The Middle East's political structure has recently undergone a transformation where diplomatic ties and normalization have characterized the regional context. The ongoing normalization between Saudi Arabia and Israel is the latest in developing bilateral relations, where a realized agreement would have a significant impact on the security and political structure of the region, but also have consequences internationally. The purpose of the paper is to further examine Saudi Arabia's role in the normalization process with Israel through a case study, where the potential agreement is analyzed by using the theoretical frameworks of realism and liberalism. The study’s theoretical framework is being operationalized where security and elements of power contextualize the essence of realism, while the nature of liberalism is being put into context by interdependence, peace theory and individual rights. The normalization can be explained through driving forces within security- and economic policies, which are being promoted with the help of a bilateral treaty with Israel. Additionally, the potential diplomatic relation correlates with the national reshaping of Saudi Arabia. This transformation demands regional stability and diversification of the state’s economic sector, in order to proceed with Vision 2030.

In Saudi Arabia women are legal minors who need permission from a male guardian in, among others, matters concerning education, employment and health care. Despite the obvious subordination of women in the country, Saudi Arabia has ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, with a reservation saying that in cases of contradiction between the Convention and Islamic law they do not obligate themselves to follow the rules of the Convention. Respecting the culture, tradition and religion of non-western societies is important in the work with implementing international human rights. However, in the case of Saudi Arabia, it seems like the cultural and religious claims merely function as justification of an institutional oppression of women. This institutional practice of oppression is unique and taken to the extreme, but oppression of women in itself is a global phenomenon, which is not connected to a specific culture.

This study is the first report of Saudi patients in the literature on electronic personal health records (ePHRs). It investigates patients’ attitudes and expectations regarding ePHRs in Saudi Arabia. It also gives insights about addressing the gap between the interest and the utilization of ePHRs by presenting information about patients’ preferences for ePHR features and activities. The findings show higher interest rates in ePHR use compared to other studies with similar sample frame in developed countries. They also indicate high levels of perceived usefulness of ePHRs on patients’ health and healthcare. More research is needed to explore the ePHR privacy concerns of patients and the key factors in improving the use of ePHRs among specific populations such as the elderly and those patients with chronic disease. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc) / This study is the first report of Saudi patients in the literature on electronic personal health records (ePHRs). It investigates patients’ attitudes and expectations regarding ePHRs in Saudi Arabia. It also gives insights about addressing the gap between the interest and the utilization of ePHRs by presenting information about patients’ preferences for ePHR features and activities. More research is needed to explore the ePHR privacy concerns of patients and the key factors in improving the use of ePHRs among specific populations.

