The Deanship of Academic Development at Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University held a ceremony on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, to honor the recipients of the TAJ Award for Excellence in University Education Development for the year 1446H. The event was held under the patronage of the Acting President of the University, Prof. Fahad A. Al-Harbi, and attended by the Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Abdullah M. Al-Muhaideb, and the Dean of Academic Development, Dr. Mohammed S. Alkathiri. The ceremony was also attended by college and institute deans, department and center heads, and a large number of faculty members.

This year, the award was presented in four main categories: Academic Influencer, Faculty Members, Student Teams, and Institutional Units. The award aims to recognize outstanding contributions to university teaching and learning, spotlight innovative initiatives that enhance educational quality, and support the objectives of the Human Capability Development Program and Saudi Vision 2030.

The award received wide participation from the university community, with 75 submissions from 141 faculty members representing 18 colleges. All entries were evaluated according to six main criteria comprising 20 standards. The evaluation process involved assessment by two independent judges, followed by review committees, and, for certain categories, site visits and personal interviews.

During the ceremony, 18 awards were announced and presented to winners across the different categories. Among the most notable winning projects in the Faculty Members category were: The Horizontal and Vertical Integration Model for Pre-Clinical Year Students; The Research-Based Active Learning Initiative; The 3D Anatomical Model Creation Project; Art-Based Learning in Architectural Education; The Application of Digital Modeling for Historic Saudi Architectural Landmarks. In the Student Teams category, a standout project was “Education Through Theater.” In the Institutional Units category, notable initiatives included:  The Graduate Success Support Initiative; The Professional Certificates Forum in Biological and Life Sciences; The Jurisprudence and Fundamentals Proficiency Project; The "Learning Circle" Program, which integrates AI and interactive teaching as part of institutional practices.

Commenting on the event, Dr. Mohammed S. Alkathiri, Dean of Academic Development, said: “The TAJ Award is one of the university’s flagship initiatives for acknowledging and celebrating excellence in educational practices. It reflects our ongoing commitment to fostering an academic environment that encourages innovation and excellence. We are proud of the quality and diversity of initiatives showcased this year, all aimed at enhancing teaching and learning.” He added: “Recognizing outstanding contributors is both a gesture of appreciation and a motivation for continued achievement. We congratulate all the winners and thank everyone who participated in making this cycle of the award a success.”

It is worth noting that the ceremony coincided with the sixth edition of the Teaching and Learning in Higher Education Exhibition (TLEX25), held from May 4 to 8, 2025, under the theme: "Shaping the Future through Sustainable Excellence in Education."

For more information about the TAJ Award and the winning practices, please visit the official award portal at: https://taj.iau.edu.sa