Strategy to Enhance the Performance of Prince Mohammad bin Fahd University - Research Paper Example

Strategy to Enhance the Performance of Prince Mohammad bin Fahd University Executive Summary Since its establishment in 2008, Prince Mohammad bin Fahd University (PMU) has been recording immense academic, social, and economic growth creating a significant history. Notably, admission to the university is through the Saudi Arabian governing rules and regulation of higher education without any regard to the nationality geographical origin, or religion of the applicants. To implement its policies, the university relies on the staff, sponsors, management, faculty, government, students, and nongovernmental organizations. However, to enhance the university’s performance, an effective strategy is necessary. Such a strategy will include quality and competence, technological innovations, educational intensity and teaching staff quality, accreditation, allocate funds wisely, revenue diversification, enhance research, physical development, and degree & programs. In implementing this strategy, PMU will require specific initiatives and action steps. This paper will introduce Prince Mohammad bin Fahd University and define a strategic plan that will enhance performance in the university. Table of Contents Introduction 4 Vision and Mission Statements 5 Internal Environmental Assessment 6 Best Strategy to Enhance the Performance of PMU 10 Strategic Objectives 10 Quality and Competence 10 Technological Innovations 11 Educational Intensity and Teaching Staff Quality 11 Accreditation 11 Revenue Diversification 11 Enhance Research 11 Physical Development 12 Degree & Programs 12 Implementing the Strategy 12 Quality and Competence 12 Strategic Initiatives 12 Action Steps 12 Technological Innovations 13 Strategic Initiatives 13 Action Steps 13 Educational Intensity and Teaching Staff Quality 13 Strategic Initiative 13 Action Steps 13 Accreditation 14 Strategic Initiatives 14 Action Steps 14 Enhance Research 14 Strategic Initiatives 14 Action Steps 14 Revenue Diversification 15 Strategic Initiatives 15 Action Steps 15 Physical Development 15 Strategic Initiatives 15 Action Steps 15 Degree & Programs 16 Strategic Initiatives 16 Action Steps 16 Conclusion 16 Works Cited 17 Introduction Since its establishment in 2008, Prince Mohammad bin Fahd University (PMU) has been recording immense academic, social, and economic growth creating a significant history. Located on Half Moon Bay Road, Al-Khober in the Eastern Province, PMU situates in a developing area, which suits the business, community, and industrial needs of the KSA (Prince Mohammad bin Fahd University 1). The university administration follows the Saudi Arabian governing rules and regulation of higher education to enroll students in the university without consideration to nationality geographical origin, or religion (PMU 1). The university aims and produces high quality graduates who have diverse knowledge to apply in different fields in the Eastern Province upon their employment. In determining the academic programs and courses offered at the university, the administration adopts the North America model that relies on the credit hour system to value courses (PMU 1). The university abhors innovation where it utilizes information technology resources in the management, academics, and various university operations. The university Deanships bears the mandate of offering planning and execution of PMU’s strategic plans for achieving academic and institutional accreditation (PMU 1). Indeed, the PMU Deanship enhances PMU quality improvement and ensures that the institution achieves its objectives by providing the necessary resources to the management and staff (PMU 1). The Deanship entails all units of the university, which includes Deanship of Student Affairs, Deanship of Quality & Accreditation (DQA), and Center for Research Development (CRD), Institutional Relations, and Administration includes Rector’s Office, Office of the Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, Governance & Administration, Public Relations, and Financial Affairs (PMU 1). Vision and Mission Statements The founders of the PMU sought to ensure that the University is a unique and distinguished higher education institution that participates in: Preparing future leaders in various fields of human knowledge and its application (PMU 1) Enriching and developing intelligence (PMU 1) Exploring innovative methodologies and technologies to achieve its objectives (PMU 1) Breaking the barrier between the academic and business society (PMU 1) Indeed, the university aims at preparing and producing high quality graduates that will take leadership roles in various fields including business, academic, and political fields. This connects education system at PMU with the dynamics of the outside environment. In doing so, PMU seeks to use modern technologies, which will derive advance intelligence. Moreover, the university has a mission to achieve the following objectives: Contribute to the advancement of human intelligence and promulgation and development of knowledge (PMU 1) Prepare specialized candidates in various fields of human knowledge through utilizing modern technologies in the education process (PMU 1) Transform the graduate to play a pioneering and leading role in the community, enabling him or her to take responsibilities and contribute to solving problems through innovative thinking, collective work, reflection and self-development (PMU 1) Link academic programs and specializations with actual requirements of the surrounding work environment (PMU 1) Guide research activities to create solutions for persistent problems in surrounding communities, through applied research and technical consultation (PMU 1)Provide community service through continuous training and education (PMU 1) Ideally, with the adoption of innovative technologies at the university, PMU will play a major role in advancing human intelligence and promoting knowledge development in specific fields that will lead to the production of specialized