Developing Graduate Studies System in Saudi Universities Using Systems Analysis Approach in Light of Quality Assurance and Accreditation Requirements

Abstract

The present study aims to identify the reality of graduate quality system in Saudi universities from graduate students and academic staff perspectives. The study also aims to propose mechanisms for the development of regular and parallel graduate education system in Saudi universities, using systemic approach analysis in the light of the requirements of quality and accreditation. The present study is significant because it was conducted at an important stage university education, that is post-graduate education. The issue of education quality is also a priority of Qassim University research areas. It is expected that the proposed mechanisms would be useful in the development of postgraduate system in Saudi universities. The Study utilized descriptive analytical approach that is based on applying two electronic questionnaires to be applied to two random samples of graduate students and faculty members in four Saudi Universities. The study reached a number of conclusions, including that the quality level of regular postgraduate system is greater than that of the parallel one. Where it was moderate in the case of regular; it was low in that of the latter. The study recommended that cooperation between postgraduate regular and parallel systems is significant. It was also recommended to eatablish a sort of twinning among national and international postgraduate systems.