, uninterrupted retentions, minimum cumulative GPA requirements, etc.

• Build a predictive model to arrive at a predicted success score for each student using: pre-enrollment data (income, demographic, high-school score, etc.) and post-enrollment data (class scores, attendance, etc.)

• Based on the success score, segment the students into predicted success groups: Above-average, average and below average.

• Devise strategic nudges to intervene and provide the necessary resources needed each segment.

E-learning provision

Legal and political risk

Additional time effort and increased workload for the faculty

Technical glitches

Lack of necessary hardware or skill exhibited by the students

Financial challenges

Resistance towards e-learning by the internal faculty

Students’ resistance towards new pedagogies

Legal formalities to be navigated by a firm specializing in education and the mission and vision of the program to be launched should be aligned well with the college faculty

Set realistic timeline expectations for the faculty with appropriate boundaries

Setting contingency plans for the faculty

The e-learning platform should be designed after carefully considering the students’ limitations to provide equal opportunities to all students

Usage of grants and endowments to facilitate the e-learning environment

Align the college faculty with the benefits of e-learning and hire staff that is skilled in e-learning if the existing faculty chooses to opt out of it

Enhanced Learning Experience and Skill Set Development

Faculty with lack of knowledge or skills to execute newer pedagogies

Communicate the benefits of the new pedagogies to the students and make the whole process likable to the students by executing them in the form of a game or in a fun way encouraging more participation

Workshops by professionals to educate and align the color faculty to carry out the functions smoothly and appropriately

VII. Strategic Area 4: Students

Objective 1: Improve Student Involvement

Initiative 2022-2027

2022 2023 2024 2025 2026

Actions by Initiatives

Automate University Students’ Related Processes

• Identify processes that need to be automated in collaboration with DSA/DAR or imitated by CS

• Devise a plan with a timeline to automate the identified processes.

Revise student clubs and activities

KPIs Responsibility

• # of clubs and students associations per year fulfilling IQRA value

• # of sport activities fulfilling IQRA value in which CS students participated

• # Community service hours completed per student (volunteering) fulfilling IQRA value

• % of students participating in activities fulfilling IQRA value out of the total of CS students body

LEAD: DEAN SA

OTHERS: STUDENTS COUNCIL/DEPT. CHAIR

• Implement the automation plan.

• Measure the satisfaction of students.

• Improve the automated processes as needed.

Improve Quality of Student’s Experience

• Review and recommend updating co-curricular and extracurricular programs and activities serving CS (Student Success Programs)

• Revise the Academic incentives for co-curricular and extracurricular programs and activities.

Improve Student Services

• Promote and support learning activities beyond the classroom (such as field trips, site visits, hosting guest speakers, workshops, students’ seminars, etc.).

Enhance student role in governance

Actions by Initiatives

Revise Student Clubs and Activities

• % of identified CS governing bodies with student involvement

• Satisfaction rate of students’ activities

LEAD: DEAN SA

OTHERS: STUDENTS

COUNCIL/DEPT. CHAIR

• Enhance academic services (admission, registration, advising, orientation, grievances and appeals, graduate audit, scholarship, graduation ceremony).

• Improve campus wide services (food services, technology, printing services, housekeeping services, etc.).

• Planning, designing, and implementing Campus Life student counseling and wellbeing services.

Encourage Students to Become Future Entrepreneurs

• Cultivate entrepreneurship culture within the CS by focusing on the activities geared towards entrepreneurship.

• Broaden the range of clubs and students’ organizations to help students build unique set of skills.

• Support sports activities by ensuring the participation of ECoE students in sporting events.

• Contribute to the community with activities geared towards civic engagement (volunteering in charity organization, environmental projects, socio-cultural activities, etc.).

Enhance Student Role in Governance

• Enhance the CS culture by supporting students’ participation in university governance (councils, committees).

• Improve students’ governance (students shura, student government) by aligning it with students’ interests and needs.

Objective 2: Improve Student Experience

Initiative 2022-2027

2022 2023 2024 2025 2026

KPIs Responsibility

• Create opportunities for students to participate in social entrepreneurship contests.

• Develop partnerships with community entities that could support or finance CS students’ start-ups.