graduates. Having produced specialized graduates, PMU participates in community building by encouraging such graduates to engage in community service and leadership. As such, the university considers the community and environmental needs in designing academic programs. In enhancing community development, the university through the students fosters various research projects that seek to address community problems and enhance the capacity of the community. Internal Environmental Assessment Under the able leadership of the Board of Trustees, University Council, and University Rector, Dr. Issa Al Ansari, PMU is a new private university with a good organizational culture (PMU, 2014). Source: (PMU 1) The university’s organization culture has a well-defined structure, which guarantees the success of its operations and programs. Moreover, the university has various resources that support its operations and objectives. These resources include the English Language Institute contributed by Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd, Information Technology Department, Learning Enrichment, Professional Development Center, Learning Resource Center, Academic Advising, Engineering & Technical Affairs, Services, and Entrepreneurship (PMU 1). The university enhances performance by mandating the Director of Department Staff to evaluate staff’s performance and Chair of Department & Dean to evaluate faculty with an aim of maintaining and improving individual job performance. As such, the university creates high-end professional working environment with the highest level of human resources services and customer satisfaction. This motivates the staff to produce better results (PMU 1). The university has a strong reputation that helps it to attract many students and sponsors. Indeed, PMU Founders, HALL of Fame, and Building Donors fund & support the university operations and management. The admission board maintains high competitive standards in admitting diverse students to the university according to the Saudi Arabian governing rules and regulation of higher education (PMU 1). The admitted students pursue various levels of tertiary education that include degree programs, masters degree programs, and P.H.D. External bodies offer study scholarships to outstanding students that manifests the recognition of the high education standards in PMU by the public and corporate community (PMU 1). PMU charges different fees to students as seen below. Tuition fee (12 and above billing hours) SR 22, 500 Admission Fee SR 500 Educational Fees and Software Aids SR 2, 500 Locker Fee and Insurance fee SR 250 Bus Fees: Khobar SR 2, 300 Dammam SR 2, 500 Qatif SR 2, 750 Text Books Based on Actual Billing Source: (PMU 1) The students can pursue 4 courses in the College of Engineering, 3 courses in the College of Information Technology, 5 courses in the College of Business Administration, and a course in the College of Arts & Sciences, and Bachelor of Arts in Law (PMU 1). PMU sponsors the most outstanding male and female students to join the university and awards scholarships to the University’s most outstanding students (PMU 1). The university supports campus life through the Campus Life Department that provides opportunities for student involvement and leadership, develops programs to develop lifelong recreational skills, provides a safe, orderly, and positive campus climate, and eventually develops a safe and supportive residential community (PMU 1). To enhance excellent education programs, PMU collaborated with Texas International Education Consortium and topmost experts from 32 American universities (PMU 1). It also collaborates with Maastricht School of Management to offer various academic programs. PMU planned to admit about 5,500 students by 2012. The financial aid and the tuition fees that students pay derive financial stability and management in the university. The university embraces innovation and has facilities that support technological advancements. Indeed, the IT department and the professional development center promote technology in this institution. However, the institution is on a constrained location that may not support future developments. As a private university, the institution lacks government support and hence various employers may dismiss graduates of some courses. The unnecessary bureaucracy in the institution limits its effectiveness since the university has poor adaptability of processes to changes in demand. PMU has a small library, which is seemingly not capable to handle the current and future number of students. The university has insufficient investments to address the rising expectations. The university competes for international students that lead to reduced returns and student volumes. Best Strategy to Enhance the Performance of PMU Strategic Objectives Quality and Competence Quality: PMU will join the top ten of the best performing universities in Saudi Arabia with one of the highest number of Bachelor’s programs rated by the Ministry of Education. Competence: The number of students enrolled in the degree programs will increase to 7,000 while the dropouts’ rate reduces by 30 % in 2015. The number of international students will increase by 10% in 2016 while the number of students switching to another study Programme at PMU in the first year of study will be stable across the years. Technological Innovations PMU will adopt advanced electronic and communication technology throughout the university to enhance management, library services, teaching, recreation, research analysis, internet connections, and security. Educational Intensity and Teaching Staff Quality Teaching Staff Quality: PMU will join the top three universities in Saudi Arabia with the highest percentage of lecturers with basic and senior teaching skills by 2016. The number of full time lecturers with basic qualifications will develop from 19 % in 2014 to 26 % in 2015. The number of senior lectures will increase from 21% in 2014 to 29% in 2015. Educational intensity: Lecturers will provide 16 tuition hours per week to full time first year students taking