Introduction
Below is a list of some initiatives implemented by SACM from January 2013 to June 2015, divided into six main aspects as under:
- Advice and tips for students.
- Enhancing communication with students.
- Encouraging excellence.
- Administrative and technical development.
- Cultural exchange.
- Review and evaluation.
SACM is currently working towards implementation of many further initiatives. SACM values students’ feedback as a guideline toward improving its services to better cater to students needs and help them realize their expectations and aspirations. SACM does ensure that all staff members make every effort to enhance their performance and overcome any current and potential challenges.
Note: Some links on this page may redirect the reader to Arabic pages for student use. Titles of these links are translated into English to indicate SACM’s scope of services.
| Advice and tips for students | |
| Launching orientation programs of bases of recognition for non-Saudi university degrees, and inviting the director of the General Administration for non-Saudi University Degrees Recognition. | Feb/2013 |
| Organizing academic leadership programs for students sponsored by Saudi universities. | Apr/2013 |
| Organizing Saudi National Day contest. | May/2013 |
| Publishing the “ Legal Guide”. | Sep/2013 |
| Creating a guiding page on the website about English language learning. | Nov/2013 |
| Meeting between Imam of Grand Holy Mosque and students. | May/2014 |
| Publishing “ Medical Fellowships Guide”. | Jun/2014 |
| Launching the “ Orientation Program” initiative. | Sep/2014 |
| Launching anti-radicalism programs. | Nov/2014 |
| Publishing SACM’s “ Advice and Tips” on twitter. | Jan/2015 |
| Establishing “Social Affairs Unit”. | Feb/2015 |
| Publishing “ Guide to Study in Australia”. | Apr/2015 |
| Publishing “ Education System in Australia” booklet. | Apr/2015 |
| Launching SACM’s “ Anti-smoking Campaign”. | Jun/2015 |
| Enhancing communication with students | |
| Creating SACM’s account on social media. | Jan/2013 |
| Launching “Meeting with my Students” program. | Mar/2013 |
| Authorizing some of customer service and communication good practices, and conducting training for academic advisors. | Apr/2013 |
| Establishing Complaint and Follow-up Unit. | Apr/2013 |
| Establishing SACM’s Call Centre. | Jun/2013 |
| Launching SACM’s application on smart devices. | Dec/2013 |
| Organizing regular meetings with students and universities. | Feb/2014 |
| Publishing SACM on YouTube. | Apr/2014 |
| Upgrading the central telephone system. | Nov/2014 |
| Adding “WhatsApp” as a new communication channel of SACM. | Feb/2015 |
| Approving 1300222242 as SACM’s main phone number. | May/2015 |
| Encouraging excellence | |
| Launching “Encouraging Excellence” program for students. | Feb/2013 |
| Encouraging excellence among SACM’s staff members, and raising the motto of “From Success to Excellence”. | Mar/2013 |
| Creating “List of Honor” page on SACM’s website. | May/2013 |
| Approving a method of calculating the distinction reward for PhD students. | Jul/2013 |
| Encouraging good practices among academic advisors and other staff members. | Feb/2014 |
| Setting up “Scientific Innovation Gallery” as part of the graduation ceremony. | Aug/2014 |
| Approving a method of calculating the distinction reward for medical fellowship students. | Nov/2014 |
| Encouraging good practices at Saudi Student Clubs. | Feb/2014 |
| Creating “Employing Scholarship Graduates” guiding page on SACM’s website to boost employment of graduates. | Jan/2015 |
| Creating a list of best Australian universities categorized according to majors, and urging new students to enroll at those universities. | Feb/2015 |
| Administrative and technical development | |
| Establishing Quality Assurance & Development Unit. | Jan/2013 |
| Upgrading SACM’s website ( www.sacm.org.au). | Jan/2013 |
| Issuing terms of reference for SACM’s departments. | Feb/2013 |
| Develop SACM’s vision and mission and identifying general goals. | Feb/2013 |
| Developing a work plan of short term and long term goals, and setting key performance indicators. | Feb/2013 |
