2013 - 2014Annual Report

2

Message from the Chairman of the Board of Trustees

Message from the President

Vision, Mission and Values

Highlights of Annual Year 2013-2014

Pillars of Excellence

1. Teaching, Learning and Research Excellence

2. Operational Excellence

3. Strategic Alliances

4. Culture of Excellence

Community Engagement

Alumnae Accomplishments

Academic Programs

DAH in Numbers

Message from the Director of Institutional Research Assesment & Planning

Conclusion

04

06

08

10

14

16

18

19

20

23

26

28

29

40

41

Table of Contents

4

Message from the Chairman of the Board of Trustees

Dr. Zuhair Hamed Fayez

Chairman, Board of Trustees

Dar Al-Hekma University

It is with great pleasure and pride that I welcome the Annual Report for Dar Al-Hekma University for the academic year 2013-2014.

This year the Board of Trustees extends our congratulations to Dar Al-Hekma on the achievement of a very special milestone. In January 2014, Dar Al-Hekma was officially granted University status by the Ministry of Higher Education. This is an accomplishment of which every member of Dar Al-Hekma community should be very proud and they all deserve commendations. Indeed, the achievement of University status sets the stage for even greater possibilities of growth and advancement in the future.

Since its founding in 1999, Dar Al-Hekma has established itself as a leading institution of higher education in Saudi Arabia, committed to the highest standards of excellence in learning, teaching and research. Guided by a strong vision and mission, DAH has constantly striven to push the boundaries of women’s education in the Kingdom and has earned many accolades over the years.

For the coming year, 2014-2015, the Board of Trustees welcomes with enthusiasm the University’s commitment to embark on the development of a 5-year Strategic Plan with the aim of crystallizing the 2030 Strategic Vision. Strategic planning is a challenging and work-intensive process, but an absolutely crucial one to guide the University along the path of continuous growth and advancement.

The outcome of the Strategic Planning process will solidify Dar Al-Hekma’s position as a forward-looking academic institution locally and regionally and ensure that Dar al-Hekma continues to serve its mission to graduate accomplished women, leaders and entrepreneurs and fulfill its vision in the face of changing circumstances and new challenges on the horizon.

At this important juncture of our history, I would like to personally congratulate President Dr. Suhair Hassan Al-Qurashi for her outstanding and inspiring leadership over the years and her commitment to constantly drive the University forward in pursuit of excellence.

The Board also salutes Dar Al-Hekma’s dedicated Management Team, talented faculty and staff, and outstanding student body, all of whom have played active and significant roles in making the University the top-tier institution that it is today. Your successes and achievements are a source of pride for the Board of Trustees and indeed for the Kingdom at large.

We thank each and every one of you for your hard work and dedication and wish you continuing success.

Dr. Zuhair Hamed Fayez

Chairman, Board of Trustees

6

Message from the President

2013 - 2014

Dr. Suhair Hassan Al-Qurashi Dean of Dar Al-Hekma College

It is my great pride to present to you Dar Al-Hekma’s first ever annual report as a university. Every year, we celebrate many successes as an institution. This year, however, we have truly reached a historical moment. By the grace of God, and through the hard work, dedication and collaboration of each and every Dar Al-Hekma community member, Dar Al-Hekma was granted university status on January 16, 2014 with the consent of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz.

Our achievement of University status is only the crowning glory of countless other successes achieved throughout the year. In December, Dar Al-Hekma University was the proud recipient of an Employer Achievement Award, which was presented to us by Minister of Labor Eng. Adel Fakieh during the Talent & Diversity Leadership Forum award ceremony in Riyadh. Dar Al-Hekma also received the gold award for best documentary video at the QS-MAPLE Award Ceremony competition. This year, we also signed new Memorandum of Understanding Understanding with Areva S.A, Electricity de France, International Institute of Nuclear Energy, France, bringing the University’s total number of MOUs to 29. The new agreement promises to increase opportunities for our students to develop their talents in the fields of renewable energy and nuclear power.

As we celebrate our successes, we must also take the opportunity to reflect on our purpose as an institution so that we can be inspired to continue forward on our journey to greater and greater successes. Dar Al-Hekma’s vision from the very beginning has been to be a premier institution of higher education for women in Saudi Arabia and to promote high standards of character and learning in keeping with Islamic teachings. Our attainment of University status is a major milestone in realizing this vision, but it many ways it is only the start of greater things to come. With this milestone behind us, we will be launching the development of a 5-year Strategic Plan for Dar Al-Hekma as well as an extensive expansion plan for the University’s physical facilities. God willing, these initiatives will enable us to expand our role as a leading institution of higher education, one that produces educated, empowered, and principled female leaders.

As always, I would like to extend my most heartfelt thanks to our visionary Board members, our dedicated staff and faculty, our talented students, and all those beyond the walls of Dar Al-Hekma who have helped us reach this defining moment in our history. Your belief and commitment to the University’s mission and vision have enabled us to achieve greater things than we ever imagined. I wish all of you the courage, integrity, and perseverance needed to face the challenges that lie before us.

I look forward to a bright and successful future ahead.

