Although the University of Ha’il is a young university as its age does not exceed 20 years yet but it considered one of the fastest growing academic institutions in the region where the 351-400 world ranking was achieved, according to the Times Higher Education world ranking (2022/2023). It is the fifth in the country and 9th in Arab countries. The university has used rankings as a benchmark to maintain institutional reputation in both teaching, research, and community services. The current strategic plan is mainly constructed on achieving further progress in all directions to achieve the maximum contributions of all SDGs and reach the best ranking in the near future.

The launch of sustainable development plan with its seventeen goals came as an ambitious step aimed to eradicate poverty and living in dignity. Since the beginning of international consultations for this plan, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has sought to set its visions, prepare policies and develop social and development programs that contribute to the eradication of multidimensional poverty. Within the framework of the participation of Saudi universities in this national trend, the University of Hail has amended its strategies, internal policies and governance to implement the first goal of the sustainable development goals, which is the eradication of poverty, through several methods including, purchasing university textbooks, providing financial aid to students with low income, assisting people with special needs, offering international scholarships for students from some African countries, and providing internal education grants for different nationalities such as Syrian, Palestinian, Yemeni and other nationalities, as well as providing university housing for international students and those who are unable to pay rent, on top of all of these, a monthly allowance is paid to all university students (https://moe.gov.sa/ar/education/ResidentsAndvisitors/Pages/PublicUniversitiesScholarships.aspx). These are all direct contributions from the university to eliminate poverty. Indirect elimination has also been contributed by contribution to knowledge of providing degrees that help people to get jobs. The following is summary for the main initiatives by University of Hail to eradicate poverty and living in dignity:

1. All undergraduate degrees are free for all Saudi citizens. Further, the university provides scholarships for international students from several countries, including Syria, Yemen, Palestine, as well as student from many African nations.

2. All Saudi full-time undergraduate students receive finical aid from 850 to 1000 SR during their study if their GPA is maintained above the critical GPA (1 out of 4 or higher)

3. The university provides free accommodations for the low-income Saudi and non-Saudi students.

4. The University offers free books for needed students.

5. Monshaat initiative with the University of Hail aims to support the small to medium businesses in the local region to improve their performance, consequently, improving the regional economy.

6. Provide computers for the low-income students to support them in their study.

7. Health services in university clinics including dental clinics are provided with no costs for the community.

8. The University excellent facilities and equipment’s are offered free of charge for any local activities, these include theatres, libraries, research labs, computer labs, and exams rooms.

The government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia works to ensure food security at the local and global levels. Saudi is considered one of the major countries that contribute to anti-hunger programs. The kingdom also aims to increase the proportion of the contribution of the agricultural sector in the whole country to the domestic product, push the wheel of economic development, and diversify the agricultural production base of the national vision of Saudi 2030. In order to keep these efforts and directions of the Saudi Arabia towards eliminating hunger, its universities, including the University of Hail, have prepared a research map related to food security. The University provides a number of initiatives and programs that contribute to the eradication of hunger as the following:

• University Central restaurant is available for all students and offer food with acceptable prices.
• he university provides meals to students living at university housing
• Construct small cafeterias in most colleges to serve food and beverages in the Boys and Girls Colleges complex at reasonable prices.
• The university combats desertification and preserving land through the adoption of the Hail University planting project, which is located on the main campus (Green University).

The university through its community partnership and volunteering work try to increase awareness and encourage people of ensure zero hunger in our globe. The UoH provides support for a research project that aims for Zero hunger in the globe. The volunteering department at the university usually runs campaign to provide. meals for needed people especially in the holy month of Ramadan. The University of Hai’l offers an academic program in Heath nutrients, it provides research activities and initiatives for improving the nutrition for the society.

University of Hail is preparing health care professionals to meet the demand on the Saudi health care system to provide better healthcare facilities to the rapidly increasing Saudi population as well as the growing elderly population.

