Northern Borders University

Northern Border University

جامعة الحدود الشمالية

Type| Public university
Established| 2007; 18 years ago (2007)
Rector| Prof. Ahmed bin Ali Al-Rumaih
Location|

30°55′15″N 41°04′58″E﻿ / ﻿30.92089207715339°N 41.08286697338273°E﻿ / 30.92089207715339; 41.08286697338273

Affiliations| c
Website| www.nbu.edu.sa

## Northern Border University

[edit]

Northern Border University is a public university in Saudi Arabia, established in 2007. It is located in the northern region of the country and has three campuses[1] in Arar, Rafha, and Turaif. The university comprises 11 colleges with more than 18,313 students[2]

### A Brief Overview of the University

[edit]

Northern Border University enjoys a unique geographical location, positioning itself as the only higher education institution in the Northern Border region of Saudi Arabia. This distinct regional identity is reflected in the university’s name. In developing its strategic plans, the university draws upon the region’s rich cultural heritage, historical significance, and geographical advantages. Moreover, the university’s 2020-2025 strategic plan aligns with the region’s abundant natural resources, the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, and the new Universities’ Regulation, guided by the strategic priorities of the Northern Border Principality.[1]

General Statistics

Number | Description | Total Number

|
|

1 | The Number of male and female students in all academic degree  | 18313
2 | The Number of faculty members and those in similar status at the university  | 1052
3 | The Number of Employees at the University  | 677
4 | The Number of University agencies  | 3
5 | The Number of Colleges  | 11
6 | The Number of supporting deanships in the University  | 5
7 | The Number of institutes in the University  | 1
8 | The Number of scientific and research centers at the University  | 5
9 | The Number of other centers  | 2
10 | The Number of administrations  | 16
11 | The Number of Campus  | 3
12 | The Number of medical cities/hospitals/medical centers in the University  | 1
13 | The Number of sports facilities at the University (stadiums, halls)  | 10
14 | The Number of Academic programs  | 66

### The History of the University

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In 1428 H, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz – may God have mercy on him – announced during his historic visit to the Northern Borders Region, the establishment of the Northern Border University by royal decree, which included the previously established College of Teachers, in addition to the two branches of King Abdulaziz University in Arar and Rafha. The establishment of the university was immediately followed by establishing several new colleges, including the college of medicine, pharmacy, nursing, applied medical sciences, engineering, computer science, business administration, and the community college, all of which were distributed around its main campus in Arar, in addition to the university’s three branches in Rafha, Tarif, and Al-Uwaigilah. The nascent university witnessed a period of rapid development, and it has become a major axis of transformation for knowledge, social, and economic progress in the region.[1]

## Northern Border University: A History of Growth and Transformation

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The roots of Northern Border University (NBU) trace back to 1402 AH (1982 CE) with the establishment of the Intermediate College for Girls, marking the first cornerstone of higher education in the region. This institution evolved into a Teachers’ College in 1408 AH (1988 CE). In 1426 AH (2005 CE), university-level education expanded further with the creation of the College of Science in Arar and the Community College in Rafha, operating as branches of King Abdulaziz University.

In 1428 AH (2007 CE), a historic milestone was achieved when the late Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, decreed the establishment of Northern Border University. This transformative decision integrated the existing colleges and spurred the creation of new faculties across its branches in Arar, Rafha, Turaif, and Al-Uwayqilah, significantly strengthening the university's academic presence in the region.[3]

## Strategic framework[3]

[edit]

* Vision

We aspire to become a distinguished and credible university, recognized for our academic programs based on building competency, research, innovation, and providing services across the region and the Kingdom.

* Mission

We are a regionally serving, comprehensive university committed to educational excellence. Guided by our core values, heritage, and place, We deliver innovative educational programs characterized by outcomes that leverage the human, economic, cultural, and natural resources for the Northern Borders Region and beyond.

* Strategic themes

The strategic plan is built upon the foundational principles of Northern Border University. It rests on four key pillars that represent its main directions, aiming to achieve impactful transformation at both local and national levels.

1\. Theme One: Teaching and Learning

·  Prepare NBU students for the challenges of our rapidly developing region and evolving nation through workforce and market-sensitive educational experiences complemented with institutional core competencies (CC’s) both co-curricular and extra-curricular activities. Adopt salient high impact practices (HIP’s) to enhance student learning and achieve requisite competencies.

·  Recruit, retain and develop a world-class faculty dedicated to student success and teacher-scholar professional practice, with a focus on increasing the percentage of the qualified Saudis faculty.

·  Enhance diversity by exposing the NBU family to and benefiting from other universities’ experiences.

2\. Theme Two: Research and Innovation

·  Advance research and innovative activities, both across the university and in targeted disciplines, to contribute to critical societal priorities and national challenges.

