The Role of Saudi Universities’ Endowments in Supporting Building a Knowledge Society from the Perspectives of the Leaders of its Endowments

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the role of the Saudi universities’ endowments in supporting building a knowledge society, means of strengthening this role, and the possible statistically significant differences among the average estimates attributable to the study's categorical variables from the perspective of endowment leaders in these universities. For these goals to be achieved, a questionnaire has been drawn up to be circulated to a purposive sample of endowment leaders in Saudi governmental universities. The study's results showed that the actual level of support to Saudi universities endowments for building a knowledge society was average, with statistically significant differences at the level of such support regarding knowledge production attributable to the difference between those who believe that endowments are managed inside the university and those who believe that endowments are managed inside and outside the university, in favor of the latter group. There were also statistically significant differences at the level of such support regarding knowledge production and knowledge dissemination attributable to the difference between those who believe that endowment goals are specific and support building a knowledge society and those who believe that endowment goals are specific but do not support building a knowledge society, in favor of the first group. Recommendations included the necessity of setting up awareness-raising campaigns on university endowment and its importance, inviting the rich and affluent society members to actively contribute into it; establishing a database of university endowment studies and practices at the local, regional and global levels, and developing governance practices in managing university endowments.