With the spread of synchronous and asynchronous online teaching tools, it has become necessary to identify factors and challenges influencing faculty member adoption of online teaching into teaching practice at Saudi universities. The parallel convergent mixed method was used as the methodology for this study and was conducted in three Saudi universities; Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University, King Faisal University, and University of Bisha. The total number of responses from the study instrument was about 124; Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University 49, King Faisal University 41, and the University of Bisha 34. The theoretical framework for this study was the Decomposed Theory of Planned Behavior (DTPB) modal. The collection of quantitative and qualitative data as convergent parallel mixed methods was in one phase and concurrently included close-ended and open-ended questions. The data were separately analyzed quantitative and qualitative. The questionnaire instrument was constructed in four parts: (1) faculty demographic information, (2) technologies faculty use most with online teaching, (3) the use of online teaching and learning tools, and (4) utilization of online tools. The first and second sections of the survey instrument were focused on faculty demographics such as gender, age, academic rank, teaching experiences, department or college, nationality, type of contract, and years of experience teaching online courses. Additional information about faculty's most used technologies (such as possession of personal home technology tools, provision of a university office computer, connection to the Internet at a university, and connection to the Internet at home) for online teaching were also collected. Items pertaining to faculty perceptions of challenges associated with using online teaching tools in their teaching practice were also included in the second section of the survey. A 5-point Likert-scale was used for participant responses with 5=Always, 4=Mostly, 3=Moderate, 2=Seldom, and 1=Never. The findings of faculty demographic information and the type of technologies faculty uses most with online teaching that the quantitative findings of the ANOVA for the first part of the analysis, there were no significant differences identified for gender, faculty members' academic rank and experience, nationality, and contract types in relation to the use of university-provided resources for online teaching tools. However, significant differences were found among faculty members based on age, university departments or colleges, and the experience levels of faculty members for using university-provided resources for online teaching tools. In the second part of the ANOVA analysis, which involved comparisons of the variables, there were no significant differences found based on faculty members' age, university, academic rank or experience level, or gender to use a personal digital resource at home. However, the findings from the ANOVA analysis indicated that there were significant differences found for faculty and using personal digital resources. Differences were found between the three different university contract types. Specifically, faculty with non-renewable contracts were found to use personal resources more than those with renewable contracts. Additionally, differences were also found based on nationality, in that Saudi faculty use significantly more personal resources. For the use of online teaching and learning tool's part based on Decomposed Theory of Planned Behavior (DTPB) modal to the attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. The attitude findings of the qualitative faculty members indicated that their choices to engage with online teaching tools were greatly influenced by the perceived usefulness of online teaching during COVID-19. This was related to their flexible and interactive nature. Additionally, the quantitative findings showed that the perceived usefulness was significantly impacted by faculty attitudes toward using online tools in their teaching practices. The findings that qualitative findings from this study revealed the individual intentions of faculty in terms of selecting online and digital tools for online instruction that was based on their assessments of expected difficulty toward the outcomes of intended behavior. However, the quantitative findings indicated that peer influence, student influence, and superior influence were significant factors affecting faculty members' subjective norms. Finally, the quantitative findings of perceived behavioral control indicated the significance of facilitating conditions, technology, and resources as factors that affect faculty members' behavioral control over online teaching in this study. The qualitative result indicated that faculty members were engaged in online teaching positively despite the difficulties and challenges and perceived significant usefulness in utilizing various online and digital teaching tools. / Doctor of Philosophy / This descriptive study investigated the factors and challenges influencing faculty member adoption of online teaching into teaching practice at Saudi universities. This study aims to (1) identify whether the differences that exist in Saudi faculty members' use of online tools can be associated with factors such as gender, age, academic rank, teaching experience, department or college, nationality, type of contract, possession of personal online and digital tools at home, provision of a university office with online and digital tools, connection to the Internet at a university, and connection to the Internet at home, (2) determine the perceived advantages and disadvantages for faculty members using online teaching in the instructional process, (3) determine perceived challenges for faculty members using online teaching in the instructional process. The parallel convergent mixed method was used as the methodology for this study and was conducted in three Saudi universities; Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University, King Faisal University, and University of Bisha. The total number of responses from the study instrument was about 124; Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University 49, King Faisal University 41, and the University of Bisha 34. The theoretical framework for this study was the Decomposed Theory of Planned Behavior (DTPB) modal. The collection of quantitative and qualitative data as convergent parallel mixed methods was in one phase and concurrently included close-ended and open-ended questions. However, both quantitative and qualitative findings indicated that their choices to engage with online teaching tools were greatly influenced by the perceived usefulness of online teaching during COVID-19 and the perceived usefulness was significantly impacted by faculty members' attitudes. The qualitative findings from this study revealed the individual intentions of faculty in terms of selecting online and digital tools for online instruction. This was based on their assessments of expected difficulty toward the outcomes of intended behavior (Yao et al., 2022). For example, faculty members indicated that they used online teaching tools because such tools were easy to operate and provided ample opportunity to interact with several students at the same time. However, faculty members also indicated perceived difficulty and complexity associated with online digital tools. On the other hand, quantitative findings indicated that peer influence, student influence, and superior influence were significant factors affecting faculty members' subjective norms. Finally, the findings from this study indicated that faculty members were engaged in online teaching positively despite the difficulties and challenges. However, they perceived significant usefulness in utilizing various online and digital teaching tools.

This dissertation presents the development of a new framework for international commercialization of innovative structural products in residential construction. Development of his framework required the examination of six subjects related to international commercialization. 1) commercialization models previously developed, locally and internationally, 2) barriers to the process, 3) stakeholders, actions, and decisions critical to the process, 4) characteristics of innovations that are suitable for international use, 5) characteristics of foreign markets that are ideal to adopt such innovations, and 6) strategies to overcome barriers The framework development was based on one structural product, SIPs. This product has been successfully developed and implemented in the United States and is being considered for commercial use in Saudi Arabia. Structural product clusters are particularly appropriate because of their innovative nature and their major influence on the structure of residential buildings. The study relies on sequential explanatory mixed-method research design, consisting of two distinct phases (Creswell 2003), to gain insight into processes surrounding commercialization. The rationale for this approach is that quantitative data and its results provide a general picture of the barriers to international commercialization in the available sample, which can mapped onto an initial framework. The qualitative data and its analysis help to refine and expand statistical results by exploring participants' actual decision processes that can be also mapped to a second framework. Both data sets can be merged, mapped onto one final framework. Variables related to the six subjects, mentioned above, were distilled from literature into open-ended questionnaires for two groups of key stakeholders in the supply chain of innovative structural products: 1) SIPs stakeholders in the US and 2) stakeholders of innovative structural products in Saudi Arabia. The primary purpose of the open-ended questionnaires was to ensure usage of correct terminology used in this study and to encourage full, meaningful answers—capturing all possible factors affecting the process of international commercialization. The author collected responses using web-based surveys. The results yielded the development of a reliable instrument to be implemented in further steps of this research. Next, the researcher collected variables related to the questions from previous open-ended questionnaires into closed-ended questionnaires to collect the data (on perceived barriers to international commercialization), using web-based surveys, and performed a preliminary analysis of the data using frequency analysis. This process yielded market-based strategies for developing an initial framework for international commercialization in residential construction. Subsequently, a focused examination of barriers to international commercialization was needed. The researcher collected such data through an applied understanding of the specific development processes for SIPs to be introduced to a new, international market, namely Saudi Arabia. Based on the model's structure, the researcher conducted six case studies of real stakeholder processes along the supply chain, SIPs development domestically and internationally, and tracked data for real risks of the commercialization process. Findings suggested perceived versus actual risks and barriers to the commercialization process for an integral product to the residential construction process. This was an important distinction because of proposed development methods and the application of market diffusion. Based on the barriers identified, the researcher developed market-based strategies to be incorporated into a second framework. This framework along with the initial framework and the literature-based framework have been triangulated to develop one final framework. The final framework was then introduced to a few experts in the industry to increase its validity. / Ph. D.