Dr. Suhair H. Al-Qurashi

8

Our Values

Our MissionThe mission of Dar Al-Hekma University is to graduate accomplished women,

leaders and entrepreneurs.

Our VisionIt is the vision of Dar Al-Hekma University to be a premier institution of higher education for women in Saudi Arabia to promote high standards of character and learning in keeping with Islamic teachings. Its graduates will be capable of bringing about positive change for the betterment of self, family, society and humanity, with the

aim of serving and pleasing the Creator.

KNOWLEDGE

Appreciation for Knowledge: Dar Al-Hekma values knowledge attained through diverse means of teaching and learning methodologies guided by best practice.

Lifelong Learning: Dar Al-Hekma as a learning community supports curricular and extra-curricular activities and con-tinuing education programs in pursuit of personal development and a commitment to lifelong learning.

Preserving our Heritage: Dar Al-Hekma has a strong commitment to our rich past and glorious heritage and values its pres-ervation as a source of inspiration for fur-ther innovation.further innovation.

RIGHTEOUSNESSINTEGRITYSelf-accountability: Dar Al-Hekma promotes self-accountability amongst students and employees derived from a commitment to the core value of integrity.

Quest for Excellence: Dar Al-Hekma strives to promote academic excellence through all means including curricular and extra-curricular pursuits.

Working with Integrity: Dar Al-Hekma values intellectual and moral integrity and strives to maintain standards of profes-sionalism, accountability, responsibility, and intellectual honesty.

FAIRNESS

Vision for the Future: Dar Al-Hekma values creative and innovative practices that preserve the human, social and physical environment to ensure a sus-tainable future for all.

Promoting Harmony: Dar Al-Hekma values collegiality and supports the di-versity of views; promotes understanding and tolerance of differences.

Service to our Community: Dar Al-Hek-ma strives to fulfill its obligations to the larger community through its academic programs, extra-curricular activities and extension programs in order to graduate leaders and entrepreneurs.

Vision, Mission& Values

10Highlights of Annual Year 2013-2014

With the consent of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah, and with the support of Minister of Higher Education Khaled Al-Anqari, Dar Al-Hekma officially earned university status on January 15, 2014 through Royal Decree No. 9574. This achievement represents the culmination of fifteen years of institutional growth and expansion and is a true milestone in Dar Al-Hekma’s history.

Dar AlHekmaBECOMES AUniversity

12

After almost a year of work, the Hekayat 10 photography exhibition was launched to the public in December 2013 at Al Sobha Garden, Park Hyatt Hotel under the patronage of HRH Prince Khaled Al Faisal. Hekayat 10 was an innovative community service project designed by faculty member Ms. Zaynab Odunsi that brought 10 women from Al-Ruwais district together with 10 DAH students to learn the art of photography. The design of the exhibition was a truly collaborative undertaking which brought together the talents of DAH’s Architecture, Interior Design and Visual Communications programs as well as countless other faculty members and students.

Hekayat 10 Exhibition

Launch of the Campus Expansion Project

In April 2014, Dar Al-Hekma successfully secured a bid to purchase Al-Homodi Palace, located across the street from the University. With the approval of the sale, Dar Al-Hekma launched the “Labena – Building Block” fundraising campaign to help finance the campus expansion plan. The expansion project will allow Dar Al-Hekma to increase its capacity to 4000 students and introduce many new undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs, while also improving and expanding facilities for students, faculty and staff.

DAH faculty and staff visit Al-Homodi palace

On December 11, 2013 Dar Al-Hekma was recognized as one of the Top 10 Employers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for excellence in supporting talent and diversity and for innovation in workplace practices and culture. Minister of Labor Eng. Adel Fakieh presented Dar Al-Hekma with the prestigious award at the Talent and Diversity Leadership Forum in Riyadh. Dar Al-Hekma is the first educational institution in the Kingdom to be awarded with this recognition.

New Master’s Degree in Inter-national RelationsIn Fall 2013 Dar Al-Hekma launched its newest degree program, the Master of Arts in International Relations. The degree is offered by the Hekma School of Business & Law and its curriculum was designed in collaboration with the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University.

Dar Al-Hekma wins Employer Achievement Award

Minister of Labour Eng. Adel Fakieh presents DAH President Dr. Suhair Al-Qurashi with the Employer Achievement Award

Launch of the Hekayat 10 photography exhibition at the Park Hyatt Hotel

14

Pillars of Excellence

16

Student Projects and Exhibitions

DAH held a number of successful symposia and exhibitions to highlight students’ work over the year. These exhibitions provided students with an opportunity to apply the theoretical knowledge they gained in their classes and produce top-quality work for an external audience to receive public feedback on their projects. The events were well-attended and well-received across the board, confirming DAH’s reputation for teaching excellence in the community.

The Visual Communications Program hosted its first ever Motion Graphics Showcase in November 2013. The showcase was designed to highlight the work of the talented students from the Motion Graphics track and was divided into several categories including Animation, Stop Motion, Kinetic Typography, Broadcast Design, and Documentaries. The students’ work was very well received by attendees of the event, including special guests Ms. Hanin Kamal, Educational Advisor to the Consulate General of the US and Ms. Laura Diuretic, Cultural Attaché for the Consulate General of the US. The Visual Communications department also organized a Hajj exhibition which displayed rare pictures of the pilgrims’ journey from Egypt to Makkah during the 1908 pilgrimage.