Objective 3: Develop International Student Mobility

Initiative 2022-2027

Establish opportunities for outgoing student mobility

Establish opportunities for incoming student mobility

KPIs

• % of graduate and undergraduate students enrolled at educational institution abroad for at least six weeks in the academic year

• % of international incoming students to CS

LEAD: DEAN SA

OTHERS: PROVOST/ DEAN/DEPT. CHAIR

LEAD: DEAN SA

Automate CS stu-dents' related pro-cesses

Improve quality of student’s experi-ence

Improve student services

Encourage students to become future entrepreneurs

• % of students satisfied with automated processes

• % of utilization of the automated processes

• % of students satisfied with the quality of co-curricular and extracurricular programs and activities

• KPI-I-10 Students’ satisfaction with the offered services

• # of student activities geared towards entrepreneurship

• # of partnerships established

• # of start-ups

LEAD: DEAN SA

OTHERS: STUDENTS COUNCIL/DEPT. CHAIR

LEAD: DEAN SA

OTHERS: DEANS / DEAN QA

DEPT. CHAIR

LEAD: DEAN SA

OTHERS: DEPT. CHAIR

LEAD: DEAN SA

OTHERS: DEPT. CHAIR

International Student Ratio

• # of virtual mobility opportunities and programs established

• Proportion of international undergraduate and postgraduate CS students who spent at least three months in the institution during the academic year

LEAD: DEAN T&L

OTHERS: DEAN/DEPT. CHAIR

OTHERS: PROVOST/ DEAN/DEPT. CHAIR Establish virtual mobility experiences within programs

LEAD: DEAN T&L

OTHERS: DEANS/DEPT. CHAIRS

Actions by Initiatives

Establish Opportunities for Outgoing Student Mobility

• Promote student mobility program, select and send the best eligible undergraduate and graduate students to the partner.

Establish Opportunities for Incoming Student Mobility

• Plan and implement recruitment campaign for attracting international and visiting students.

• Update and maintain a well-informed website devoted to international students.

• Build and maintain strong relations with international entities (cultural attaché, Islamic centers, international schools, international universities, ...)

Establish Virtual Mobility Experiences within Programs

• Form successful virtual academic and non-academic opportunities and programs for undergraduate and graduate students with CS network of partners.

• Encourage motivated students to join the established virtual opportunities and programs with the partner universities.

• Evaluate the effectiveness of the virtual opportunities and programs and students’ satisfaction for continuous improvement.

International Student Ratio

• Plan and implement recruitment campaign for attracting international and visiting students.

• Provide attractive scholarship/sponsorship programs and support services.

• Plan and implement recruitment campaign for attracting international and visiting students.

• Update and maintain a well-informed website devoted to international students.

• Build and maintain strong relations with international entities (cultural attaché, Islamic centers, international schools, international universities, ...).

Objective 4: Increase Student Population

Initiative

Achieve sustainability through recruitment and retention of diverse body of students

2022-2027

KPIs Responsibility 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026

• % of CS students’ population out of the projected number in the strategic plan

Actions by Initiatives

Achieve Sustainability through Recruitment and Retention of Diverse Body of Students

Objective 5: Improve Alumni Relations

Initiative

Graduates with entrepreneurial businesses

Improve alumni communications and data management

Develop focused portfolio of alumni activities

Establish alumni mentorship program

Improve alumni performance

2022-2027

2022 2023 2024 2025 2026

KPIs Responsibility

% of entrepreneurial businesses of undergraduate alumni within (12/24) months of graduation

% of completion of CS alumni database

Number of alumni activities developed

% of alumni participation in mentorship programs

% of alumni participation in offered training programs

Actions by Initiatives

Graduates with Entrepreneurial Businesses

• Cultivate entrepreneurship culture within the CS by focusing on the following:

a. Case studies of real-world corporate stories and operational hiccups faced by them

b.Create opportunities for students to participate in social entrepreneurship contests

c. Invite business executives to deliver lectures

d Provide consulting services to non-profit organizations (for final year students)

• Follow closely with clubs and activities that encourage entrepreneurial activities.

