*5.1.1. Administrative*

**Figure 4.** Mean response score % for the survey questions.

program development.

**5. Discussion of the findings**

58 Trends in Geomatics - An Earth Science Perspective

The program was successful to form industry advisory committee that brings all relevant stakeholders. The committee was successful in providing requirements and considerations for future employees, in the field of hydrographic surveying. Special extra meetings with Saudi Aramco, the leading international oil company and the General Survey Commission (GCS), in addition to leading private sector enterprises, provided some value insights into the

The data used for this study came from all three stages of the methodology as outlined in the methods section. Over the past 10 years, the program has granted B.Sc. degree to a total number of 60 students. The majority was graduated before the recognition of the IHO was given. In 2016, the first batch of the program with 10 students has graduated with the IHO recognition as Category "A," which makes this as a milestone in the application development by providing the graduates with international certification along with B.Sc. in Hydrographic Surveying. Out of 50 students, a total number of graduates from the program over the study period, the survey covered 55 students for their feedback on their evaluation of the program and whether the program has met their expectations regarding quality of education needed for the job, or in supporting their future career objective. The interview questions covered the knowledge requirements according to the Saudi National Commission on Academic

Accreditation and Assessment (NCAAA) routine assessment for academic programs.

The financial procedures have represented one of the biggest challenges regarding allocating budgets, and the spending in the newly established hydrographic surveying program is very generous. However, the financial routines are time consuming and take the time to complete, which delays the program in the beginning. King Abdulaziz University, with support from the Ministry of Higher Education, has contributed to solving this problem by allocating a budget for the new project, that is independent of the budget of the Faculty of Marine Science, the host of the new faculty. In fact, the budget for the new project has in many ways exceeded the budget of the hosting faculty. This has contributed to streamlining the process on spending on facilities as equipment for the new faculty.

Another challenge was characterized by the ambiguity in decision-making, in the form of having a new department with four subspecialties administratively under Marine Science. The department is following the standard decision-making process in the university. This decision-making process for the new department completed under the approval of the Faculty of Marine Science. King Abdulaziz University has supported independent decision-making process for the newly established department, specifically in financial administration and hiring processes. This decision-making model has provided the flexibility to the organization structure of subdepartments with professional identity located administratively under the Faculty of Marine Science to work more dynamically. However, issues related to students records, registration, and all student affairs were handled under the Faulty of Marine Science, and it was sometimes delaying factor in following the administrative hierarchy. The dual identity of the Department of Maritime Studies, in a sense that the budget of the department is independent, but the organizational hierarchy somewhat falls under the Faculty of Maritime Studies, has created some confusion in the administration in the university. Many contradictions in policies reflected the dual identity related to the Department of Maritime Studies as an individual department, which hold the seeds for new faculty. The higher administration of King Abdulaziz University has exercised every effort to facilitate the transition of the new Faculty of Maritime Studies. In 2011, the Faculty of Maritime Studies was an independent department with a royal decree that announced its existence for the first time.

*5.1.2. Operational*

communications.

to commute between the two campuses.

*5.1.3. Evaluation of learning outcomes*

as faculty members in future.

**5.2. Development of sociocultural indicators**

On the operational side, some challenges have faced the newly established hydrographic surveying program. Summary of these difficulties fall in equipment and infrastructure; as the program is new, its facilities and infrastructures are still being developed. Most of lab hardware and software capabilities were developing. As a newly established department, the department was faced with the issue of filling all vacant posts from technical staff to help faculty and administration with different operational issues including communications and archiving. King Abdulaziz University has assisted in this regard by providing some positions for hiring new technical staff, and all posts are now filled, with many specialized hydrographers to support with onboard the vessel training and in the laboratories. Also, additional support staff was hired to take responsibilities for educational affairs and