Teaching, Learning and Research Excellence

DAH is a quality institution for higher learning based on a solid foundation of knowledge, skills, positive

attitudes, commitment to lifelong learning, and service to the community.

1.

Students enrolled in a Sociology General Education course organized and participated in the annual Global Village Exhibition held at Dar Al-Hekma in December 2013. This year’s theme was “Heritage of the Hijaz” and each team of students prepared an exhibit to present various aspects of Hijazi history and culture, including its cuisine, architecture, education, clothing, trade, medicine, music, dances, famous figures and religious sites. A panel of judges examined each exhibit while visiting members of the public were invited to cast their vote for the “People’s Choice” award.

Hajj exhibition organized by the Visual Communications department Dr. Chaman Rahim and students at the 2013 Heritage of the Hijaz exhibition

workshops and trips to local businesses. Professionals from many sectors and companies, including the Islamic Development Bank, Emaar Properties, National Commercial Bank, Bank Saudi Faransi, and Naghi Group gave lectures about their areas of expertise. In addition, several workshops were conducted for students on leadership skills, shopping art and management, and starting a business.

The Architecture Program hosted its exhibition in April 2014 which included a mini-symposium entitled “A Kaleidoscopic Overview of Possibilities: Women Architects in Real-World Practice and Research” in collaboration with representatives of the Women’s Chapter of the Council of Saudi Engineers. The symposium included presentations by DAH faculty members and external guest speakers and aimed to introduce students to the applications of architecture in real-world practice, research and development.

The Graphic and Fashion Design Senior Exhibit was held in May 2014 and attracted more than 500 visitors over a two-day period. One of the main events was the “First 12” Fashion Show which was attended by several local fashion designers as well as guest of honor Princess Amal bin Majeed.

The Hekma School of Business held a “Business Week” event inDecember 2013 which involved guest speakers, student projects,

In addition to these exhibitions, many programs organized guest lectures throughout the year with leading figures and practitioners in their respective fields, in order to acquaint students with the real-world practice of their disciplines. Many programs incorporated creative field trips and site visits into their curricula in order to expose students to practical applications of their studies. Some examples of these field trips include Architecture Program visits to heritage sites in Makkah, Visual Communications trips to Al-Balad and to Sarawat Publishers, and Fashion Design visits to Tahliya Street stores and Al-Sharq Fabric Market.

Research is a core part of the University’s pillar of Teaching, Learning and Research Excellence. The following are highlights of advancements made by faculty members in research throughout the year.

From the Special Education Program, Dr. Michelle Kelly was awarded a 2014 International Development Grant by the Society for the Advancement of Behavior Analysis to fund her project on translating behavior analytic literature into Arabic. She is one of only two grant recipients chosen from all international applications this year and will work with fellow faculty members Dr. Vicky Spencer and Ms. Mona Al-Haddad on the project. Dr. Amal Al-Yamani and Ms. Mona Al Haddad also presented papers on applied behavioral treatment for autism and early intervention for autism at the 12th Asian and Oceanian Congress of Child Neurology in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. SPED faculty members also presented three posters at the 40th Annual Convention of the Association for Behavior Analysis International in Chicago in May 2014. Ms. Randa Hariri is completing a research towards a PhD on “Understanding Teaching Excellence in Higher Education: The Case of Lebanon.”

From the Architecture Program, Ms. Sherin Sameh is currently carrying out research towards a PhD in Environmental Design from Cairo University. In addition, her paper entitled “Promoting Earth Architecture as a Sustainable construction Technique in Egypt” was published in the February 2014 issue of the Journal of Cleaner Production. Faculty member Ms. Marga Jann is currently a visiting fellow at Lucy Cavendish College, University of Cambridge in conjunction with the Cambridge Centre for Development Studies. Ms. Riham Ahmed is completing a PhD on “The Effect of Indoor Temperature and Ventilation Rates on Students’ Cognitive Performance in the Hot Desert Climates.” Dr. Hana Motasim’s book chapter “Between ‘Place’ and ‘Non-Place’: Settlement and Displacement in the Sudan” will be published in The Road to Two Sudans by Cambridge Scholars. Dr. Shifana Kaafil and Ms. Shayna T. Blum are completing a research project funded by DAH on the influence of social media on the Arabic and English languages. Dr. Mona Helmi has completed a paper on the “Festivalization of Historical Places” while her book chapter on the role of architectural education in promoting urban heritage will be published in Heritage in Architectural Education in Saudi Arabia, to be jointly published by the Ministry of Higher Education and the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities.

From the Visual Communications Program, Ms. Cordula Peters is completing a doctorate in education on the topic of perception of local design graduates among graphic design employers in the GCC. From the Interior Design Program, Ms. Ayesha Ghazanfar is completing a PhD thesis entitled, “What Are The Environmental Stimuli That Produce Optimal Brain Responses To Improve The Quality Of Life Of Children Diagnosed With Autism?”