LEAD: DEAN SA

OTHERS: DEANS/DEPT. CHAIRS

LEAD: DEAN SA

OTHERS: DEANS/ DEPT. CHAIRS

LEAD: DEAN SA

OTHERS: DEANS/ DEPT. CHAIRS

LEAD: DEAN SA

OTHERS: DEANS/ DEPT. CHAIRS

LEAD: DEAN SA

OTHERS: DEANS/DEPT. CHAIRS

LEAD: DEAN SA & PROVOST OTHERS: DEANS/DEPT. CHAIRS

• Launch and closely monitor a student journey management initiative, where strong recruitment and retention plans cover the entire students’, journeys based on the following different levels:

a. Enrolments – Conduct effective marketing activities on relevant students target groups, attractive online and offline recruitment processes and on-campus school recruitments from leading schools with great pass-out, to ensure enrolling good quality students. Special attention should be giving to male recruitment

b.Onboarding – Simplify the onboarding processes through efficient digital tools, bringing services directly to the students.

c. Student Life – Employ a Customer Relationship Management to track and monitor a student’s touchpoints throughout the journey.

d.Alumni Engagement – Engage alumni in building marketing capabilities and contributing to the university through donations or other non-revenue generating activities.

• Follow graduates with entrepreneurial business and invite them as motivational speakers and for workshops, etc.

Improve Alumni Communications and Data Management

• Obtain the information while they are still students in CS.

• Build unbreakable alumni relations, promote their brand, and earn goodwill for the Department.

• Update the alumni database with all possible alumni information every semester.

Develop Focused Portfolio of Alumni Activities

• Organize focused portfolio of alumni activities and events in collaboration with the alumni association representative through:

a. Engaged and rich discussions with alumni from different ages, locations, and professional backgrounds

b.Social media activities

c. Personalized messages to establish a strong personal communication

d.Alumni annual gathering

e. Other focused activities

Establish Alumni Mentorship Program

• Provide mentorship opportunities for alumni by current CS faculty.

• Invite alumni to mentor current students through individual or group activities.

• Invite alumni regularly to the university campus to meet with the current students through seminars, speeches, etc.

Improve Alumni Performance

• Assess the needs of the alumni for professional development opportunities.

• Offer training programs, workshops, seminars, to improve the performance of the alumni.

Risk Management

The following table indicates the key risks associated with each strategic recommended area and a corresponding mitigation plan for every risk:

Topic Risk Mitigation Plan

Improve Students’ Involvement in Activities & Governance & Experience

Financial restraints

Organizational constraints (lack of time and resource)

Lack of internal capabilities

VIII. Strategic Area 5: Faculty & Staff

Objective 1: Maintain the Staffing Profile that Complies with Governing Body Requirements

% of achievement of ECoE Saudization body

% of females vs males (KPI-P-12)

Improve Student Population and Experience

Smart allocation of funds and collecting extra fees from the students participating to reduce the burden of additional funds required

Hiring additional resources to balance the workload and focus on student clubs and activities

Hire external agencies and organizations that are proficient, to deploy a few of these initiatives

Long term commitment Deploying systems such as CRM and capturing sufficient data should be considered a long-term goal

Financial consideration for the student

Form strong relationships with the partner universities, such that the host college provides a tuition waiver and free accommodation to visiting students and provide the same to the visiting students

Enhance the staffing profile to meet and maintain the requirements of governing bodies

Actions by Initiatives

Student Mobility

Cultural differences between the host and home institution

The international office should provide psychological counselling for those students who are in culture shock or in some kind of difficulty

Language-barrier Emphasis on English learning courses

Pleasantries exchanged are usually one-way Communication to be designed in an interactive way

Proportion of faculty members with doctoral qualifications (KPI-I-12)

% of Part-timers vs. Full-timers

% of achieved ranks (Full ProfessorAssociate Professor – Assistant Professor) (KPI-P-12, KPI-PG-11)

% of achieved recruiting needs

Enhance the Staffing Profile to Meet and Maintain the Requirements of Governing Bodies

LEAD: DEPT. CHAIR

OTHERS: DEAN MHR

• Attract and recruit a qualified Saudis faculty and staff to fulfill the Saudization requirement by governing bodies.

• Promote talent Saudis within the CS by offering incentives to pursue their path

• Send Saudi students abroad for higher studies to prestigious universities around the world under the scholarship program.

• Identify the needed teaching staff profile.

• Implement the recruitment process.

• Achieve the appropriate desired staffing profile complying with MoE regulations.

