Governance is a comprehensive framework of systems, procedures, and practices concerned with guiding institutions, managing their operations, and regulating their performance in a manner that ensures transparency, accountability, efficiency, and integrity in resource utilization and decision-making.
The Governance Department at the University is responsible for promoting and institutionalizing the principles of good governance through the development of policies and procedures, and the organization of decision-making processes in ways that enhance fairness and transparency while ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The Department also seeks to improve institutional performance efficiency, strengthen stakeholder confidence, and support the sustainability of university operations.
Furthermore, the Department aims to establish an institutional environment founded on clear roles, authorities, and responsibilities across various administrative units, thereby reducing task duplication and enhancing overall organizational efficiency. It also strives to promote transparency and accountability, reinforce integrity and compliance, and contribute to improving the effectiveness of decision-making processes while ensuring alignment with relevant legal and regulatory frameworks.
Through a continuous improvement approach, the Governance Department endeavors to foster an institutional culture that recognizes the importance of compliance and sound governance, while strengthening the trust of both internal and external stakeholders within the university environment. In addition, it supports the University’s efforts to achieve institutional excellence and administrative and financial sustainability, in alignment with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 to enhance efficiency and transparency in higher education institutions.
Objectives
1. Institutionalize the principles of good governance across all levels of organizational operations.
2. Enhance the maturity level of governance within the University.
3. Support the University in achieving its strategic objectives.
4. Establish an integrated institutional governance framework that promotes transparency, fairness, and accountability in decision-making and resource management.
5. Strengthen the confidence of stakeholders.
6. Ensure clarity of roles, authorities, and responsibilities among administrative and organizational units.
7. Guarantee high levels of transparency in the disclosure of information and decisions.
8. Promote institutional sustainability across all activities while balancing operational efficiency and service quality.
9. Improve the efficiency and effectiveness of institutional performance through the development of organizational policies and procedures.
10. Ensure alignment of internal policies with government regulations and national legislation.
11. Develop a comprehensive matrix of roles and authorities.
12. Support the effective functioning of university committees and councils and monitor the implementation of their recommendations.
13. Institutionalize the principle of integrity and prevent conflicts of interest.
14. Build an institutional culture that promotes awareness of governance, integrity, and accountability through training and awareness initiatives.
The Risk Management Department is one of the key departments under the Governance, Risk, and Compliance Administration at Jouf University. It plays a central role in establishing and strengthening the University’s comprehensive institutional risk management framework.
The Department is responsible for developing and implementing an integrated risk management system as part of the University’s efforts to enhance its capacity to effectively address potential challenges and risks, ensuring sustainable performance and institutional excellence. It aims to enable the University to systematically identify, analyze, assess, and proactively manage risks, thereby safeguarding University assets and resources, ensuring continuity of academic and administrative operations, and strengthening institutional resilience in the face of crises and emerging challenges.
In addition, the Department focuses on promoting a risk-aware culture among University staff by increasing awareness of the importance of risk anticipation and evidence-based decision-making grounded in accurate risk assessments. This contributes to supporting the University’s strategic objectives, protecting its reputation, and sustaining its institutional distinction.
Objectives
The Risk Management Department aims to establish an institutional environment capable of proactively anticipating and effectively managing risks by achieving a set of strategic and operational objectives, as follows:
1. Establishing a Comprehensive and Unified University-Wide Risk Management System
• Design and implement an integrated risk management framework that connects all academic and administrative units across the University.
• Standardize policies and procedures related to risk identification, assessment, mitigation, and monitoring.
• Develop a centralized risk register that is regularly updated to reflect the University’s current risk profile.
2. Enhancing the Ability to Anticipate Risks and Analyze Their Potential Impact
• Develop quantitative and qualitative methodologies to assess the likelihood and impact of risks on strategic objectives.
• Support decision-makers with relevant indicators and analytical reports to facilitate proactive risk evaluation.
• Utilize technical and analytical tools to improve the accuracy of risk assessment processes.
3. Minimizing the Impact of Crises and Operational Disruptions
• Develop effective plans to mitigate the impact of potential crises on University activities.
• Prioritize risk treatment actions based on severity and potential impact.
• Strengthen coordination among University departments during emergencies or operational disruptions.
4. Ensuring Business Continuity and the Sustainability of Critical University Services
• Develop and implement a Business Continuity Plan to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of essential University operations under emergency conditions.
• Periodically review and update continuity plans to maintain readiness for unforeseen events.
• Build qualified human capacities capable of effectively responding to service disruptions or operational crises.
5. Aligning Risk Management with the University’s Strategic Objectives
• Align risk management outcomes with the priorities of the University’s strategic plan.
• Ensure that risk management contributes to institutional performance and supports excellence in academic, research, and administrative domains.
6. Enhancing Risk Awareness and Preparedness Across Colleges and Administrative Units
• Implement ongoing awareness and training programs to promote a strong risk management culture.
• Reinforce the principle of shared responsibility in risk identification and assessment across all colleges and departments.
• Promote a proactive culture that emphasizes prevention and impact reduction before risks materialize.
7. Ensuring Compliance with Relevant National Regulatory Requirements
• Ensure that University risk management policies and procedures are aligned with applicable national laws and regulatory requirements.
• Strengthen institutional transparency and accountability in risk management reports and practices.
The Compliance Department is a core component of the Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) framework at Jouf University. It plays a pivotal role in ensuring the University’s adherence to internal regulations, policies, and organizational bylaws.
The Department focuses on institutionalizing the principles of integrity, transparency, and accountability through the development of compliance policies and procedures, and by monitoring their implementation across all University colleges, departments, and affiliated units. It also works to strengthen institutional awareness of a compliance-oriented culture, and to minimize administrative and financial violations or misconduct.
In addition, the Department seeks to establish an integrated system for monitoring, reporting, and verifying compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and internal policies. It prepares periodic and analytical reports that support decision-makers in evaluating institutional performance, while ensuring the sustainability of operations in accordance with the principles of good governance and international best practices in institutional compliance.
Objectives
The Compliance Department aims to foster a university environment characterized by transparency, accountability, and the highest standards of institutional integrity, through the achievement of the following objectives:
1. Ensure comprehensive compliance with national laws and regulations related to higher education and the public sector.
2. Promote a culture of integrity and transparency across all academic, administrative, and financial levels.
3. Develop integrated institutional compliance policies and procedures that include clear mechanisms for monitoring, reporting, auditing, and follow-up, ensuring standardized work methodologies.
4. Reduce regulatory violations and operational misconduct through the implementation of effective internal control mechanisms, periodic compliance monitoring, and proactive handling of non-compliance cases.
5. Strengthen the confidence of regulatory authorities and the academic community in the University by demonstrating a high level of compliance, transparency in reporting, and responsiveness to supervisory recommendations and feedback.
6. Enhance awareness among University staff regarding institutional compliance requirements and integrity through continuous training and awareness programs focused on professional conduct and public service ethics.
7. Promote institutional integration and coordination with internal departments and external regulatory bodies.