any Bachelor’s program by 2015. This number will increase to 18 tuition hours by 2016 for all first year Bachelor’s degree students. Accreditation PMU will satisfy all the quality standards in its management and operations to acquire international accreditation by 2016. Revenue Diversification PMU will diversify its revenue sources to enhance its consistent growth with reference to the vision statement. Enhance Research PMU will invest and focus on four research areas, which will include establishing an effective workforce, developing additional and efficient revenue sources, gaining competitive advantage in the education sector, challenges, and benefits of pursuing international students. PMU will pursue one research project every year starting 2015. Physical Development PMU will build a bigger library by 2016 to accommodate the increasing number of students. Degree & Programs PMU will diversify its Bachelor’s degree programs to include females in the B.S. in Information Technology program by 2016. Implementing the Strategy Quality and Competence Strategic Initiatives PMU must seek to recruit the most bright students and competitive applicants through a diverse admission and sponsorship program. Provide better learning, research, instructional, and recreation facilities to recruit and retain qualified students in the university. Action Steps Develop and adopt a focused admission strategy Sponsor and attract the most qualified applicants Assist high schools top produce better students Provide virtual learning aids, better communication modes Provide all the required resources for academic success Provide counseling and motivation services to retain and encourage the students Provide sporting and other recreation opportunities Technological Innovations Strategic Initiatives PMU will offer the most advanced technological infrastructure PMU will allow all the university stakeholders to access and maximize technology in academics and management Action Steps Maintain the university's I.T policy Invest in technological advancement Enable technicians to establish the I.T. infrastructure Provide authorization to access the entire university’s network Support wired or wireless networking in the university hotspots Support technology education among students Train the staff and faculty on how to utilize information technology in their works Educational Intensity and Teaching Staff Quality Strategic Initiative PMU will recruit, support, and retain high skilled, experienced, and committed workforce. Action Steps Establish a recruiting mechanism that will recruit high skilled and experienced workforce Foster development opportunities for the faculty and lecturers Motivate workers by providing incentives, promotions, compensations, and rewards and creating a better working environment Recruit the most qualified and internationally recognized staff Accreditation Strategic Initiatives PMU will enhance quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of services in all departments. Apply for international accreditation in the relevant bodies Action Steps Mandate all units to fill self-evaluation forms to enhance efficiency, quality, and effectiveness Appreciate the best performing departments Maintain and improve the Center for Quality Assurance and Accreditation Request for institutional accreditation from an international accreditation organ Enhance Research Strategic Initiatives Establish effective relations with locally and internationally recognized research institutes Establish, maintain, and develop research infrastructure and research center within the university Action Steps Advocate for the allocation of more resources in research and foster research links with popular research institutions Recruit, train, and retain qualified and experienced research gurus Maintain and improve the research support infrastructure Revenue Diversification Strategic Initiatives Design and adopt education programs that will address the community needs, university capacity, and generate revenue from full time and part time students Advocate for non-governmental and governmental support in research programs that will equally generate additional capital to the university Action Steps Sponsor a research to establish the most efficient and profitable continuing education programs Develop and invest in the best continuing education program Market and recruit many students to the new program Establish government and non-governmental links to attract financial support Promote and encourage private donations for research activities Physical Development Strategic Initiatives PMU will design and build a modern library that will accommodate more students and support modern research Allocate resources for the construction of the modern library Action Steps Advice the management to allocate enough resources for the construction Conduct a research on the requirements of the new library Contact the relevant professionals to oversee the design and construction of the library Degree & Programs Strategic Initiatives Conduct a research on the details, requirements, learning process, and employment opportunities available after completing a B.S. in Information Technology program Advocate for the allocation of resources to support female students joining this program Establish a recruitment team to admit the most qualified female students in this program Action Steps Allocate resources to this initiative Recruit the most qualified female students Inform and train the female students on the dynamics of this program Conclusion I find that PMU as a new private university is on the right academic path. The university is enjoying considerable growth in this industry since its inception. However, there is need for a new strategy to enhance its performance in the market. As such, the devised strategy will effectively help in enhancing the performance of the university as well as help it to achieve its mission and vision. Works Cited Prince Mohammad bin Fahd University. About PMU. 26th Jan 2014. Web. 21 May 2014. < http://www.pmu.edu.sa/About/About.aspx> Read More