PhD Dissertation Defense Examines Role of Strategic Planning in Promoting Sustainable Development

The Deanship of Graduate Studies and Scientific Research at the Main Center of the Islamic University of Minnesota held an academic defense of the doctoral dissertation submitted by researcher Mariam Abdulrahman Bajaba, entitled “The Role and Impact of Strategic Planning on Cultural Events in Promoting Sustainable Development in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: An Applied Study of the ‘Between Two Cultures’ Project in Riyadh.” The dissertation was submitted as part of the PhD program in the Department of Business Administration at the College of Economics and Business Administration, as part of the University’s efforts to support applied research addressing administrative and development issues with societal impact.

The study focused on examining the role of strategic planning in enhancing the efficiency of cultural events and assessing its impact on supporting sustainable development through an applied study of the “Between Two Cultures” project in Riyadh. It also aimed to highlight the importance of institutional planning in maximizing the cultural and developmental impact of initiatives and to provide findings and recommendations that could contribute to improving administrative practices related to the management of cultural projects and events.

The dissertation was defended before an academic committee chaired by Dr. Manal Mohammed Mahmoud, who served as both supervisor and rapporteur. Dr. Mabrouka Hussein Hemmat participated as the internal examiner, while Professor Dr. Mustafa Ahmed served as the external examiner. The committee reviewed the study’s various scientific and methodological aspects, including its research methodology, key areas, and findings, and provided a number of scholarly observations and recommendations aimed at enhancing the quality of the dissertation and enriching its research outcomes.

The defense featured an academic discussion on the importance of employing strategic planning to develop cultural initiatives and maximize their developmental impact, thereby strengthening the role of modern management in supporting cultural projects and achieving sustainable development objectives.

The dissertation defense forms part of the series of academic defenses organized by the Deanship of Graduate Studies and Scientific Research at the Islamic University of Minnesota, reaffirming the University’s commitment to supporting specialized studies and encouraging applied research that contributes to advancing administrative thought, strengthening institutional practices, and applying academic knowledge to support sustainable development.