Whistleblower Protection and Anti-Retaliation Policy (2024)
Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University (PSAU) maintains a formal, publicly accessible whistleblower policy that includes robust protections for individuals reporting discrimination. The policy is designed to ensure that no person experiences educational, employment, or reputational disadvantage as a result of reporting misconduct, harassment, or discriminatory practices.
Policy Scope and Protections
- The policy covers students, faculty, administrative staff, researchers, and contractors. It applies to all academic and operational domains across PSAU campuses.
- Individuals who submit good-faith reports of discrimination, harassment, bias, or unethical conduct are protected from all forms of retaliation. This includes threats, dismissal, demotion, grade penalties, exclusion from opportunities, or reputational harm.
Reporting Mechanism
- PSAU operates a secure and anonymous central reporting system to receive complaints. The process ensures confidentiality and the safeguarding of whistleblower identities throughout the investigation and follow-up process.
- Reports may be submitted directly through the PSAU Ethics and Integrity Portal, accessible via the University’s official website. Complaints are reviewed by a specialised internal committee under the Office of Legal Affairs.
Anti-Retaliation Framework
- Retaliation is explicitly prohibited and treated as a serious breach of University policy. All acts of retaliation are subject to disciplinary procedures, including employment sanctions or academic penalties for those found responsible.
- Allegations of retaliation can be reported before, during, or after the initial complaint process. A separate case may be opened for retaliation under oversight by PSAU’s designated Ethics Officer.
- Whistleblowers are entitled to additional support services, including counselling, academic leniency, or temporary reassignment, where necessary, to protect their wellbeing.
Training and Public Communication
- Awareness of whistleblower protections is included in student orientation, staff induction programmes, and annual ethics campaigns. Supervisors and academic advisors receive training on recognising and preventing retaliatory practices.
Monitoring and Review
- The policy is reviewed every two years by PSAU’s Compliance and Integrity Committee. Continuous monitoring ensures that the reporting framework remains effective, trusted, and free from bias.
Public Accessibility
The complete whistleblower and anti-retaliation policy is available in Arabic and English at: https://ca.psau.edu.sa/en/psau-sdg-policy-formulation
PSAU operates a centralised reporting system for all complaints pertaining to discrimination, favouritism, corrupt practices, and other violations, particularly those targeting women. Through this committee members of the University are encouraged to make anonymous reports regarding any violation or infringement. At the core of the committee’s principles is safeguarding the identity and integrity of whistle-blowers who report such cases.
The safeguards provided ensure that those reporting discrimination are protected from discrimination from educational, employment, or any form of disadvantage.
First, the entire reporting system is annonymous. Second, such whistleblowers are protected from sanctions, dismissal, or any form of unfavourable action.
Moreover, PSAU has partnered with the national Board for Grievances to further strengthen its whistleblower policy via training, confidentiality, among other partnerships.
Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University (PSAU) signed a memorandum of understanding with the Board of Grievances, with the aim of cooperation in the fields of training, development, and knowledge exchange between the two parties in the legal and administrative judiciary fields.
The Board of Grievances is located in Riyadh, it is statutorily empowered to oversee justice, equity, and effective judicial control over the administration through the presented lawsuits that are filed before the administrative courts.
The signing ceremony took place on 6 November 2024 at the University main campus. Details can be accessed via Link. Additional details about Board of Grievances can be accessed via https://www.bog.gov.sa/en/Pages/default.aspx