• The university of Hail has six colleges in the field of health sciences that offers more than 23 academic undergraduate and postgraduate programs. Graduate from those helps in improving the health of the society.
• There is universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality, and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all the employees.
• During the COVID-19 pandemic, the university open their clinics to provide vaccine for the public free of cost.

The University of Hail is committed to be a leading research institution and to providing support to teaching staff to improve the research environment of productivity, creativity and knowledge. Ministry of Higher Education is offering support to the university, since its establishment, to achieve considerable progress in the field of scientific research. Some of the most-prominent research achievements of the university includes:

• Launching scientific chairs programs which serve the needs of the community. The university allocate funds to scientific research projects through these scientific chairs.
• The university has established 12 research chairs sponsored by private donors.
• Implementing postgraduate programs is one of the important priorities of the University. UOH is offering many post-graduate programs to meet the need of the community alumni to complete their post-graduate studies. University is offering the financial support to the deserving post-graduate research projects.
• University of Hail is one of the best in scientific research in Saudi Arabia as well in the world, in terms of FWCI in medical research.

Education is the key to sustainable development, improving overall quality of life and securing a successful future. In terms of access to education, great strides have been made, especially regarding literacy. Quality of education is essential in getting a job, increasing country productivity and increasing social status and so forth. Policymakers at the university assure the implementation of quality in education to contribute to human development and career skills. Thus, student selectivity, reputation and research output are significant indicators for high quality in education.

The UoH applies different mechanisms and tools to follow-up on performance and to measure achievement rates at all levels of the academic and administrative units.

The UoH also developed, approved, and announced a mechanism for the design of academic programs. Feedback from all program beneficiaries is measured using multiple surveys at the course (conducted per academic semester) and program levels (conducted annually). Subsequently, statistical analyses are performed to identify all strengths and weaknesses and to guide the plan for improvement to meet the intended learning outcomes. The UoH has approved 50 KPIs based on the NCAAA, which have been applied throughout all Colleges and administrative units. The KPIs are assessed every year and used on a comparative basis, as they are commonly accepted quantifiable KPIs used in most international quality assessments.

The UoH has many classrooms, laboratories and research facilities that include modern and advanced tools and equipment. This helps to create a high-quality learning and research environment which meets the students’ and faculty members’ needs and educational goals. The UoH also has several computer laboratories with the necessary equipment for maximum utilization of the internet and other learning resources. The digital library can be accessed via this link http://libsys.UoH.edu.sa:2048/login to allow users to access all books and e-publications on the Internet.

Ending all discrimination against women and girls is not only a basic human right, it’s crucial for sustainable future; it’s proven that empowering women and girls helps economic growth and development. It is vital to give women equal rights land and property, sexual and reproductive health, and to technology and the internet. Today there are more women in public office than ever before, but encouraging more women leaders will help achieve greater gender equality.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia affirms the vital importance of the role women play in development, and endeavors to invest her energies and activating her essential role at the local and international levels. Moreover, as part of the Kingdom’s strategic Vision 2030, women have been set a comprehensive goal for increasing their contribution to the labor market, retaining her rights in the health and education sectors, in unison with the fifth goal of the sustainable development goals. University of Ha’il promoting gender equality and women empowerment.

• Equity of opportunity policy has been adopted by the University. It monitors the implementation, improvement, and development of the policy regularly.
• Recruitment standards are applied equally to both female and male sections and are represented in the formed recruitment committees.
• Gender equality in recruitment and appointments at the university.
• The University offers equal opportunity of professional development for staff members male female. Training courses and workshops are held under the same topics simultaneously.
• The distribution of work between the male and female sections of the program Assigning a vice dean for female section to coordinate with male section for the daily operations to ensure consistency between both sections regarding learning resources, facilities, staffing, etc.
• Assigning of a female staff member to be assistant of program quality coordinator for female section to ensure that all evaluations, surveys, reports are considering both sections separately and collectively.
• n addition, all courses, headed by respective course coordinators, involve all concerned female staffs in their course committees to ensure optimum coordination and participation in course planning, implementation and reporting from both (male and female) section’s perspective and to ensure equity between both sections and assigning of a female staff member to be assistant of course coordinator for each courses to ensure uniform implementation of all learning teaching activities in both sections.
• Female staff members are represented in auditing committee to ensure the same course contents, implementation, assessment, and evaluations in both sections.
• Female staff were represented in almost all quality related committees including self-study committee/standards committees, internal audit, student assessment and other committees to ensure equity between sections.

