An Exploratory Study of Graduate Student’s Perceptions of the Role of Human Resources in Diversifying Educational Funding and Enhancing Competitiveness under Saudi Vision 2030

Eman  Saleh Alghamdi; Awatif  Ali Alsaif Aloufi

doi:10.48161/qaj.v6n3a2599

Authors

Eman Saleh Alghamdi Educational Administration and Planning, Department of Educational Leadership, College of Education, Qassim University, Buraydah 52571, Saudi Arabia.
Awatif Ali Alsaif Aloufi Educational Administration and Planning, Department of Educational Leadership, College of Education, Qassim University, Buraydah 52571, Saudi Arabia.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.48161/qaj.v6n3a2599

Keywords:

Human resources, Educational finance, Financial diversification, Human resource competitiveness, Saudi vision 2030, Graduate students.

Abstract

Human resources are widely recognized as an important source of competitive advantage and are frequently associated with sustainable development and institutional competitiveness. Under Saudi Vision 2030, higher education institutions are encouraged to invest in human capital and diversify funding sources to enhance financial sustainability and competitiveness. However, limited research has examined graduate students’ perceptions of the relationship between human resource efficiency, educational funding diversification, and competitiveness within the Saudi higher education context. This exploratory cross-sectional study employed a descriptive correlational-comparative research design to examine graduate students’ perceptions of the role of human resources in educational funding diversification and competitiveness under Saudi Vision 2030. Thirty-eight graduate students from Qassim University participated during the second semester of the 2025–2026 academic year. Given the exploratory nature of the study and the modest sample size, findings should be interpreted as preliminary and context-specific. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficients, reliability analyses, and group-comparison procedures. Students reported high levels of agreement regarding the perceived importance of human resources for educational funding diversification and competitiveness-related outcomes. Perceptions of human resource competitiveness under Saudi Vision 2030 were relatively high, and organizational, administrative, and professional barriers were identified. A statistically significant positive association was observed between perceived human resource efficiency and educational funding diversification (r = .552, p < .001). No statistically significant association was found between perceived human resource efficiency and human resource competitiveness under Saudi Vision 2030 (r = .256, p = .121). Within the present sample, participants perceived human capital development, professional education and training, and inter-institutional collaboration as important factors associated with educational funding diversification and competitiveness. Given the exploratory nature of the study, these findings should be interpreted as preliminary and context-specific. Future research using larger and more diverse samples is needed to confirm and extend these findings.

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