Faculty Research

The 2014 DAH Fashion Design Senior Exhibit

18

From the Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences Program, Dr. Nancy Lee Aarts presented a poster at the 2013 Annual American Speech, Language and Hearing Association Convention in Chicago, USA entitled “Effectiveness of two Arabic language hearing aid care and use training programs in Saudi Arabia.” Dr. Areej Al-Asseri also authored two posters entitled “Community Awareness of Communication Disorders in Saudi Arabia” and “Perception of Stuttering among College Students & Faculty in Saudi Arabia.”

From the General Education Program, Dr. Ishrat Suri conducted a workshop and was a plenary speaker for the 29th Society of Pakistan English Language Teachers Conference in Karachi, Pakistan. Dr. Ishrat also presented at the 11th Asia TEFL Conference at Ateneo de Manila University in the Philippines. From the Legal Studies Program, Dr. Anna Rogowska completed a paper entitled “Some Considerations on Desirability of Accession to The CISG by The UK” which was published in the European Journal of Commercial Contract Law. Dr. Anna’s paper on English Law in Saudi Arabia was also published in Arab Law Quarterly. Dr. Olga Naratova’s paper on “International Trade in Electricity and the Greening Economy” was accepted for presentation at the International Trade Forum in Switzerland, while another paper on the potential of tariff policy for climate change mitigation, co-authored with Prof. Thomas Cottier and Dr. Anirudh Shingal, was accepted for publication in the Journal of World Trade.

From the Business and Finance Program, Dr. Dalia Adel and Dr. Mahmoud M. Al-Eqab completed a research paper entitled “Accounting Information Systems Curriculum and Compliance with IFAC Requirements” which was presented at the 23rd IBIMA Conference in Valencia, Spain in May 2014. Dr. Dalia Adel is also completing a research project entitled “The Effect of Continuous Auditing Practices in the Banking Sector on the Work of Internal and External Auditors: Case of Egypt.” From the Management Information Systems Program, Dr. Diala Abihaidar’s paper “Negotiation of Sensitive Resources Using Different Strategies for Policy’s Protection” was published in the proceedings of the International Conference on Security and Management 2014 under the World Congress in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, and Applied Computing. A paper jointly written by Dr. Diala and senior student Yasmin Moosa was published in the Management Journal by Scientific & Academic Publishing.

From the Master in International Relations Program, Dr. Sadig Al-Malki published the book “Reductionism, Globalization and Faith,” co-authored by Robert Stucky.

Dar Al-Hekma made progress over the year in streamlining and improving its operations across all five administrative divisions in the University.

The Academic Affairs Division has continued to increase the use of e-learning technologies inside and outside of the classroom. All programs are using now Blackboard and many faculty members are using it to post videos, links and blogs and even to conduct exams. Moreover, faculty members continue to increase their use of student-centered teaching strategies and blended learning techniques, such as World Cafes, Flipped Classroom, and Think-Pair-Share techniques. An online attendance system for instructors has also been introduced this year. The project of virtualizing and replacing all the desktops in the library with Thin Clients has been completed and is now in the testing phase.

The Student Affairs Division continues to increase the quality and efficiency of its support services for students. A new department was developed in the University under the umbrella of the Student Affairs Division. This department is the Academic Support Service Department (ASSD) that provides unique academic support services to students from all academic departments. Based on a well-designed assessment tools, the referred students are given an individualized support plan that best develops their learning abilities and skills. The number of students benefiting from the services offered from the ASSD has increased by 20% over the year.

Moreover, the academic support is not the only support that students in DAH University receive. The Counseling Department provides all kinds of emotional, social and psychological support to students to eliminate or reduce any factor that could affect their learning experience or hinder their academic achievement. This year the number of students benefiting from counseling services has almost doubled from 33 in 2012-2013 to 64 in 2013-2014.

Operational Excellence2.

DAH operates on a system of high standards in an efficient, supportive and self-sufficient

environment.

This year, Student Affairs also increased its admissions criteria in three areas (high school percentage, TOEFL score and Qudurat test) which will ensure that the University continues to attract the brightest students for admission.

Strategic Alliances3. DAH has an established network of

distinguished, strategic partners.

Dar Al-Hekma continued its efforts throughout the year to expand its network of strategic local and global partners. In December, DAH joined three other Saudi universities in signing a historic memorandum of understanding with three French industrial entities: Areva, Electricité de France S.A. (EDF) and the International Institute of Nuclear Energy (I2EN). The MOU was signed in Riyadh in the presence of His Excellency François Hollande, President of the French Republic, His Excellency Dr. Tawfiq Alrabiah, Minister of Commerce and Industry and Eng. Khaled Al-Falih, President and CEO of Saudi Aramco. The purpose of the MOU is to work towards building the Kingdom’s nuclear and renewable energy sector. Dar Al-Hekma also signed a general MOU with Shenandoah University, USA. There are plans in place for a joint virtual project between students in both business schools for next year.