Water scarcity affects more than 40 percent of people, an alarming figure that is projected to rise as temperatures do. More and more countries are experiencing water stress, and increasing drought and desertification is already worsening these trends. By 2050, it is projected that at least one in four people will suffer recurring water shortages.

Safe and affordable drinking water for all by 2030 requires we invest in adequate infrastructure, provide sanitation facilities, and encourage hygiene. Protecting and restoring water-related ecosystems is essential.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia makes huge investments in water desalination and sanitation projects, thereby made great strides in these sectors. Saudi Arabia is a leading world producer of desalinated water, with a share of 16.5% of total worldwide production. University of Hail provides clean water and sanitation facilities in the University with a view to achieving a sustainable environment, in a manner commensurate with the National Transformation Plan and Vision 2030.

• University of Hail is providing clean water in all the buildings within the university campus.
  
• All the university buildings are equipped with sanitation facilities with handwashing soap and water.
  
• The wastewater from the University is collected and sent to the Government wastewater treatment facility for recycling.
  
  https://sayeghwater.com/projects/project/27
  
  https://www.saudigulfprojects.com/2021/08/alkhorayef-awarded-water-treatment-plant-om-contract/
  
  

The SDGs promote sustained economic growth, higher levels of productivity and technological innovation. Encouraging entrepreneurship and job creation are key to this, as are effective measures to eradicate forced labour, slavery and human trafficking. With these targets in mind, the goal is to achieve full and productive employment, and decent work, for all women and men by 2030. All the academic and non-academic employees in the University of Hail are treated equally without any discrimination (based on religion, sexuality, gender, age) as per the regulations of Ministry of Education and received fund from the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development.

University of Hail obey government regulations regarding the minimum wages and offer salary based on the qualification and rank.

·     Gender Equality Policy is followed by the University of Hail and there is no discrimination between male and female employees in pay scale. The human resources department follows pay scale equality.

·     All the allowances (including housing allowance, transport allowance, free air-ticket) were to employees based on their position without any discrimination.

·     A unified policy for promotions within the university.

·     University of Hail is committed to avoid forced labor, modern slavery, human trafficking and child labor.

·     All the academic and non-academic employees have equal opportunity to appeal on their pay or any other right.

Technological progress is also key to finding lasting solutions to both economic and environmental challenges, such as providing new jobs and promoting energy efficiency. Promoting sustainable industries, and investing in scientific research and innovation, are all important ways to facilitate sustainable development. With a view towards self-sustainability, the university is striving hard to increase and diversify the revenue generating initiatives such as the establishment of 15 Graduate Studies programs (M.Sc. programmes) in the last few years. Furthermore, the University of Hail construct institute for research and consulting Services that offers training, knowledge transfer, advisory services, and consultancies.

The university provides modern equipment and technologies (e.g., servers, information centre, operations centre, computer labs, and video conference rooms, smart boards, software systems and packages along with cloud computing resources. In fact, the actual university-wide status in terms of number of computers per student is 0.29 computers per student, which exceeds the value of its internal benchmark (0.24 computers per student) and close to the target and external benchmark values (0.3 computers per student student). The UoH is focused on supporting the use of information technology by students through computer-based courses in all curricula of academic programs, especially in the preparatory year and in the scientific and health related programs. Moreover, the university has also equipped libraries and study rooms in the academic units with computers in order to facilitate easy access to information needed by students.