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61

Historically, students were faced with the challenge of accommodating schedules dispersed over two campuses, 40 km apart. It was a major operational challenge having lectures before noon on the main campus and scheduled labs in the afternoon in the Al Morgan campus. However, King Abdulaziz University and the faculty administration have arranged to bring all classes on the same campus in Al Morgan, saving significant time and effort for students

The program is providing new technology-based education in the region. Students were trained to gain competence in sophisticated equipment and hardware. The quality of the program was discussed based on indicators other than the self-reported data from the students. These indicators of the program's success and positive are the employability of the graduates and securing international recognition as a successful professionals, and IHO Cat A certified professionals. These are key indicators of developing high-quality local professionals that are demand for graduates. Reports from international training suggested that our graduates' skills and knowledge are adequate to allow them to gain advanced training skills abroad, specifically in Canada. The students have utilized the program capabilities and facilities efficiently and were able to get jobs easily. Seven of our graduates were employed by the department, and five of them have completed masters in the United States, Canada, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and France. Currently, three of our program graduates are pursuing Ph.D. studies in Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States to take over

The socio-cultural contributions of the program are evident to the geomatics community in Saudi Arabia and the region. The international impact of the program was evident in the input of the program faculty in research projects locally and internationally. **Table 3** is showing the employment rate of the graduates of the program between 2007 and 2016. **Table 4** below is showing the contributions of the program faculty in the last 5 years. The trend is growing as new research projects development is increasing. The department is in active collaboration

Another administrative challenge was related to hiring and retention of faculty members in hydrographic surveying. In general, all geomatics specializations are considered rare specialties. This global shortage situation, also, limited spending controlled by outdated policies and procedures as well as the lack of local Saudis faculty members, and staff has made KAU hydrographic surveying program relatively unstable, in the first years. King Abdulaziz University has facilitated this process by activating extra incentive within the pay scheme approved by the Ministry of Higher Education, specifically for attracting faculty members in unique specializations. Also, KAU has provided additional incentive and local grants for research projects that support faculty research activities in small or medium projects.

On the program implementation side, King Abdulaziz University strived to provide world class geomatics education; however, there was some skepticism from students to put their future in the line while applying for a new program. Issues related to field training were among the most significant challenge to this program and for few years in the beginning. Students had to wait for few months for placement in field training. The university administration has realized the importance of providing the students with a perfect academic experience and attempted to support that in two ways. The first way was through allocating generous budgets for facilities and equipment, including the purchase of advanced hydrographic surveying vessel with all equipment needed for training and with onboard lab. The second way was by providing the students with short internship training through several local and international memorandum of understanding (MOUs) with well-reputed professional organizations, including the Saudi Aramco and some of its contractors, who have accepted to train some students in the field over the summer term. Additionally, agreements were signed with international training centers in the Netherlands, France, and Canada. Different batches of students sponsored by KAU to complete their summer training term abroad to get exposed to international operation environments since 2009 groups of students completed their training in the Netherlands, France, and Canada for training. Despite the arrival of the department training vessel in 2010, the administration of King Abdulaziz University has decided to keep the international training program running to maximize the students' international training experience and to provide international collaboration with counterpart institutions in Europe and North America. The training for 2017 is planned to be in the United States.

### *5.1.2. Operational*

process for the newly established department, specifically in financial administration and hiring processes. This decision-making model has provided the flexibility to the organization structure of subdepartments with professional identity located administratively under the Faculty of Marine Science to work more dynamically. However, issues related to students records, registration, and all student affairs were handled under the Faulty of Marine Science, and it was sometimes delaying factor in following the administrative hierarchy. The dual identity of the Department of Maritime Studies, in a sense that the budget of the department is independent, but the organizational hierarchy somewhat falls under the Faculty of Maritime Studies, has created some confusion in the administration in the university. Many contradictions in policies reflected the dual identity related to the Department of Maritime Studies as an individual department, which hold the seeds for new faculty. The higher administration of King Abdulaziz University has exercised every effort to facilitate the transition of the new Faculty of Maritime Studies. In 2011, the Faculty of Maritime Studies was an independent

60 Trends in Geomatics - An Earth Science Perspective

department with a royal decree that announced its existence for the first time.