Individual academic programs also engaged in a variety of local and international partnerships in order to provide opportunities for collaborative projects and learning experiences. The Architecture Program completed its fourth collaborative “joint-studio” project this year with the University of Colorado, Denver (UCD) which also incorporated a student exchange between the two universities for the first time.

The Architecture Program also worked together with the British Consulate in Jeddah to redesign their pool house and multipurpose hall and with the US Consulate to design their picnic pavilion.

The Architecture Program continued its agreement with the International Hospital Construction Company to take Architecture students for summer internships.

The Visual Communications Program was involved in a collaborative project with Fakieh Aquarium to design an exhibition entitled “Reflect.” Students visited the aquarium on several occasions to conduct research and were involved in all aspects of the design of the exhibition, from the title, logo design, slogan, and physical layout of the exhibition.

Visual Communications students also worked together with Nahdi Pharmacies to redesign the health and wellness section of the store, and with the ID Design Showroom to develop 3D exhibition booths, marketing and advertising strategies for the DecoFair event.

Finally, the Visual Communications Program has signed contracts with 18 local companies to provide internship placements for students of the program.

Students from the Fashion Design Program engaged in several collaborative projects, including designing a window display for Rubaiyat. They also collaborated with designer Turk Jadallah to organize his fashion show.

The Continuing Education department has sustained its partnerships with Morgan International, MBA Arabia and Track Learning Solutions. In addition, it has signed 2 new partnership contracts with the British Council for the Coaching and CELTA programs.

The Marketing and Communications has also established several relationships with local and international media outlets, including Jeddah Links, Destination Jeddah, QS Magazine, InfraredMany programs have also established partnerships with local companies to provide internship opportunities for DAH students.

The SLHS Program collaborates with the American International School of Jeddah (AISJ) which serves as a practicum site for SLHS students.

DAH signs a historic memorandum of understanding with three French

industrial entities

20

Culture of Excellence

Faculty and Staff TrainingAs part of its commitment to fostering a culture of excellence, Dar Al-Hekma provides staff and faculty members with diverse opportunities for professional and academic development, both by organizing in-house trainings and by facilitating staff and faculty participation in international conferences and exhibitions. The following are but a few examples of staff and faculty involvement in professional development over the year.

To update their knowledge and improve their experience, faculty members from the Hekma School of Education and Applied Sciences attended several international and local conferences within the professional development program established by the University. The conferences that respective faculty members attended include the International Exhibition and Forum for Education in Riyadh, the ICT for Language Learning conference in Florence, Italy, the Geopolitics and Globalization conference in Toronto, Canada, the Hawaii International Conference on Arts and Humanities in Honolulu, the Language in Focus Conference in Antalya, Turkey, the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Conference in Chicago, the Global Education Forum in Dubai, and the 11th Learning and Technology Conference at Effat University.

From the Hekma School of Law and International Relations, faculty members attended the Alternative Dispute Resolution conference in Singapore as well as the Kuala Lumpur International Business, Economic and Law Conference in Malaysia.

From the Hekma School of Design and Architecture, faculty members attended the Middle East Design Educators Association Conference in Doha, the Light Middle East Conference in Dubai, the Association of Art Historians Annual Conference in London, UK, the Creative Design Conference and iPad Design Workshop in Dubai, the Nuqat Creative Conference in Kuwait, and took part in trainings and workshops in skills ranging from typography and culture, Photoshop, 4D Cinema and creative drawing, to mosaic, watercolor and mixed media art.

Dar Al-Hekma also conducted a number of in-house trainings for faculty and staff, on topics including Conflict Management, Writing Across the Curriculum, Effective Learning & Teaching Strategies, Active Student Responding, Advanced Meditation, Project Management, Business Communication, Administrative Skills, and Emotional Intelligence.

DAH has a culture of excellence that fosters creativity, encourages teamwork,

and recognizes quality performance.

4.Student Awards & AccomplishmentsDar Al-Hekma students themselves are the main beneficiaries of the University’s culture of excellence as they take the knowledge and skills they learned at DAH to achieve major accomplishments beyond the walls of the University. Throughout the year, many students were recognized for outstanding achievements both inside and outside of the institution.

Photography student Salwa Saiji won second place in the prestigious Jameel Photography Competition for her photograph entitled “Ink and Water.” The theme of the competition, “You and I” required the artists to reflect on the essence of the complex relationships between people, objects or ideas. Ms. Salwa’s work was displayed at the Park Hyatt as part of Jeddah Art Week in February 2014.

Visual Communications student Yara Al-Sorehe won first place in the Tiburon International Film Festival poster contest. The competition required entrants to come up with a poster for the festival which was to be held in April 2014 in Northern California. Ms. Yara worked under the supervision of her instructor to design a poster in line with the competition’s themes of tolerance and multiculturalism. She used a combination of concepts, by beginning with traditional watercolors, then digitally enhancing the work with imaging software. Ms. Yara’s work was selected from a pool of submissions by mostly professional artists, a most impressive accomplishment.