3\. Theme Three: Community Engagement

·  Engage in meaningful community service, regionally, nationally and beyond, through mutually beneficial, structural approaches and impactful partnerships for community engagement that affirms NBU’s commitment to its mission, region and increased visibility.

4\. Theme Four: Infrastructure and Revenue

·  Build an efficient and effective campus with improved capacity, state of the art technology and establish diverse revenue streams and vital resources to further enhance the University’s distinction, ranking and classification.

·  Establish a dedicated space for collaborative work such as a student-centered facility, i.e., a student extracurricular activities facility, commonly known as the “student union” in the higher education lexicon. Enhance the University’s leading role in regional and international partnerships.

## University Objectives [4]

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* Providing excellent education that sharpens intellect and professionalism.
* Stimulating research and innovation following the university’s research priorities.
* Developing community partnership.
* Developing an administrative and financial system that enhances management efficiency and diversifies sources of income.

## Vice-Presidencies, Supporting Deanships, and Colleges at Northern Border University [5]

[edit]

Vice-Presidencies [6]

* Vice Presidency for Graduate Studies and Scientific Research
* Vice Presidency for Academic Affairs
* Vice Presidency for University Affairs

Supporting Deanships [7]

* Deanship of Scientific Research
* Deanship of Development and Quality
* Deanship of Student Affairs
* Deanship of E-Learning and Knowledge Resources
* Deanship of Admission and Registration

Faculties [8]

* Faculty of Medicine
* Faculty of Nursing
* Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences
* Faculty of Pharmacy
* Faculty of Science
* Faculty of Engineering
* Faculty of Computing and Information Technology
* Faculty of Business Administration
* Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
* Faculty of Designs and Arts
* Applied Faculty

## Presidents of Northern Border University

[edit]

Name | Duration

|

Prof. Osama bin Sadiq Abdulrahman Tayyib[9][10] | 2007-2011
Prof. Saeed bin Omar Al Omar[11][12] | 2011 – 2019
Prof. Mohammed bin Yahya Al-Shahrani[13][14] | 2019 – 2023
Prof. Ahmed bin Ali Al-Rumaih [15][16] | 2023 – Present

## Teaching and Learning

[edit]

1\.  Academic Programs Aligned with Future Job Prospects including: [17]

* Computer Engineering and Networks
* Artificial Intelligence
* Cybersecurity
* Data Science
* Applied Biology
* Business Technology
* Supply Chain Management
* Graphic Design and Digital Media
* Sharia
* Customer Service
* Medical Coding

2.Academic Accreditation

* Institutional Accreditation: The university has achieved full institutional academic accreditation.[18]
* Program Accreditation[19][20][21]

Number and Percentage of Accredited Bachelor’s Programs Compared to Non-Accredited Programs

Status | Number (Percentage) | Accrediting Body (Number) | Reason for Non-Accreditation (Number)

|
|
|

Accredited | 20 (91%)  | Education and Training Evaluation Commission (17 programs)  | \-
ABET (8 programs)  | \-
Both ETEC and ABET (5 programs)  | \-

National Accredited Programs

No. | Faculty | Program

|
|

1 | Medicine  | Medicine and Surgery
2 | Applied Medical Sciences  | Medical Laboratory Technology
3 | Clinical Nutrition
4 | Nursing  | Nursing Science
5 | Engineering  | Electrical Engineering
6 | Civil Engineering
7 | Science  | Computer Science
8 | Physics
9 | Mathematics
10 | Computing and IT  | Information Technology
11 | Computer Science
12 | Information Systems
13 | Business Administration  | Human Resources Management
14 | Finance
15 | Accounting
16 | Marketing
17 | Humanities and Social Sciences  | English Language and Literature

Internationally Accredited Programs

No.  | Faculty  | Program  | Accreditation Status

|
|
|

1  | Engineering  | Electrical Engineering  | Accredited by ABET
2  | Civil Engineering
3  | Industrial Engineering
4  | Chemical Engineering
5  | Mechanical Engineering
6  | Computing and IT  | Information Technology
7  | Computer Science
8  | Information Systems

Statistics of new, enrolled, and graduated students according to their gender category and nationwide (Saudi/ Non-Saudi) of the year 1445 AH:

Status | New | Enrolled | Graduated | Totals | Percentage

|
|
|
|
|

Gender  | Saudi  | Non-Saudi  | Total  | Saudi  | Non-Saudi  | Total  | Saud  | Non-Saudi  | Total  |  |
Male  | 1517  | 17  | 1534  | 4065  | 78  | 4143  | 790  | 18  | 808  | 6485  | 35%
Female  | 2409  | 34  | 2444  | 6854  | 76  | 6930  | 2423  | 31  | 2454  | 11828  | 65%
Totals  | 3926  | 52  | 3978  | 8919  | 154  | 9073  | 3213  | 49  | 3262  | 18313  | 100%
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

