Philippine Christian University

GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT

CASE ANALYSIS FORMAT

King Abdulaziz university science and technology is a private university located in Saudi Arabia.
King Abdulaziz university science and technology (KAUST) seeks to develop the knowledge,
innovation and entrepreneurship in line with the national transformation program 2020 and
use institutional approach that ensures work continuity and its implementation in accordance
with Saudi Arabia’s 2030 vision. King Abdulaziz university science and technology (KAUST)
founded in 2009, the university provides research and graduate training programs in English as
the official language instruction. It is named after King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz, the ruler of Saudi
Arabia from 2005 until 2015. KAUST is the first mixed university in Saudi Arabia. In 2012, the
university was among the 500 fastest university research and citation records in the world. The
objective is to strengthen the capacity of KAUST as a research university in order to achieve
sustainable development and provided access to the knowledge society through adopting
optional practices and strengthens partnership with local and international institutions.
Meeting international standard for quality assurance. Focusing all resources on developing
programs and maximize scientific research and cultural output. His Royal highness, Prince
Mohammad Bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, prime minister and chairman of KAUST board of
trustees, launched the new strategy of the university, the strategy aims to transform research
into economically productive innovations by focusing on the national priorities for research,
development and innovation; health & wellness, sustainable environment and essential needs,
energy and industrial leadership and economics of the future. Additionally, the strategy aims to
strengthen KAUST’s partnerships with both the public and private sector which will contribute
in achieving the objectives of vision 2030. KAUST receives annual budget of 1.3 billion dollars
from the gov’t while the university own income sources amount to 0.21 billion dollars which is
equivalent to 16% of the university total budget. In addition to gov’t funding, there are some
resources that the university has worked on to increase its budget depending on its potential
 Philippine Christian University
GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT

financial data. KAUST became one of the most distinguished higher education institution locally
and internationally for its offers academic program to equip graduate aligned with ever
changing educational requirement of the community. since it came to existence, KAUST has
witnessed exclusive quantitative and qualitative development and growth until it became KSA’s
leading university.

The current issues of King Abdulaziz university technology and science (KAUST) is there is a
strong movement towards adjusting online teaching in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi gov’t decision to
embrace online teaching was driven by the desire to improve the knowledge and skills of its
citizen to close the technology gap between Saudi Arabia and advance countries, and to keep
pace with increasing Saudi demand for higher education. Saudi Arabia has recognized the
necessity of adopting online teaching as part of its educational and development strategies. The
concern of the top managements regarding the issue is the lack of internet access, lack of
equipment and infrastructure, lack of technical support, lack of technical skills and computer
literacy, lack of financial support for online instruction and lack of training for online instruction
in order to fully realize the potential of online teaching in Saudi university. Theses barriers
needs to be removed. A better understanding of faculty concerns and professional
development needs is necessary to achieving a higher level of online education and a greater
proportion of the student who benefit from this needs of instruction.
 Philippine Christian University
GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT

STRENGTHS WEAKNESS

• Clear scope vision, mission and Scarcity of financial resources

objective aligned with the university and vice • Lack of appropriate database
president for academic affairs strategic plan management sustain to manage events and
• Strong support from the vice maintain academic and administrative staff
president office for academic affair records
• High qualified and experienced faculty • Lack of academic and administrative
and staff. staff, which increases the budget on the
• High and varied level of participation current employees.
from stakeholders • Lack of specialized training programs
• Wide range of faculty professional for chester-based program.
development and academic initiatives • Difficulty in alignment between the
• Continuous and flexible professional varied needs of the training halls and the
development programming. deanship facilities(learning resource room)
OPPORTUNITY THREATS

• National and international accreditations • Maintaining the high level of

and approvals excellence and quality in deanship
• Strategic partnerships affiliations and activities
collaborations with external and internal • Lack of clear university policy for
entities professional development for
• Recruitment of high qualified deanship faculty members
academic and administrative staff • Budget deficit internally and lack of
• Enhanced marketing for deanship sponsorship
activities • Scheduling conflict between collages
• Establishment of consultation and and deanship
auxiliary projects • •Constant change of beneficiaries
needs.