DAH student Yara Al-Sorehe’s winning design for the Tiburon International Film Festival

Accom

plish-ments

22

Awards

Legal Studies student Dara Sahab won the award for “Best Oralist” at the 4th Annual Willem C. Vis Middle East Pre-Moot held at the University of Qatar, Doha. Dara was part of a delegation of students from the Legal Studies program who made it through the four primary rounds of this contest and into the semi-finals.

A team of 8 Dar Al-Hekma students won 1st place in Saudi Arabia and 2nd place in the Middle East in the Ripples of Happiness youth empowerment initiative. The competition required entrants to come up with original solutions to tackle social problems in their communities. Dar Al-Hekma’s team came up with the initiative “My Health, My Responsibility” to address the problem of child obesity. The team members managed to convince several local food outlets including Al-Tazej, Shawermatac and Burger Time to introduce healthy meal options for children and also arranged a deal with STC to send 5,000 text messages to raise awareness of health issues.

In another remarkable achievement, student Sarah Suliman placed third in the Quranic recitation contest held by the Saudi Scientific Quran Association in Jeddah.

Dar Al-Hekma student Fatemah Jamal Al-Lail was chosen as the Saudi winner of the 2014 DSS Apprenticeship Program. Fatemah participated in the highly coveted, two-week long marketing internship in Dubai along with 16 other youth representatives from the Middle East region. The young professionals met with many business leaders and representatives of major regional corporations and exchanged ideas for marketing the Dubai Summer Surprises festival. More than 100 universities in the Middle East were invited to compete for selection in the program.

Dara Sahab

This year, 27 Dar Al-Hekma students achieved the status of “Hafizah al-Quran” and one was designated Shaikha for memorizing the Holy Quran in its entirety. This brings the total number to 121 Hafizat and four Shaikhas since the establishment of Dar Al-Quran at DAH. Outstandingly, two students, Wafa Bassam and Shatha Ghali, showed incredible achievement by memorizing the entire Quran in only two months.

DAH students at the 2014 Vis Middle East Pre-Moot

Ms. Randa Hariri and SPED students at the Association of Children with Disabilities

Community Engagement

24

2013. The campaign was designed to collect blankets and warm clothing to help Syrian refugees stave off the winter cold. A total of 315 blankets were donated by DAH community members towards this important cause.

Students from the Special Education Program organized four days of activities for special needs children at the’ Association of Children with Disabilities’ The four-day event was intended to generate self-esteem and self-confidenceamong children with disabilities and to raise awareness of the issues while providing an opportunity for special needs children to have fun with their families. The highlight of the first day was the SPED students’ performance of the story of Snow White for the children while the subsequent days included face painting, drawing, a puppet show, physical games, a makeup corner, cupcake making and other fun activities. The whole event was planned, designed, implemented, and supported by senior students from the SPED program who succeeded in attracting and engaging a large number of students from the various academic departments in the University.

In conjunction with the women’s department of the Ministry of Social Affairs, Dar Al-Hekma hosted the International Arab Orphans Day on February 22, 2014.

A total of 1200 people attended the event and 10 charity foundations were also invited. The day’s program included a stage performance done by the orphans as well as an art exhibition of 120 of their paintings done by orphans. The day wrapped up with an awards ceremony in which HRH Princess Sita bint Abdullah Al Saud presented achievement awards to the orphans while Dar Al-Hekma was recognized for its leading role in social responsibility.

Some other examples of community services organized by Dar Al-Hekma staff and students include the Blood Donation Drive in which 15 blood units were collected and the Corona Virus Awareness Event which saw the distribution of 200 honey and black seed containers, 200 hand sanitizer bottles and 2 different types of healthy smoothies.

The community is us and its development is our goal. Community engagement activities are a top priority for all academic departments in the University as well as the Student Government and the University Council. Accordingly, the University devotes great efforts to designing and organizing events which fulfill its commitment to being a leading force for positive social change in the community.

Despite their demanding schedules, faculty and students took time to give back to their community in myriad ways throughout the year. In November 2013, Dar Al-Hekma ran a successful campaign to collect toy donations for the Al-Wedad Charitable Foundation. The Al-Wedad Charitable Foundation, considered the first of its kind in the Kingdom, is dedicated to providing care for orphans between the ages of 0-3 years whose biological parents cannot be located. Dar Al-Hekma collected over 200 toy donations from students and staff over the course of the drive. 6 students visited Al-Wedad Foundation in Makkah to distribute the toys and meet the children at the center.

Dar Al-Hekma also organized Spread the Warmth Campaign from December 24-25

DAH students visit Al-Wedad Charitable Foundation to deliver toy donations

26

Kholoud Attar (B.A. Graphic Design ’07) was recently recognized by Forbes Middle East on its 2013 list of Leaders Inspiring a Kingdom in the Business World.

Kholoud is the founder and creative director of Design magazine, the first magazine focusing on design in Saudi Arabia, which has recently opened a branch office in Dubai.

She was recently featured in the Chicago Tribune as one of 10 young Saudi entrepreneurs who travelled to the US to visit top business leaders with the support of the Prince Salman Youth Centre and the US-Saudi Arabian Business Council.