This thesis examines the political impact of Salafi-Wahhabism in contemporary Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH) since the El Mujahed Brigade of mujahedeen introduced this puritanical Saudi form of Islam during the 1992-1995 War that broke apart the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFROY). This study employs tenets of the English School of International Relations and utilizes a historical analytic approach to identify durable features of Bosnian Muslim religious economic activity, Bosnian education, and Bosnian political processes to answer the research question: what kind of influence has Salafi-Wahhabism had on BiH society and government since the end of the 1992-1995 Balkan War? Emergent evidence captured by these variables suggests a momentum of Salafi-Wahhabism influence is developing that may undercut the sovereignty of BiH and possibly impede its European Union membership bid. As a result of this rising Wahhabi influence in several facets of Bosnian society, the aggregate level of Islamism in the country is also likely increasing. / Master of Arts

Today, concerns for environmental quality affect nearly all walks of life. In response to demands for resource conservation, architecture has become more complicated because the design process now depends on a large number of different disciplines. Now more than ever, building owners and users have many requirements—informed by developments in knowledge, technology, and science. These stakeholders are asking architects to design for lower operational cost, good daylighting and views, and higher indoor environmental quality (IEQ). Integrating all of these issues in building design is a dynamic process, which looks holistically at all of the dimensions of architectural. Present barriers of integrating green and sustainable strategies in the design process are mostly associated with architect's education and the understanding of the fundamental knowledge of the dynamics between the building and the local environmental conditions. For example, Saudi Arabia faces many challenges related to creating more environmentally responsive buildings, and peoples' behavior may not be easily changed with regard to resource conservation. To achieve such changes, a new educational framework for architecture is needed. This study captures and structures knowledge that informed the examination and development of the new knowledge-based educational framework for green building design in Saudi Arabia. Through literature review, a series of case studies, and interviews with professors from United States architecture schools and interviews with graduates from Saudi Arabian architecture schools, the study revealed how knowledge related to green building can be structured and strategically implemented into architectural design education in Saudi Arabia. This framework presents green knowledge in a logical, sequential structure representing a learning path/knowledge map. The knowledge map was not intended to present a sequential structure over the course of several years, but is more general so that it can be applied across all architecture schools in Saudi Arabia. In other words, the knowledge map may be applied as-is within the current architectural educational knowledge in Saudi Arabia schools, or it can be used as a guideline and assistance tool for educators and school administrators. Overall, this framework presents a workable model for green design education in the context of the existing Saudi Arabia educational practices. Thus, the goal of the final knowledge framework is to transform the architectural educational system in Saudi Arabia. / Ph. D.

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This Project demonstrates a constructive approach in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia where the building would be a symbol of luxury. The auto mall gives a common platform to different car makers to display their cars and address their competition under one roof which would be convenient for customers to compare cars. The building has twelve show room units. Each unit has a display area, offices, and a service area. The roof structure system facilitates a large open span beneath it. A series of concrete arches is the most significant element of design in the building since it not only holds the roof structure but also brings its individuality and defines the character of the building. With a free column plan beneath it, customers will have a better view of cars presented in show rooms. The structural system in lower floors is separated from the roof to facilitate a different structure system. This project is designed to attract tourists as well as local residents to address the growth and the new social life of the Middle East's wealthiest city. / Master of Architecture

International security, and particularly the threat of terrorist attacks, remains to be one of the most concerning and debated political topics a decade after the September 11th attacks. In particular, the newly elected Obama administration is at a point where they have a chance to reformulate their response to terrorist threats. Traditionally, the US government has resorted to a "hard" style approach of preventive measures and detention of terror suspects. Typically these measures are carried out by the US federal agencies themselves; however the use of civilians in the form of military contractors has become more popular in recent years. On the other hand, Saudi Arabia, an ally of the US has employed a radically different style in dealing with the threat of terrorism in their country. Their rehabilitation programs are part of an entire campaign that chooses a more human-based approach. This research analyzes the effectiveness of the Saudi Arabian program and the US non-governmental approaches to see if there are beneficial methods that can be adopted by the US in their traditional federal methods.