Another administrative challenge was related to hiring and retention of faculty members in hydrographic surveying. In general, all geomatics specializations are considered rare specialties. This global shortage situation, also, limited spending controlled by outdated policies and procedures as well as the lack of local Saudis faculty members, and staff has made KAU hydrographic surveying program relatively unstable, in the first years. King Abdulaziz University has facilitated this process by activating extra incentive within the pay scheme approved by the Ministry of Higher Education, specifically for attracting faculty members in unique specializations. Also, KAU has provided additional incentive and local grants for

research projects that support faculty research activities in small or medium projects.

and North America. The training for 2017 is planned to be in the United States.

On the program implementation side, King Abdulaziz University strived to provide world class geomatics education; however, there was some skepticism from students to put their future in the line while applying for a new program. Issues related to field training were among the most significant challenge to this program and for few years in the beginning. Students had to wait for few months for placement in field training. The university administration has realized the importance of providing the students with a perfect academic experience and attempted to support that in two ways. The first way was through allocating generous budgets for facilities and equipment, including the purchase of advanced hydrographic surveying vessel with all equipment needed for training and with onboard lab. The second way was by providing the students with short internship training through several local and international memorandum of understanding (MOUs) with well-reputed professional organizations, including the Saudi Aramco and some of its contractors, who have accepted to train some students in the field over the summer term. Additionally, agreements were signed with international training centers in the Netherlands, France, and Canada. Different batches of students sponsored by KAU to complete their summer training term abroad to get exposed to international operation environments since 2009 groups of students completed their training in the Netherlands, France, and Canada for training. Despite the arrival of the department training vessel in 2010, the administration of King Abdulaziz University has decided to keep the international training program running to maximize the students' international training experience and to provide international collaboration with counterpart institutions in Europe On the operational side, some challenges have faced the newly established hydrographic surveying program. Summary of these difficulties fall in equipment and infrastructure; as the program is new, its facilities and infrastructures are still being developed. Most of lab hardware and software capabilities were developing. As a newly established department, the department was faced with the issue of filling all vacant posts from technical staff to help faculty and administration with different operational issues including communications and archiving. King Abdulaziz University has assisted in this regard by providing some positions for hiring new technical staff, and all posts are now filled, with many specialized hydrographers to support with onboard the vessel training and in the laboratories. Also, additional support staff was hired to take responsibilities for educational affairs and communications.

Historically, students were faced with the challenge of accommodating schedules dispersed over two campuses, 40 km apart. It was a major operational challenge having lectures before noon on the main campus and scheduled labs in the afternoon in the Al Morgan campus. However, King Abdulaziz University and the faculty administration have arranged to bring all classes on the same campus in Al Morgan, saving significant time and effort for students to commute between the two campuses.

#### *5.1.3. Evaluation of learning outcomes*

The program is providing new technology-based education in the region. Students were trained to gain competence in sophisticated equipment and hardware. The quality of the program was discussed based on indicators other than the self-reported data from the students. These indicators of the program's success and positive are the employability of the graduates and securing international recognition as a successful professionals, and IHO Cat A certified professionals. These are key indicators of developing high-quality local professionals that are demand for graduates. Reports from international training suggested that our graduates' skills and knowledge are adequate to allow them to gain advanced training skills abroad, specifically in Canada. The students have utilized the program capabilities and facilities efficiently and were able to get jobs easily. Seven of our graduates were employed by the department, and five of them have completed masters in the United States, Canada, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and France. Currently, three of our program graduates are pursuing Ph.D. studies in Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States to take over as faculty members in future.