Dr. Hanan Taleb (B.A. Interior Design ’04) was selected as the recipient of the 2013-2014 Dar Al-Hekma Outstanding Alumnae Award for her numerous achievements in the field of sustainable architecture and design. Dr. Hanan is currently an Assistant Professor at the British University in Dubai, where she pioneered and implemented the first Sustainability Summer School in the UAE, earning her the Emirates Energy Award in 2013. She is also the first Saudi architect to obtain a BREEAM license to assess energy use in buildings. She has contributed numerous peer-reviewed articles to academic journals and has given presentations at conferences all over the world. Dr. Hanan was recognized for these accomplishments with a special plaque conferred at the 2014 ceremonies as well as a monetary prize.

A true testament to Dar Al-Hekma’s excellence as an institution are the accomplishments of our shining alumnae, who go on to become first-class leaders, professionals, and entrepreneurs and academics in a wide range of fields. The following are but a few examples of our alumnae’s most prominent achievements in 2013-2014.

Dr. Hanan TalebKholoud Attar

Alumnae Accomplish-ments

DAH alumnae Lama Ajeena (B.A. Graphic Design ’08) and Sara Mansour (B.A. Graphic Design ’13) were chosen among the winners of this year’s prestigious A’Design Awards. Over 13,000 competitors submitted entries for the contest in a number of different categories. Sara Mansour won the Bronze Award in the Graphics and Visual Communication category for her piece “Illa’l Amam Type Family” while Lama Ajeena took away two Iron awards in the same category for her Islamic brand identity and her Amal Film Festival poster.

Lama Ajeena Amani Abudawood

Amani Hani Abudawood (BSc. Special Education ’07) has recently published Tofooleyat, the first pregnancy journal with an Islamic touch and perspective. She has also previously designed a curriculum entitled, “Beyond Quranic Translations: By The Fig and the Olive,” a curriculum for gifted learners inspired by the first verse from Surat At-Tin.

Alumnae Accom

plish-ments

28

Hekma School of Business and Law

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration • Banking and Finance

• Management Information Systems• Marketing

• Human Resource Management

Bachelor of Law Master of Business Administration Master of International Relations

Hekma School of Education and Applied Sciences

• Bachelor of Science in Special Education • Bachelor of Science in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences

Hekma School of Design and Architecture

• Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design• Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design