Objective 2: Improve Faculty Experience

Alumni Engagements

Alumni relations solely based on financial contribution

Alumni contribution can be in other forms too such as helping in bringing in employers, mentoring students, etc. Efforts should be focused on these if financial contribution is not likely

Communication might be impersonal Customized and more personalized communication to build an emotional connect.

Rebalance faculty workload

Foster equity diversity and inclusion strategy

Ratio of students to teaching staff (KPI-I-11, KPI-P-11, KPI-PG-10)

Proportion of faculty with reduced teaching load

Faculty satisfaction with work environment

Proportion of teaching staff leaving the institution (KPI-I-13, KPI-P-13, KPI-PG-12)

International teaching staff Ratio

LEAD: DEPT. CHAIR

OTHERS: DEAN MHR

LEAD: DEPT. CHAIR

OTHERS: DEAN MHR

Actions by Initiatives

Rebalance Faculty Workload

• Maintain the balanced workload to help the faculty to participate in different research and professional activities by receiving research support (reduction of teaching load, incentives, facilities, leaves)

• Balance faculty workload between teaching and research for research-intensive faculty.

Foster Equity Diversity and Inclusion Strategy

• Provide an effective orientation program.

• Make the University bylaws& faculty and staff handbooks available for all employees.

• Maintain a healthy work environment.

• Enhance the climate of the university by engaging faculty & staff.

• Give employees multiple ways to provide feedback.

• Apply fair and transparent promotion procedures for all employees.

Objective 3: Extend Faculty Development Program

Initiative 2022-2027

KPIs Responsibility 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026

Objective 4: Maintain Appropriate Mechanism to Recruit and Retain Competent Support Staff in all Occupational Category

Initiative

Develop and implement desired support staff profile plan

2022-2027

2022 2023 2024 2025 2026

Actions by Initiatives

Develop and Implement Desired Support Staff Profile Plan

• Attract and recruit the finest staff.

KPIs Responsibility

Ratio of students to support staff in all occupational category

Proportion of support staff in all occupational category leaving the institution

Proportion of staff receiving professional development opportunities per year

Staff satisfaction with professional development opportunities provided

Lead: Dept. Chair

Others: Provost/MHR

Provide professional development support for novel pedagogies

Proportion of professional development opportunities provided to support for novel pedagogies out of the total

Faculty satisfaction with professional development opportunities provided to support novel pedagogies

LEAD: DEPT. CHAIR

OTHERS: PROVOST/ DEAN MHR

• Apply retention strategies, aimed at retaining qualified employees.

• Ensure at least 12% of CS staff are being professionally developed.

Stakeholders’ Management

The development of a robust Stakeholder Management Plan (SMP) is critical to achieving project’s objectives in more streamlined and effective way. According to the industry best practices, the SMP can be bifurcated into four phases:

• Phase 1: Stakeholder Identification - Identify the stakeholders and bifurcate them into:

Provide professional development support for research

Actions by Initiatives

Proportion of professional development opportunities provided to support research out of the total

Faculty satisfaction with professional development opportunities provided to support research

Provide Professional Development Support for Novel Pedagogies

• Collect the annual needs for faculty professional development.

• Prepare an annual plan for professional development, which is implemented in three phases

a. Educational Development

b Personal Development

c. Organizational Development

• Implement the PD plan.

• Assess the plan through the faculty satisfaction rate.

• Encourage faculty to have memberships of professional societies aligned to their respective programs.

• Recognize outstanding teaching.

Provide Professional Development Support for Research

• Develop and implement an annual plan for professional development to support research activity.

• Conduct training and workshops to enhance the faculty research skills.

• Increase the involvement of Professors in research to increase the research and innovation output.

LEAD: DEPT. CHAIR

OTHERS: PROVOST/ DEAN MHR

Note: There might be an overlap for some people

• Phase 2: Stakeholder Analysis - Each stakeholder must be analyzed based on their influence, motivation/interest, success, etc. to develop a tailored plan to keep the stakeholders happy and committed to university’s vision. We recommend the following framework for the analysis:

• Based on the category of the stakeholder, develop a tailor-made communication strategy plan using one or more of the following communication channels:

Push – Where information is pushed to the stakeholder either manually in the form of emails, memos, written agreement or automatically, through a work management software, where email notifications are sent every time a project action has been performed.