| Establishing Program and Academic Planning Unit. | Mar/2013 |
| Issuing monthly and annual reports about SACM’s operations. | Jun/2013 |
| Relocating the servers to SACM’s premises. | Nov/2013 |
| Launching review of data program, whereby SACM’s incomplete transactions are addressed and data are sorted out. | Oct/2013 |
| Upgrading email systems and link them with SAFEER program. | Jan/2014 |
| Launching SACM’s intranet (STAFF). | Oct/2014 |
| Launching Comprehensive Inquiry initiative, which is included in SAFEER program. | Dec/2014 |
| Approving SACM’s new organization structure. | Feb/2015 |
| Approving SACM’s new logo. | Mar/2015 |
| Launching “Regulation of Procedures of Admission to Australian Universities” initiative. | Mar/2015 |
| Cultural exchange | |
| Participating in annual Australian multicultural festivals and events. | Feb/2014 |
| Publishing “ ASDAA” book (on the cultural status of Australia). | Feb/2014 |
| Producing publications and fliers about Saudi Arabia in Arabic and English languages. | Apr/2014 |
| Participating in conferences on education in Australia and presenting papers thereat about Saudi Arabia. | Oct/2014 |
| Meetings of Cultural Attachés from Gulf states as a venue for mutual coordination. | Jun/2014 |
| Celebrating the World Arabic Language Day. | Dec/2014 |
| Launching SACM’s English website. | Jan/2015 |
| Media highlights on Saudi-Australian cultural relationships over a decade. | Feb/2015 |
| Direct cooperation with representatives of Australian universities clusters. | Mar/2015 |
| Organizing SACM’s open day to get Australians to learn about Saudi Arabia. | Jun/2015 |
| Review and evaluation |
|
| Conducting annual comprehensive review of students’ files and their companions’ files. | Apr/2013 |
| Reviewing electronic and paper forms and adjusting them with actual needs. | Aug/2013 |
| Reviewing and upgrading internal audit system to include different work procedures. | Oct/2013 |
| Evaluating English language institutes and delisting non-compliant ones. | Nov/2013 |
| Annual evaluation of SACM’s staff performance. | Dec/2013 |
| Launching “Visitor Satisfaction Evaluation” program. | Jan/2014 |
| Launching daily and weekly follow-up program to ensure quick performance. | Feb/2014 |
| Biannual evaluation of staff performance and students satisfaction. | Jun/2014 |
| Conducting a comprehensive study to evaluate Australian universities. | Nov/2014 |
| Launching graduates poll program. | Dec/2014 |
| Evaluating sponsored students’ performance at Australian universities. | Apr/2015 |
Goals
SACM is proud of its great achievements including several initiatives and development programs in all aspects of work. However, there are still some goals yet to realize towards quality assurance and lifting the performance to the highest potential. SACM’s Quality Assurance and Development Unit, which is supervised by the Cultural Attaché, is currently studying the feasibility of some initiatives and development programs. Some other initiatives and development programs are in process pending approvals from relevant authorities. SACM welcomes all proposals and feedback, which aim at improving our work and services. SACM frequently asks for feedback of students and staff members for ongoing improvement.
Examples of some development programs currently under consideration:
- Translation of Saudi cultural publications into English.
- Translation of Australian cultural publications into Arabic.
- More focus on internship programs, and concluding agreements with Australian institutions in this regard.
- More efforts to link Saudi graduates from Australia with employers in Saudi Arabia.
- Enhancing response and communication to the possible highest levels.
- Simplifying and abridging some procedures to speed up the performance and uplift the quality.
- Analysing the outcomes of different evaluation programs, and making use of research findings in development.
- Conducting some studies about Australian universities.
- Organizing various contests for students to encourage their creativity and innovation.
- Some ideas to promote Saudi Student Clubs’ activities.
For feedback and suggestions, please communicate with the Cultural Attaché via email.