1.3.1 – Does your university as a body have targets to admit students who fall into the bottom 20% of household income group (or a more tightly defined target) in the country?

SDG 1.3.1: Targets to Admit Students from the Bottom 20% Household Income Group

The University of El Oued actively addresses the requirement to support students from the lowest socioeconomic strata through the comprehensive social protection framework mandated by the Algerian national government. Since national policy ensures non-discriminatory admission based on merit, the University’s operational focus is on eliminating financial barriers to participation and academic persistence, effectively acting as a direct target mechanism for the lowest income groups.

Institutional Mechanism and Scale of Support
The University’s provision of an extensive social safety net is the primary mechanism that ensures poverty does not impede access to quality education. This commitment is quantifiable and actively managed:

● Financial Aid Coverage (2024): Out of a total student body of 22,940 students, 17,068 students receive dedicated financial aid (stipends). This means 74.4% of the entire student population benefits from direct financial support, confirming the massive scale and high commitment to poverty mitigation.
● Tuition-Free Education: In accordance with national law, education is entirely tuition-free at all public institutions, removing the fundamental financial barrier to entry.

Quality Assurance and Active Management (2024)
The University is committed not only to providing services but also to guaranteeing their quality, ensuring students from the bottom income quintiles receive reliable support necessary for academic success.

● Meal Quality Assurance (Food Services): On March 6, 2024, the University Director, Professor Omar Ferhati, chaired a coordination meeting to form Joint Monitoring Committees dedicated to the field follow-up and quality assurance of free meal operations across all university residences. This proactive management step ensures the essential food service remains high-quality and reliable, guaranteeing basic sustenance.

● Housing Quality and Maintenance: The Head of the Control and Coordination Department actively conducts field visits and holds coordination meetings (August 20, 2024) to monitor the rehabilitation work on university residences. These efforts focus on accelerating construction and ensuring smooth student allocation, proving the administrative commitment to remove the significant cost of accommodation for students from poor or remote backgrounds.

● Comprehensive Services: The University guarantees free accommodation and provides free inter-city and inter-university transportation services, ensuring seamless access to all academic facilities.