Pull – Consists of information and resources like project management plan, resource load charts, and other reports stored in a central repository for stakeholders’ perusal.

Interactive – These include face-to-face meeting, training sessions, telephonic meetings, video calls and any other mode of communication involving direct human touch.

• Devise a communication plan based on the identification and segmentation of stakeholders to establish clear goals and action points. A sample table to illustrate the recommended framework is mentioned below:

Risk Management

The following table indicates the key risks associated with each strategic recommended area and a corresponding mitigation plan for every risk:

Topic Risk Mitigation Plan

Recruitment Criteria

Lack of talent or stringent recruitment criteria in the national market

Nurture talent from within as a part of a fast-track initiative

Training workshops should be conducted, and lecturers should be utilized as a resource under the professors

Management Initiatives Increasing research output with limited resource

Lecturers will gain more exposure to research while contributing to more research output Assistant professors can contribute more to the research while passing on some of the administrative responsibilities to lecturers and admin staff

Incumbents should be promoted from within the CS

• Phase 3: Execution of the Plan - Assign a committee headed directly by and under the supreme control of the university president responsible for the execution of the SMP..

• Phase 4: Monitoring and Improvisation - SMP cannot be static; it must be dynamic and amended and updated as and when required throughout a project (continuously improved). Disaffected people within stakeholder groups must be identified throughout the process and managed accordingly.

• To achieve the best results through the implementation of above-mentioned framework, we recommend the following to CS:

• Assign a team of 3-4 members to a committee that is responsible for the development, monitoring and implementation of the SMP.

• One member will be responsible for the mode of meetings to be conducted with the stakeholders (face-to-face, telephonic, etc.). This member will segregate the stakeholders according to their seniority and position with the university to further decide on the mode of engagement.

• Build impersonal relationship with the stakeholders at various levels through constant interaction and engagement.

• Seek their opinion and views of the stakeholders regarding various issues and activities.

• Create a feedback system where the stakeholders are empowered to share their thoughts on sensitive matters without any apprehension.

• One member within the team will be responsible for the communication channel strategy, to choose the best mode of communication depending on the type (internal or external) of stakeholder and their importance to the university.

• One IT and process related member will be responsible for all the data to be stored and analyzed later. This process must be streamlined and eventually the same member will develop reports monthly to continually leverage stakeholders’ position with the university.

Vision Saudization Finding and recruiting local talent

Incentives in the form of scholarships, fast track-growth, exposure in the form of faculty exchange programs, etc.

Faculty Development Program (FDP)

Building an internal development center

Knowledge Development

Workload amongst the internal faculty needs to be redistributed in order to make time for the inception of an FDC

Introduction of professional courses or workshops to define and align the goals in professional development

IX. Strategic Area 6: Institutional Resources

Objective 1: Maintain Financial Stability

Initiative

Implement Financial plan reflecting CS strategy

Diversify income streams

2022-2027

KPIs Responsibility 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026

Deviation percentage (positive or negative) of expenditure and income from the budget (measured monthly, quarterly, per semester and annually)

Percentage of self- income of the institution to total income (KPI-I-14)

% of achievement for each source of income to budget

LEAD: DEPT. CHAIR

OTHERS: DEAN/MF

LEAD: MF

OTHERS: DEAN/DEPT. CHAIR

Actions by Initiatives

Implement Financial Plan Reflecting CS Strategy

• Maintain the financial planning and management control system, with capabilities to perform budgetary and forecasting processes, financial delegations and risk management.

Diversify Income Stream

• Develop, implement, and evaluate Revenue diversification strategy.

Objective 2: Improve CS Services (IT & Facilities and Equipment)

Initiative

Enhance/upgrade the technological solutions to support academic and administrative operations

2022-2027

KPIs Responsibility 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026

KPI-I-15 Average of beneficiaries’ satisfaction rate with technical services...) on a five-point scale in an annual survey in terms of:

a. Suitability.

b. Safety and confidentiality.

c. Availability and ease of access.

d. Maintenance and support services.

