Intellectual Awareness

بِسْمِ اللّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Introduction

Effat University has established a record of striving to advance academic knowledge hand in hand with morals, ethics and traditions. The IQRA values guide the University’s activities and pursuits to create a holistic educational environment with a sense of familial belonging. Effat University has instituted several measures to achieve its vision. The establishment of a research unit and research labs, a student shura and student affairs unit, formation of clubs and organization of workshops and training sessions are all different channels through which the University promotes a healthy and well-rounded environment with well-balanced character.

Vision

The Intellectual Awareness Unit strives to partner with the community to inspire a generation of leaders and academics who uphold and advance the true Islamic principles of moderation, tolerance, and maintain harmony in a healthy intellectual environment, and encourage scholarly dialogue to avert any potentially perverse intellectual, behavioural perspectives.

Mission

The Intellectual Awareness Unit aims to work with the Effat university community, both students and staff, to reinforce the principles of moderation and tolerance modelled by the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and conduct scholarly research to strengthen further national harmony while developing mechanisms to monitor, guide and prevent potentially misguided perspectives, thereby reinforcing commitment and loyalty to both religion and country.

Objectives

Actions and Decisions taken in response to the Ministry of Education request regarding raising the Intellectual awareness, promote moderation and combat the anti-corruption:
•    Formulating a plan and procedure to accomplish intellectual awareness in the University.

• Establishment of an Intellectual Awareness Unit (IAU) with a director and general secretary
• The unit has  a clear Mission, Vision and objectives aligned with Ministry requirements and objectives

•    Forming a team to prepare, implement and review the unit’s objectives and plans, and measure progress towards achieving the mission.

• Formation of a committee chaired by the Provost and vice-chaired by the Director of the IAU which mandate is to devise, prepare, review and monitor the plans to achieve the Unit Mission and objectives.
• The committee is also responsible of measuring the progress toward achieving the IAU Mission.
• Formation of sub-committees to implement the plans

•    Work with the Ministry of Education and other institutions to bring about positive changes in intellectual awareness in society.

• Report to the Ministry all the IAU activities conducted on semester basis

•    Creating a website to meet the objectives of the Unit.

• Create a webpage under Effat website (October)

•    Collaborate with the Disciplinary committee and the Student Counselling services to meet the Ministry of Education’s objective of “monitoring intellectual violations, ideas, extremist behavior and negative phenomena in the University Institution in accordance with the regulations set by the Ministry in light of regulations and procedure”.

• Monitoring, tracking and reporting to the Ministry any violation or misbehavior related to intellectual awareness, extremism or negative phenomena

•    Collaborate with Effat faculty to include a segment of Intellectual Awareness in their course and maintain a record of all such activities to create a toolbox for future use.

• One course in the new GEP will be dedicated to achieve the IAU objectives and Mission

•    Conduct activities and events in collaboration with different University departments to promote moderation, tolerance, and peaceful co-existence.

• Plans relate to the various units including Students, Faculty and staff

•    Construct mechanisms to counsel and help those who may be misguided and provide them with a sense of community and belonging.

• Plans relate to the various units including Students, Faculty and staff

•    Encourage students and staff to conduct research and engage in academic discussions on this topic.

• Plans relate to the various units including Students, Faculty and staff

•    Encouraging active participation in sports and supporting the sports clubs of the University.

• Plans relate to the various units including Students, Faculty and staff

Responsibilities

1. The plan of the intellectual awareness unit needs to be approved by the chair and follow-ups of its implementation should be taken into action.
2. The plan for research, studies, and activities related to the intellectual awareness unit needs to be approved.
3. Training courses regarding the intellectual aspect of leadership of the institution should be approved.
4. Propose the operational procedures and submit them to the council for approval.
5. Recommendations should be raised concerning the operational expenses of the unit and must be approved by the board.
6. Approval of the periodic reports of the unit for submission to the Ministry.
7. Study all that is referred to the committee by the council or center.
8. Identify the sectors of higher education institutions such as agencies, colleges, deanships, and administrative units that require a coordinator for the intellectual awareness unit who will communicate with the unit in operational aspects.
9. The work of the unit has to be carried forward as per the operational work model adopted by the Ministry. The institution may add programs and events that are not contradicting the rules and operating model approved by the Ministry.
10. Urging students to participate and attend events, workshops, and dialogue sessions.
11. Raising initiatives and proposals to enrich the units' program.
12. How to identify, prevent and report potential emergencies.
13. Awareness of the dangers of moral perversions and practices against literature and religion.
14. Submit a Monthly report on the number of books, which have been rejected.