In the field of electronic services, the Deanship of Information Technology and E-learning has focused on automating the procedures and forms for all information activities, the safety of procedures and policies that guarantee the provision of electronic service and ease of system usage. Furthermore, the university aims to ensure accurate and safe information for all the activities.

The university implements mechanisms to regulate the effective use of the technical equipment and to maintain their efficiency. The mechanism was announced to students and faculty members. The university units apply procedures about the safe use of these equipment, detailed and described in the form of rules for equipment use, conferences, observation cards and operational plans for computer labs.

The university's role consists not only in providing state-of-the-art technology to its human resources and units but also to apply appropriate systems to maintain the security of personal and institutional information. The university has also developed personal and institutional information security policies and announcements on the official web page of the UoH ( www.uoh.edu.sa).

Income inequality has increased nearly everywhere in recent decades, but at different speeds. It’s the lowest in Europe and highest in the Middle East. These widening disparities require sound policies to empower lower income earners, and promote economic inclusion of all regardless of sex, race or ethnicity. Income inequality requires global solutions. This involves improving the regulation and monitoring of financial markets and institutions, encouraging development assistance and foreign direct investment to regions where the need is greatest. Facilitating the safe migration and mobility of people is also key to bridging the widening divide.

Over the past decade, inequality has become one of the most complex and confusing challenges in the global economy, because it takes many forms, including inequality of opportunity; inequality across generations; inequality between women and men, the inequality in income and wealth. Despite all that, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was able to provide the tools through which to reduce this global phenomenon. One of the most important of which is the directions of Vision 2030, which is based on many radical reforms in the structure of the economy, which provided additional support to reduce inequality. The University of Hail has adopted a policy of equal opportunities for both genders to ensure equality of rights among all individuals, improve regulation and oversight procedures, encourage students with abilities to participate in various activities at the university and motivate them financially and morally.

Sustainable development cannot be achieved without significantly transforming the way we build and manage our urban spaces. The rapid growth of cities—a result of rising populations and increasing migration—has led to a boom in mega-cities, especially in the developing world, and slums are becoming a more significant feature of urban life. Making cities sustainable means creating career and business opportunities, safe and affordable housing, and building resilient societies and economies. It involves investment in public transport, creating green public spaces, and improving urban planning and management in participatory and inclusive ways.. It’s lowest in Europe and highest in the Middle East.

These widening disparities require sound policies to empower lower income earners, and promote economic inclusion of all regardless of sex, race or ethnicity.

University of Hail plays vital role in contributing to achieve sustainable cities and communities within university beneficiaries including students, faculty, staff, and society. Therefore, various environmental aspects are taken into consideration to make an impact on achieving sustainability on the university campus as well as off-campus.   

·     The University of Hail has seven colleges that spread off-campus around Hail region to enable students join the university easily and reduce car travel and emissions.

·     Centralized library serves the university students, faculty, staff and society. 

·     Availability of university clinics serving students, faculty, staff, and the other community.

·     The university is located distance away of Hail city center. This has more advantages as more space, cleaner air, less noise is common in the countryside of Hail city.

·     Existence of nearby Hotel to support tourism and culture activity in the region.

·     Students housing buildings to support active learning environment.  

·     Faculty Residence to increase the interaction among all Faculty.

·     Green land to increase fresh air in campus.

·     Car parking facility occupied with sun protection shade.

·     Various venues for social activities that host conferences, seminars, and summits.

Various outdoor sport facilities ranging from major sports field such football, basketball, volleyball, and tennis courts, as well as other indoor facilities open to the community.  

Achieving economic growth and sustainable development requires that we urgently reduce our ecological footprint by changing the way we produce and consume goods and resources. Agriculture is the biggest user of water worldwide, and irrigation now claims close to 70 percent of all freshwater for human use. The efficient management of our shared natural resources, and the way we dispose of toxic waste and pollutants, are important targets to achieve this goal. Encouraging industries, businesses and consumers to recycle and reduce waste is equally important, as is supporting developing countries to move towards more sustainable patterns of consumption by 2030. This involves improving the regulation and monitoring of financial markets and institutions, encouraging development assistance and foreign direct investment to regions where the need is greatest.