% of fulfillment of facilities and equipment of the needs for the department

Risk Management

The following table indicates the key risks associated with each strategic recommended area and a corresponding mitigation plan for every risk:

Untenable financial demands for new technology commitments

Prioritization and smart allocation of funds based on more lucrative opportunities

LEAD: DEAN QA

OTHERS: DEAN/DEPT. CHAIRS /MIETS

Improve Institutional Infrastructure

Strong faculty and staff resistance to new solutions related to buildings and grounds on philosophical or other grounds

Long-term benefits to the CS should be clearly communicated before taking capital decisions

X. Strategic Area 7: Research & Innovation

Objective 1: Develop Diversified Research Impact in Areas of National and International Priority

Optimize the use of facilities and equipment to achieve safe, healthy, and sustainable campus

Actions by Initiatives

Average of beneficiaries’ satisfaction rate with facilities and equipment services on a five-point scale in an annual survey in terms of:

a. cleaning services

b. Safety and healthy campus

c. access for disabled

d. Maintenance and support services

e. security

f. restaurant, CDC, residence

g. transportation

Enhance/Upgrade the Technological Solutions to Support Academic and Administrative Operations

• Develop and implement digital transformation to accelerate administrative operations performance.

• Maintain data and system security to ensure high performance.

• Improve the website presence by implementing search engine optimization best practices.

LEAD: DEAN QA – SES & PES

OTHERS: DEAN/DEPT. CHAIRS

Identify and establish focused research relationships with national and international partners

Number of national, and international research partners per year

Percentage of national and international partnered research/total research output

Proportion of external funding for research to the total ECoE research budget (KPI-I-21) The degree of international diversity in terms of partnered international research network is as: Formula = (Number of partners -1)/ln (number of collaborated research output)

Percentage of collaborative research to the total research output (Including internal collaborations amongst ECoE and its departments)

LEAD: DEPT. CHAIR

OTHERS: FACULTY

Monitor and respond to national policy on international HE regarding research

Actions by Initiatives

Percentage of operational steps completed

• Improve the quality and equipment of the lecture rooms and computer labs to ensure high quality of teaching and facilitate the interaction with students.

Optimize the Use of Facilities and Equipment to Achieve Safe, Healthy, and Sustainable Campus

• Revise and update Master Campus Plan to ensure its alliance with CS needs (including vacant land parcels) and to maintain compliance with Ministry of Education Bylaws.

• Annually review campus building and facilities to meet the emerging needs of academic and administrative units.

• Establish a smart campus deployment plan to maintain best practices in a sustainable and healthy campus infrastructure.

• Upgrade current campus facilities with the emerging needs of students.

LEAD: DEPT. CHAIR

OTHERS: FACULTY

Identify and Establish Focused Research Relationships with National and International Partners

• Review policies and procedures related to research for faculty participation in national and international seminars and workshops.

• Promote research collaboration by enhancing CS visibility through national media communication.

• Scan, identify and collaborate with possible opportunities for national, regional and international research partners.

• Evaluate the effectiveness of the research partnership and set the new goals for next cycle.

• Prioritize fund-raising efforts through collaborative research proposals targeting national and international funding organizations and businesses.

• Develop capabilities to raise funds (5% from the total research budget not less than 500 K SAR) through external sources by targeting national and international funding organizations.

• Support Faculty in identifying external sources of funding to supplement funding from the University, thus ensuring their financial autonomy.

• Assisting faculty with the process of writing proposals for funding by, among other things, organizing proposal writing workshops, marketing the capabilities of CS Researchers among the funding agencies, and incentivize CS Researchers for networking.

• Delegate responsibilities to the most credible names within the research faculty to write proposals for funding.

• Identify CS Department research clusters and link them to the activated research partnerships nationally, and internationally.

Monitor and Respond to National Policy on International HE Regarding Research

• Scan, on a yearly basis, the possible updates of research by checking the governmental research related institutions (i.e., KACST, RDO, SAIP).

• Design a timeline to review research related policies, and update if needed.

Objective 2: Consolidate Research Achievements

Initiative 2022-2027 KPIs Responsibility 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026

Increase proportion of active researchers KPI-I-16 Percentage of publications of faculty members

Extend integration of graduate students and programs in published research

Increase researcher productivity

Improve research impact

Actions by Initiatives

Increase Proportion of Active Researchers

Proportion of graduate students with a) at least one refereed publication during their study) presented paper in a conference to the total number of students in the PG program during the year. (KPI-PG-18)

KPI-I-17 Rate of published research per faculty member

KPI-I-18 Citation’s rate in referred journals per faculty member

Number of Scopus/ISI publications over the 5 years.