• Bachelor of Arts in Visual Communication• Bachelor of Arts in Architecture

Academic Programs

DAH in Numbers

30

I. Student Enrollment- Fall Semesters 2009-2010 to 2013-2014

1. Total Number of Enrolled Students

2. Student Enrollment numbers by Class Level

2000

1500

1000

500

0

2009 - 10 2010 - 11

1,112 1,1071,255

1,4001,534

2011 - 12 2012 - 13 2013 - 14

1800

1600

1400

1200

1000

800

600

400

200

0

2009 - 10 2010 - 11 2011 - 12 2012 - 13 2013 - 14

214

170

208

366

154

179

185

216

379

148

204

191

170

523

167

195

155

291

597

162

217

261

323

595

138

Senior

Junior

Sophomore

Freshman

University AcademicPreperation Program

3. Number of Saudi & Non-Saudi Students

4. Percentage of Saudi & Non-Saudi Students

Saudi

Non-Saudi

1400

1200

1000

800

600

400

200

02009 - 10 2010 - 11 2011 - 12 2012 - 13 2013 - 14

382

1,152

363

1,037

347

908

319347

765 788

69% 71% 72% 74% 75%

31% 29% 28% 26% 25%

2013

- 14

32

6. Growth of Student Enrollment in the Fall semesters by Program from 2009-2010 to 2013-2014’

2014

Univers

ity Aca

demic

Prepara

tion

Master

of B

usine

ss Adm

inistr

ation

Master

of In

terna

tiona

l Rela

tions

350300250200150100

500

A Nursing Major was closed in 2011-2012

Nationalities

Algerian

American

Bangladeshi

British

Canadian

Dutch

Egyptian

Emirati

Eritrean

Ethiopian

Filipino

German

Indian

Indonesian

Iraqi

Jordanian

Lebanese

Malaysian

Moroccan

Pakistani

Palestinian

Qatari

Saudi

Somali

Sudanese

Syrian

Tanzanian

Tunisian

Yemeni

5. Extensive Breakdown of Student Nationalities Fall 2013-14

The University has a total of 29 nationalities among its students in Fall 13-14

7. Student Enrollment by Program: Fall 2013-14

Univers

ity Aca

demic

Prepara

tion

Master

of B

usine

ss Adm

inistr

ation

Master

of In

terna

tiona

l Rela

tions

350

300

250

200

150

100

50

0

138 135

6860 50 41 16

180

69

194288

71 82

142

8. Student Graduates

Total Number of Graduates up to Summer 2014 = 1,591Graduates

300

200

100

0

214

165

202 220 223

2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14

34

2. Employee Breakdown: 2013 - 2014

Faculty41% Staff

59%

Faculty

Staff

II. Staff & Faculty Profile ‘2009-2010 to 2013-2014’

1. Total Number of Staff & Faculty (Combined)

400

300

200

100

0

305298263

346380

2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14

3. Percentage of Full & Part Time Faculty ‘2009-2010 to 2013-2014’

2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14

100%

90%

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%

32%

68%

29%

71%

18%

82%

33%

67%

16%

84%

Part-Time

Full-Time

4. Percentage of Saudi & Non-Saudi Faculty ‘2009-2010 to 2013-2014’

2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14

100%

90%

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%

60%

40% 35% 36% 32% 38%

65% 64% 68% 62%

Non-Saudi

Saudi

36

Ill. Financial Profile ‘2009-2010 to 2013-2014’ 1. University Revenue by Source

Tuition Revenue

Continuing Education Revenue

Event Sponsorship

Auditorium & Other Facilities Revenue

Donations & Capital Expenditure

110,000,000

100,000,000

90,000,000

80,000,000

70,000,000

60,000,000

50,000,000

40,000,000

30,000,000

20,000,000

10,000,000

0

2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14

5. Percentage of Faculty by highest Degree ‘2009-2010 to 2013-2014’

2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14

100%

90%

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%

Bachelors

Masters

Doctorate

15% 14% 17% 12% 8%

57%

28%

59%

26%

60%

23%

58%

30%

62%

30%

Breakdown of Revenue: 2013-14

Tuition Revenue

Continuing Education Revenue

Event Sponsorship

Auditorium & Other Facilities Revenue

92.5%

5.5%

1.8 % 0.2%

2. Continuing Education Revenue ‘2009-2010 to 2013-2014’

2013-14

2012-13

2011-12

2010-11

2009-10

6,013,689

7,055,759

5,441,694

2,950,005

4,337,705

38

4. Total Capital Liability & Total Assets

Total Capital Assets

Total Liabiilities

400,000,000

350,000,000

300,000,000

250,000,000

200,000,000

150,000,000

100,000,000

50,000,000

02009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14

334,

570,

769

186,

150,

114

153,

063,

646

18,8

96,1

61

142,

930,

896

21,0

28,6

82

134,

709,

432

18,6

12,9

69

133,

072,

531

15,7

76,9

21

Academic Affairs

Finance & Administration

President’s Office

Students Affairs

Institutional Advancment

3. Breakdown of Operating Expenses

25.6% 56.8%

6.8%6.1%

4.7%

5. Total University Equity

160,000,000

140,000,000

120,000,000

100,000,000

80,000,000

60,000,000

40,000,000

20,000,000

-

2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14

117,

295,

610

116,

096,

463

121,

902,

214

134,

167,

485

148,

420,

655

7. Liquidity Ratio

6. Debt Ratio

3.50

3.00

2.50

2.00

1.50

1.00

0.50

0.00

2.02

2.96

1.61 1.61

1.24

2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14

8.00

7.00

6.00

5.00

4.00

3.00

2.00

1.00

0.00

4.89

3.59 3.52

7.02

3.80

2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14

40

This annual report is the first since Dar Al-Hekma officially became a university in January 2014. In

many ways, this achievement is a tribute to the progress Dar Al-Hekma has made over the years, from

its modest beginnings as a college in 1999 with only 120 students in three degree programs, to one of

the leading private institutions of higher education in Saudi Arabia. Now, with the launching of the 5-year

strategic planning process, Dar Al-Hekma is building on its achievements and preparing for an exciting

future ahead.

The 2013-2014 annual report has highlighted some of Dar Al-Hekma’s main accomplishments across

the areas of education, research, and community service throughout the year. The report was structured

around the four Pillars of Excellence which form the basis of the University’s strategic plan: Teaching,

Learning and Research Excellence; Operational Excellence; Strategic Alliances; and Culture of Excel-

lence. For each pillar, key achievements from the University’s various departments and academic pro-

grams were included, as well as achievements made by individual students, faculty and staff members.

I would like to extend my congratulations and appreciation to all DAH members for their hard work,

diligence, and commitment to helping the University reach its objectives over the year. I hope that this

annual report has allowed us to reflect on our successes as an institution and inspire us to strive towards

an even greater future.

I look forward to another successful year ahead.

Ms. Randa Hariri

Director, IRAP Department

A Word from the Editor

Guided by its mission, vision and values, and by the four Pillars of Excellence, Dar Al-Hekma has continued to expand its role throughout the year not only as a premier institution for higher education, but also as a leading force for social change in the wider society.

This report has highlighted some of the key accomplishments of Dar Al-Hekma community members in areas as diverse as education, research, operational excellence and community engagement. We hope that by celebrating these accomplishments, we build a strong foundation for future progress. The achievements of our students, faculty, staff and alumnae are the basis upon which Dar Al-Hekma builds its success. Without their commitment to the University’s values and their drive for excellence, Dar Al-Hekma would not be able to play the leading role in the community that it does today.

Dar Al-Hekma is now officially recognized as a University and has many plans to unveil over the next few years. We look forward to a very exciting future ahead.

Conclusion

DisclaimerPlease note that every effort has been taken to ensure that the information contained in this report was correct at the time of publication. For the most up to date information, please visit our website at www.dah.edu.sa

www.dah.edu.sa