## Research and Innovation [22]

[edit]

Research and Innovation Enablers[23]

Scientific and Research Centers at the University:

* Center for Scientific Research and Entrepreneurship
* Center for Social and Humanitarian Research
* Center for Mining Research
* Center for Health Research
* Center for Translation, Authorship, and Publishing

University Chairs[24]

* Prince Faisal bin Khalid bin Sultan Chair for Renewable Energy Studies and Applications
* Mining Chair
* Remote Sensing Research Chair
* Excellence Chair in Artificial Intelligence Research and Applications

Research Units

* Medical Research Unit
* Pharmaceutical Research Unit
* Cybersecurity Research Unit
* Engineering and Technology Research Unit
* Basic Sciences Research Unit
* Administrative Sciences Research Unit
* Educational Sciences Research Unit
* Mining Research Unit
* Remote Investment Research Unit
* Environmental Research and Sustainable Development Unit
* Astronomical Observatory Research Unit

Research and Innovation Support Programs[25]

* Funded Research Program
* Wasel Program
* Fast Funding Program
* Publication in Elite Journals Program
* International Research Collaboration Program
* University Ambassador Program for Scholarship Students
* Research Groups Program

## Approval of Organizational and Legislative Enablers

[edit]

Regulations for awarding prizes, incentives, and recognition in scientific research for faculty members and equivalent personnel. Research Outcomes: Summary of Performance Based on Key Indicators[26]

Indicator Name | Achieved | Target for the Reporting Year | Achievement Percentage

|
|
|

Number of Scientific Papers Published in Web of Science  | 1,407  | 1,000  | 141%
Number of Scientific Papers Published in Scopus  | 1,522  | 1,000  | 152%
Average Publication Rate per Faculty Member (Web of Science)  | 2.3 papers  | 1.6 papers  | 144%
Average Publication Rate per Faculty Member (Scopus)  | 2.5 papers  | 1.6 papers  | 156%

## Graduate Programs at Northern Border University

[edit]

Graduate studies Programs[27]

* Master of Chemical Engineering
* Master of Electrical Engineering
* Master of Safety Engineering and Risk Management
* Master of Mechanical Engineering
* Master of Civil Engineering
* Master of Data Science
* Executive Master of Business Administration (MBA)
* Master of Applied Chemistry
* Master of Cybersecurity
* Master of Applied Statistics
* Master of Professional Accounting
* Executive Master of Healthcare Administration
* Master of Medical Education
* Master of Public Health Nursing
* Master of Jurisprudence and its Fundamentals (Fiqh)
* Master of Educational Administration
* Professional Master of Law
* Master of Applied Linguistics

## Scholarships

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* 75% of the university's scholarship recipients are directed to the top 200 universities globally or the top 200 universities in their specific fields of study.

## University ranking

[edit]

No | Ranking | National ranking | Arab world ranking | International ranking

|
|
|
|

1 | UI GreenMetric World University Rankings  | 4  | \-  | 645
2 | Time Higher Education Interdisciplinary Science Rankings  | 8  | \-  | 159
3 | Times Higher Education World University Rankings  | 25  | \-  | 1200-1001
4 | QS Arab Region University Rankings  | 13  | 57  | \-
5 | QS World University Rankings  | 16  | \-  | 1000-951

## Patents at Northern Border University

[edit]

The university has 21 patents registered, showcasing its commitment to innovation and research excellence

Libraries [28]

Total Library Holdings | Number of Borrowed Books: | Number of Beneficiaries:

|
|

345,300 | 10,408 | 16,345

## University's Book and Manuscript Holdings (2024 Academic Year)

[edit]

Library | Total Titles | Total Volumes | Total Collection

|
|
|

Arar Male Campus Library  | 18,303  | 66,997  | 85,300
Arar Female Campus Library  | 23,216  | 55,599  | 78,815
Rafha Male Campus Library  | 10,495  | 30,264  | 40,759
Rafha Female Campus Library  | 11,408  | 36,539  | 47,947
Turaif Male Campus Library  | 6,001  | 38,860  | 44,861
Turaif Female Campus Library  | 7,109  | 40,509  | 47,618
Total  | 76,532  | 268,768  | 345,300

## Achievements of Student Affairs

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* 1st place in the Saudi Universities Sports Federation Football Championship.
* 2nd place in the Saudi Universities Electronic Games Championship organized by the Saudi Universities Sports Federation.
* 1st place for the Best Theatrical Participation at the First Theatrical Festival for Saudi Universities held at Jazan University.
* 7th place in the Saudi Universities Performance Index (for female students).
* 10th place in the Saudi Universities Performance Index (for male students).