Number of Scopus publications per year

KPI-I-19 Number of patents, innovations, and awards of excellence per year

LEAD: DEPT. CHAIR

OTHERS: DEAN/DGSR

LEAD: DEPT. CHAIR

OTHERS: DEAN/DGSR

LEAD: DEPT. CHAIR

OTHERS: DEAN/DGSR

Increase Researcher Productivity

• Focus further in the faculty recruitment on candidates with a proven track record in research.

• Aid new researchers and early careers in the process of publications and grant proposal writing.

• Provide adequate internal seed funding (Internal Financial Support) to increase the research productivity of active scholars.

• Allow teaching release time for very active researcher whenever possible to spend the needed time on research production.

Improve Research Impact

• Raise awareness for internal cross citations.

• Facilitate the university support for open access publications to increase the opportunity of citations.

• Indexing Effat Journals to help in increasing the number of indexing citations.

• Empower faculty to publish with top 2% (highly cited) scholars.

• Spread the research advancements made by CS researchers through effective PR communication, both internally and externally.

• Establish a regular newsletter to highlight and celebrate the achievements of CS researchers.

• Create awareness of research activities on CS Department website and blogs as a gesture of promoting research culture both within and outside the university.

• Instill and grow a strong research culture amongst all faculty and researchers to bolster research output through support and motivation to the researchers.

• Encourage CS Department Faculty & Students to produce quality research by providing variety of venues (Indexing Effat Journals/Proceedings, incentive systems, Editing Office Services).

• Maximize the opportunities for faculty to collaborate with highly cited researchers.

• Develop capabilities to increase the production of IPs, patents, and innovations through the establishment of an intellectual property office in the university.

• Support CS Department faculty, students & researchers to obtain external research awards across various fields and categories.

LEAD: DEPT. CHAIR

OTHERS: DEAN/DGSR

Objective 3: Promote the Research Environment

Initiative 2022-2027

Establish endowed/named research chairs

Utilize existing research labs/units / centers

• Foster the recruitment of leading national and international scholars, leading in their respective fields of research (postdoctorates, scholars on sabbatical, retired scholars as they can contribute through their experience).

• Offer adequate compensation or incentives for the active researcher, based on the research projection.

• Conduct regular workshops and meetings to promote collaborations between EU faculty with active researchers.

Extend Integration of Graduate Students and Programs in Published Research

• Promote the process of involving PG students in research publication by co-authoring with their faculty.

KPIs

Responsibility 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026

Number of chairs established

Degree of utilization of existing facilities & resources

Satisfaction of beneficiaries with research facilities, and equipment (KPI-PG-14)

LEAD: DEPT. CHAIR

OTHERS: DEAN/DGSR

LEAD: DGSR

OTHERS: DEANS/DEPT. CHAIR

Actions by Initiatives

Establish Endowed/Named Research Chairs

• Identify research strengths and opportunities of the CS Department and develop plans for scientific chairs.

• Scan, identify and collaborate with governmental and/or institutional bodies for the selected research areas.

• Address potential donors/ sponsors for research chairs.

• Manage the chairs and evaluate their effectiveness.

Utilize Existing Research Labs /Units /Centers

• Enhance the research environment and infrastructure to increase the research productivity through effective use of state-ofthe-art research laboratories, research centers, online databases and resources such as Scopus, Thompson Reuters Web of Science, and software for both qualitative and quantitative research.

• Evaluate the satisfaction of the users of research facilities and equipment.

Risk Management

The following table indicates the key risks associated with each strategic recommended area and a corresponding mitigation plan for every risk:

Actions by Initiatives

Identify and Establish Focused Research Relationships with National and International Partners

• Develop, review and implement policies for community engagement relations.

• Nurture and continue community engagement activities both locally and internationally through constant communication with organizations in the community, showcasing the mutual benefits that can be achieved by partnering.

• Develop relationships with the community leaders by inviting them to the CS Department for their expertise and problemsolving abilities.

• Focus on developing agreements and partnerships with key government, economic and service sectors, to support the sustainability of environmental resources.

• Increasing the awareness hereabout the important of community engagement.