The mission of the University of Hail does not stop at the borders of education and training only, but also extends to spread awareness of collective responsibility for sustainable consumption and production patterns through holding seminars and adopting better practices for consumption and production. The University is keen to work with commercial sources that adhere to ethical standards of providing food resources to university cafeterias and restaurants. The university has also established a department for investment and self-financing to provide sources of self-income, the most important of which is the establishment of the university hotel, which provides its services to many guests, from inside and outside the Hail region, and the launch of paid postgraduate programs as well as renting some university facilities.

·     Efficiency of spending and consumption at the University of Hail.

·     The decision to establish the General Administration for Investment and Self-Finance at the University of Hail.

·     A plan to increase the sources of self-financing for the University of Hail.

·     List of self-financing sources for the University of Hail.

·     Hail University Investment Fund.

·     An explanatory report on the investment of revenue amounts.

·     The Entrepreneurship Unit at the University of Hail.

·     Consulting Expert Houses at the University of Hail.

Global warming is causing long-lasting changes to our climate system, which threatens irreversible consequences if we do not act. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has launched several programs for climate changes mitigation, including energy efficiency, diversification of renewable energy sources, CO2 separation, storage and utilization technologies, exploitation of natural gas, and methane recovery and gas-flaring reduction. One of the most ambitious initiatives in the modern history is the Saudi initiative of Green middle east that aims to improve the climate in the region. 

The University of Hail strives to contribute to this ambitious initiative by increasing awareness about it. Further, the university has started its own initiative in this direction that aims to ensure green campus, even though it is in the dessert. 

University of Hail is showing its responsibility to prepare students and community to actively contribute to the adaptation to climate change. (Links to SDG 7 & SDG 17)

• The University of Hail is involved in research and teaching on renewable energy and climate change.

• Research grants were offered by the University of Hail for renewable energy research.

• The College of Engineering is offering Bachelor of Science in Renewable Energy Engineering. 

• The university created an Energy Efficiency Unit - EEU for energy data collection and analysis, improving energy efficiency measures and informing the university members about the awareness of rationalizing consumption. 

• Seminars & workshops to increase the awareness of energy deficiency and importance of best utilization of energy resources . 

• Initiative “Green Hail University” (SDG 17)

Life below the water and life on the land SDGs are considered two important goals for the University of Hail. These two goals ensure a safe and healthy life for current and future generations. The University of Hail has several programs and initiatives to achieve these two goals. The renewable energy engineering program is an undergraduate program that contains 134 credits aims to graduate ambassadors for the environment to increase the awareness and importance of renewable energy and sustainability. In addition, renewable energy engineers are an essential factor to support the passionate goal of Saudi Arabia to produce half of its electricity from renewable energy sources by 2030. 

Saudi Green Initiative aims to plant 10 billion trees, +30% of the Saudi land is protected, including marine and coastal ecosystems, and 50% of the energy capacity comes from renewables. The University of Hail is aligned with this goal and published the University Green initiative to increase the green area of the University, helping the country achieve its passionate goal, consequently contributing to the sustainable development goals of the United Nations. 

The University Green Initiative:

https://www.alriyadh.com/1917904

https://twitter.com/_UOH/status/1458422863032094723?s=20

Life below the water and life on the land SDGs are considered two important goals for the University of Hail. These two goals ensure a safe and healthy life for current and future generations. The University of Hail has several programs and initiatives to achieve these two goals. The renewable energy engineering program is an undergraduate program that contains 134 credits aims to graduate ambassadors for the environment to increase the awareness and importance of renewable energy and sustainability. In addition, renewable energy engineers are an essential factor to support the passionate goal of Saudi Arabia to produce half of its electricity from renewable energy sources by 2030. 