#### **5.2. Development of sociocultural indicators**

The socio-cultural contributions of the program are evident to the geomatics community in Saudi Arabia and the region. The international impact of the program was evident in the input of the program faculty in research projects locally and internationally. **Table 3** is showing the employment rate of the graduates of the program between 2007 and 2016. **Table 4** below is showing the contributions of the program faculty in the last 5 years. The trend is growing as new research projects development is increasing. The department is in active collaboration


Many high school students showed interest in the program, and some had participated in mini-projects involving hydrographic aspects, where they stayed in contact with the department while working on projects. A delegation of the High School Teachers Conference in the GCC region has visited the department and learned about hydrographic surveying equipment and vessel. The local media, national TV, and other private channels have highlighted several activities by the program, bringing knowledge about the importance of hydrographic

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The program is contributing to the development of a unique community of hydrographers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the region. It is getting support from KAU administration to extend its role in community service through different educational and awareness activities, as well as through developed short-training courses taught at some institutions in the

This chapter discussed a collaborative approach in determining the challenges faced by a newly established hydrographic surveying department at King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia. It has presented the opportunities for developing such a program through transfer and modification of the established approach, using KAU program as a model. The newly created program addressed the apparent need for such specialized and targeted higher education that provides international professional certification, especially by looking at the environmental issues in the region, natural resources and maritime transport in the area, and the need for safe navigation. The study has demonstrated the unique inception of a program that meets the international standards, while providing high-quality local education for students in the region has contributed to the socioeconomic well-being of the region and can be seen as

The establishment challenges faced by the program can be better addressed by proposing a new scheme of collaboration and by exploring new short-term models of recruitment that attract visiting faculty members from well-reputed universities for short-term visiting professorship trips, or by signing partnership agreements with the different universities mainly for faculty exchange and training of students. The support from the international community represented by the IHO and host training institutions was among the key attracting points from various stakeholders in the Saudi Arabia and the GCC region broadly. The program has provided a new, world-class hydrographic surveying education through an effective partnership with the IHO, IHO-IBSC, and the leading training institutions in Canada, the Netherlands, and France. The satisfaction of the program stakeholders and the success of the program to provide employment opportunities to the graduates were a direct measure of the success of the program in meeting the stakeholders' expectations. Over the past 10 years, the graduates' employment rate within 6 months of graduation was 100%. Several meetings with the stakeholders reflected the high satisfaction of the program capabilities

surveying.

City of Jeddah.

**6. Conclusions**

a model for similar future programs worldwide.

**Table 3.** Students employment history for graduates between 2007 and 2016.


**Table 4.** International contributions of the program in the last 5 years.

with York University and Concordia University in Canada in ongoing research projects, and there is an agreement with the Center for Interdisciplinary Development in Ocean Mapping (CIDCO) in Canada for the training of students.

The program has contributed to the economic development of the region by providing highly skilled professionals that are serving in many key employers in the public and private sectors. The program started to familiarize local decision-makers as well as the public with the role and capabilities of geomatics in general and hydrography specifically. The program was visited by a delegation of the Hydrographic Society of the United Kingdom, UAE branch to extend an invitation to the program faculty, and students to contribute to the outreach activities in the region. The program outreach committee has invited some high schools to schedule visits of their final year students to the department and vessel, where students visited the program and learned about the capabilities the program and the requirements for admission. Also, the department has participated in many local conferences and introduced the program at different capacities for professionals as well as for nontechnical extended community members.

Many high school students showed interest in the program, and some had participated in mini-projects involving hydrographic aspects, where they stayed in contact with the department while working on projects. A delegation of the High School Teachers Conference in the GCC region has visited the department and learned about hydrographic surveying equipment and vessel. The local media, national TV, and other private channels have highlighted several activities by the program, bringing knowledge about the importance of hydrographic surveying.

The program is contributing to the development of a unique community of hydrographers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the region. It is getting support from KAU administration to extend its role in community service through different educational and awareness activities, as well as through developed short-training courses taught at some institutions in the City of Jeddah.