Increase Memberships with Well-known Organizations

• Evaluate the current CS Department memberships and recommend the renewal of efficient ones.

• Scan, identify and activate new membership opportunities with prestigious national/international organizations.

Promote Consultancy Services

• Assess consultancy needs of the market, develop the marketing plan to promote consultancies, and implement & analyze the effectiveness based on the market study.

Objective 2: Engage with the Community (Activities, Events, and Exhibitions)

XI. Strategic Area 8: Community Engagement

Number

Actions by Initiatives

Improve Quality of Community Engagement Activities

• Review, update and enhance the quality of the community engagement activities.

• Increase the engagement level of students, faculty, staff and alumni in quality community engagement activities to nurture the culture within the CS Department.

Improve Quantity of Community Engagement Activities: Volunteering Activities, Conferences, Events, Workshops, Sports, Webinars Industropedia, etc.

• Review the needs of the community to offer community engagement activities.

• Plan, and implement the annual community engagement activities (volunteering activities,

• Conferences, events, workshops, sports, and webinars).

• Evaluate the impact of the offered community engagement activities and plan for future improvement.

Objective 3: Provide Training with Community Partners

Actions by Initiatives

Establish a PACE-HIT Training Center and Programs

• Finalizing all the required process to authorize PACE-HIT.

• Align the CS Department’s training programs to the economic development, job creation to support Saudi Vision 2030.

• Develop, and license the identified training programs by the TVTC.

Offered Professional and Certified Training.

• Design, and approve an offering plan for the training programs, implement a recruitment plan for the training programs to achieve the projected number of trainees, and evaluate the results of the plan to modify and enhance the offering plan.

Objective 4: Enhance Institutional Visibility

CS

Market CS with all key external stake-holders

Number of new external stakeholders per year

Actions by Initiatives

CS contribution to MCPR/Media Center:

• Specify the function, tasks and responsibilities of CS Department contribution to the media center.

• Develop and implement the annual plan of CS Department contribution to the media center.

• Assess the impact of the implementation of the plan on the CS Department visibility

Market CS with all Key External Stakeholders:

• Maintain and update CS content and insights as per international standards to attract the best talent and connect with all external stakeholders.

• Expand CS Department stakeholder network, categorize them and tailor-made communication strategy plan.

• Interact with the prospect students or their families through the chatbot to help resolving any query.

• Participate in major exhibitions to promote CS Department.

• Scan, and identify, the solicitation opportunities in the market.

• Design a marketing plan to attract the attention of potential companies and evaluate its success.

Develop Revised Social Media Presence

• Intensify the presence of social media platforms such as Instagram, twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

• Enhance targeted ad-strategy to market the content on these social media platforms to increase the number of followers (Audience Growth) and post reach (impressions).

Promote the Participation in External Awards Opportunities for Effat University Faculty and Students

• Encourage the internal participation with awards and certificates to foster more participation.

DEPT. CHAIR

FACULTY

Develop revised social media pres-ence

Promote the partic-ipation in external Awards opportuni-ties for Effat Uni-versity Faculty and Students

Number of new followers for each platform (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram) per year

Number of reaches per post

Number of marketing campaigns per year

LEAD: DEPT. CHAIR OTHERS: FACULTY

Number of external awards obtained LEAD: DEPT. CHAIR OTHERS: FACULTY

MarCom (Marketing & Communication) Planning Framework

The following is an integrated marketing and communication (IMC) framework followed widely around the globe because of its strong fundamentals:

Risk Management

The following table indicates the key risks associated with each strategic recommended area and a corresponding mitigation plan for every risk:

Mitigation Plan

Institutionalize and Enhance Community Governance and Engagement

Assistance needed by the students engaging in community services

Lack of motivation for students and alumni to continue with community engagements

Provide support to the students in the form of transportation, food, and guidance

Reward the service providers in the form of awards and certificates

According to the research conducted by IPSOS, digital marketing is the most accessed channel by both the UG and PG potential students, with Instagram and Twitter being the most popular social media venues explored by the potential students. The

Events can be done in collaboration with the local community bodies to reduce the financial burden on the university Enhance CS Visibility

Financial constraints

Marketing team hiring constraints

Avail the services of an external marketing agency while slowing ramping up internal marketing capabilities