### Indicators of Community Service and Volunteering at Northern Border University

[edit]

#### Community Service

[edit]

* Various community service activities aimed at engaging students and staff in contributing to local and national development.

Activities numbers

699

| Beneficiaries Number

74953

| Success partners

|
|

## Volunteering

[edit]

Volunteering at the University (1445H Academic Year)

Indicator | Value | Average

|
|

Number of Volunteer Opportunities  | 1,225  | \-
Total Volunteer Hours  | 120,508.50  | 98.4 hours per opportunity
Total Number of Volunteers  | 11,131  | 9.1 volunteers per opportunity
Unique Volunteers  | 4,394  | Repetition rate: 2.5 times per volunteer

## See also

[edit]

* List of universities and colleges in Saudi Arabia

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c "About The University | North Border University". www.nbu.edu.sa. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
2. ^ "Location | North Border University". www.nbu.edu.sa. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
3. ^ a b "Strategic Plan 2020-2025 | North Border University". www.nbu.edu.sa. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
4. ^ "Vision, Mission, and Goals | North Border University". www.nbu.edu.sa. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
5. ^ "Home | North Border University". www.nbu.edu.sa. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
6. ^ "Vice-Presidencies | North Border University". www.nbu.edu.sa. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
7. ^ "Deanships | North Border University". www.nbu.edu.sa. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
8. ^ "Colleges | North Border University". www.nbu.edu.sa. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
9. ^ "أسامة طيب.. مدير الجامعات الأربع! - د.عبدالإله ساعاتي". www.al-jazirah.com. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
10. ^ "عام / مدير جامعة الحدود الشمالية يرأس مجلس الجامعة . ع". spa.gov.sa (in Arabic). Retrieved 2025-02-10.
11. ^ "عام / أمر ملكي بتعيين الدكتور سعيد آل عمر مديراً لجامعة الحدود الشمالية". spa.gov.sa (in Arabic). Retrieved 2025-02-10.
12. ^ واس, الرياض، رفحاء: فواز عزيز، (2011-04-09). "آل عمر أول مدير لجامعة الحدود الشمالية". Watanksa (in Arabic). Retrieved 2025-02-10.
13. ^ "أوامر ملكية: تعيين مديرين لجامعة الإمام وجامعة نورة وجامعة الحدود الشمالية". أرقام (in Arabic). Retrieved 2025-02-10.
14. ^ "المعالي في لقائه الأول مع منسوبي الجامعة | جامعة الحدود الشمالية". www.nbu.edu.sa (in Arabic). Retrieved 2025-02-10.
15. ^ "بالأسماء.. التجديد لرؤساء 4 جامعات وتكليف رئيس جديد لجامعة الحدود الشمالية". web.archive.org. 2023-10-16. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
16. ^ "Professor Ahmed bin Ali bin Saleh Al-Rumaih | North Border University". www.nbu.edu.sa. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
17. ^ "Annual Reports | North Border University". www.nbu.edu.sa. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
18. ^ "عام / الأمير فيصل بن خالد بن سلطان يهنئ جامعة الحدود الشمالية بمناسبة حصولها على الاعتماد المؤسسي الكامل". spa.gov.sa (in Arabic). Retrieved 2025-02-10.
19. ^ "عام /جامعة الحدود الشمالية حققت "اعتماد" ثلاثة برامج أكاديمية من هيئة تقويم التعليم والتدريب". spa.gov.sa (in Arabic). Retrieved 2025-02-10.
20. ^ etec.gov.sa https://etec.gov.sa/ar/news/563. Retrieved 2025-02-10. `{{cite web}}`: Missing or empty `|title=` (help)
21. ^ "عام / جامعة الحدود الشمالية تحصلُ على الاعتماد البرامجي المشروط لـ 3 برامج في مرحلة البكالوريوس". spa.gov.sa (in Arabic). Retrieved 2025-02-10.
22. ^ "Research and Innovation Strategic Plan 2020-2024 | North Border University". deanship-of-scientific-research.nbu.edu.sa. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
23. ^ "Social and Humanitarian Research Center | North Border University". deanship-of-scientific-research.nbu.edu.sa. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
24. ^ "The Scientific Chairs Unit | North Border University". deanship-of-scientific-research.nbu.edu.sa. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
25. ^ "Research Programs | North Border University". deanship-of-scientific-research.nbu.edu.sa. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
26. ^ "scientific research indicators | North Border University". deanship-of-scientific-research.nbu.edu.sa. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
27. ^ "Admission portal | North Border University". postgraduate-management.nbu.edu.sa. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
28. ^ "Northern Border University Libraries | North Border University". www.nbu.edu.sa. Retrieved 2025-02-10.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

Portals:

* Saudi Arabia
* Education

Authority control databases |

* ISNI

|