Saudi Green Initiative aims to plant 10 billion trees, +30% of the Saudi land is protected, including marine and coastal ecosystems, and 50% of the energy capacity comes from renewables. The University of Hail is aligned with this goal and published the University Green initiative to increase the green area of the University, helping the country achieve its passionate goal, consequently contributing to the sustainable development goals of the United Nations. 

The University Green Initiative:

https://www.alriyadh.com/1917904

https://twitter.com/_UOH/status/1458422863032094723?s=20

The University of Hail conducts all needed actions to distribute the culture of peace, justice and governance among all stakeholders at the university in which these actions will participate to have a positive impact on society as a whole. The university has its central three coroners: education, research and community service. These three areas are highly designed with the consideration of justice, peace and governance.

• Graduate attributes of students at the university level participate to graduate students with professional characteristics that enhance students’ respect of various values in society. This is highly achieved through the courses of the university requirements to assure that the university graduates have the same values. In these courses, students study peace in Islam to assure the moderation in dealing with different cultures or values.

• The university has conducted several lectures and workshops about denying extremism. 

• The Deanship of the Scientific Research has conducted various competitions for research groups that are interested in the area of peace and denying extremism.

• Students’ participation to visit other clutters and countries. The university motivates intellectual students to open to other cultures and societies by providing educational trips to several international countries such as Japan, France and United Kingdom.

• The University of Hail opens the scholarship for international students to join its programs.

• At the end of each academic year, each faculty members and leaderships are evaluated by his/her direct manager. In this evaluation, the manager takes into consideration all activities and achievements of the academic member such as courses have been taught, production of research and serving the community.

• Genders at the University of Hail have equal opportunities at all levels including salary ranking, facilities and resources.

• The existence of clear policy and regulation regarding the grievance.

• and leaders selection. The leaders at all levels of the university (including department, college, and university) are democratically selected through a clear procedure which is announced to all faculty members through the university website and official e-mail of academic staff.

• The university has academic integrity guide. The university has followed several actions to activate this policy. It is distributed to all academic departments at the university, published in the website of the university, and presented to all new stakeholders when they join the university. To assure the activation of the policy, the unit of measurement ad evaluation conducts periodical surveys on implementing the policy. Moreover, the university provides several workshops on integrity for undergraduate and postgraduate students. UoH has held conferences regarding integrity in Academia at the Saudi context.

• Construct effective partnership with local institutions to facilitate the distribution of academic integrity.

• All research participations at the University of Hail are governed through clear policy and regulations that should be followed by researchers at the university. The policy and regulations guarantee the preserve the rights of all parties. They cover the rights and duties of researchers, society, safety and security, ethical approvals, and rules of using animals and plants in research.

Community partnership is considered as one of the main functions of the UoH, as a community institution at the University of Hail is responsible for the development and dissemination of knowledge. Since its establishment in 2005, the University has taken various steps to demonstrate its commitment to the concept of community partnership. The UoH acknowledges that fostering community partnerships is one of its key functions to support the achievement of its primary objectives related to education and scientific research. This is underscored by the establishment of office of the University Vice-Rector for Development and Business and the formation of a Standing Committee for Community Service also headed by the Vice-Rector. The UoH also recognizes that community partnerships can manifest through different activities and with different beneficiaries. Such activities include : 

(a) consultations provided through the Institute for Research and Consultation Services (established in 19/3/1430 H - 2009); 

(b) continuing education programs, various technical and professional training programs, and voluntarily work initiatives provided through the Deanship of Community Service and Continuing Education (established in the academic year 1431/1432 H – 2010/2011), and agreements with various community institutions. 

(c) community initiatives conducted by the Deanship of Student Affairs through the Administration of Voluntarily Work; and 

(d) a plethora of community services activities such as health awareness campaigns and other voluntary activities conducted by the community services committees in the various UoH Colleges. All UoH community service activities are recorded in the University databases and described in the UoH.