One of the major challenges encountered in Saudi higher education is to provide college
education to the rapidly growing student population in the country. The capacity of universities
and colleges in Saudi Arabia is limited compared with the rapid growth of students applying for
college education.
 Philippine Christian University
GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT

A. ACA #1: Description of Alternative - Diversification of Academic Programs

Advantages:
a. Market Expansion: Introducing new and diverse academic programs can attract a broader
student base, increasing enrollment and revenue.
b. Competitive Advantage: Offering unique and specialized programs can differentiate King
Abdulaziz University (KAU) from competitors, enhancing its standing in the education sector.
c. Industry Relevance: Aligning programs with emerging industries can enhance KAU's
reputation for producing graduates with skills in high-demand fields.

Disadvantages:
a. Resource Intensity: Developing and maintaining diverse programs may require substantial
resources in terms of faculty, infrastructure, and ongoing updates.
b. Risk of Misalignment: There's a risk of misjudging market needs, potentially leading to the
introduction of programs with limited demand.

B. ACA #2: Description of Alternative - Strengthening International Collaborations

Advantages:
a. Global Recognition: Forming partnerships with renowned international institutions can
enhance KAU's global reputation.
b. Knowledge Exchange: Collaborations can facilitate faculty and student exchanges, promoting
cross-cultural understanding and knowledge transfer.
c. Research Opportunities: Joint research initiatives with international partners can lead to
advancements and innovations.
 Philippine Christian University
GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT

Disadvantages:
a. Cultural Barriers: Differences in academic systems and cultural norms may pose challenges in
implementing effective collaborations.
b. Dependency Risks: Overreliance on international collaborations may expose KAU to
geopolitical and economic uncertainties.

C. ACA #3: Description of Alternative - Technological Integration for Online Education

Advantages:
a. Access and Inclusivity: Online education can expand access to education, reaching a wider
audience locally and globally.
b. Cost Efficiency: Implementing online programs may reduce infrastructure costs and increase
operational efficiency.
c. Adaptability: Online platforms allow for flexibility in learning, catering to diverse student
needs.

Disadvantages:
a. Technical Challenges: Implementation may face technical hurdles, requiring significant
investment in infrastructure and training.
b. Quality Concerns: Ensuring the same educational quality in online programs as traditional
ones may pose a challenge.
 Philippine Christian University
GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT

Evaluation Criteria:

Market Potential: Assess the market demand for new programs, international collaborations,
and online education by considering demographic trends, industry needs, and student
preferences.
Leadership Capability: Evaluate KAU's leadership and faculty expertise in executing each
alternative, considering the adaptability and vision of the institution.
Competitive Advantage: Analyze how each alternative strengthens KAU's position relative to
other universities, both nationally and internationally.
Industry Attractiveness: Examine the potential impact of each alternative on KAU's relevance in
key industries and its ability to contribute to societal needs.
Financial Viability: Assess the financial implications of each alternative, including initial
investment, ongoing costs, and potential revenue streams.
By systematically evaluating each alternative against these criteria, KAU can make informed
decisions to capitalize on opportunities and mitigate threats effectively.
 Philippine Christian University
GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT

Plan of Actions (GANTT CHART)

Activities Person-in-charge Timeframe Budget

1.Enhance the quality • Establish • Form teams Allocate $2 million for

and relevance of interdisciplinary within the next 6 interdisciplinary teams

research at KAU. research teams to months. and collaboration

address complex • Initiate
initiatives. Allocate $5
challenges. collaboration
million for research
• Strengthen agreements
facility upgrades.
collaboration with within 1 year.
industry partners for • Complete facility
applied research. upgrades within
• Invest in state-of- 2 years.
the-art research
facilities and
equipment.

2. Improve the • Implement • Implement learning Allocate $1 million for

efficiency of academic
technology- platforms within the learning platform
enhanced learning implementation.
program delivery. next 12 months.
platforms. Allocate $500,000 for
• Conduct regular • Conduct ongoing
faculty training
faculty training on faculty training programs.
modern teaching
programs.
methodologies.
• Evaluate and update • Review and update
curriculum content curriculum annually.
to align with industry
needs.
 Philippine Christian University
GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT

3.Increase visibility and • Develop a • Launch marketing Allocate $1.5 million for
comprehensive campaign within the
attract a diverse marketing campaigns.
marketing campaign next 6 months.
student population. highlighting unique • Enhance online Allocate $500,000 for
academic programs. presence ongoing. website development
• Expand online • Participate in
international events and maintenance.
presence through
annually.
social media and a
user-friendly
website.
• Participate in
international
education fairs and
conferences.