1.3.3 – Does your university as a body provide support (e.g. food, housing, transportation, legal services) for students from low income families to enable them to complete university?

Institutional Provision of Support to Enable Completion

The University of El Oued, through its University Services Directorate, provides a comprehensive and institutionalized framework of support measures designed to eliminate financial and logistical barriers for students from low-income families, thereby enabling their academic completion. This system operates under national social protection mandates and is actively managed by the university body.
The university’s provisions directly address the core needs of students facing financial hardship:

1. Financial Support (University Grant): The University Grant is provided to eligible students who meet specific financial criteria. Eligibility requires the submission of comprehensive income and tax documentation (e.g., Certificate of Non-Subjection to Tax, annual salary/retirement/unemployment statements for parents).

○ Impact: This grant directly alleviates the financial burdens associated with education, serving as an essential foundation for low-income students to continue their studies.

2. Housing (Accommodation): On-campus accommodation is provided to eligible students. A critical eligibility requirement is that the student must be a recipient of the University Grant, explicitly linking housing provision to verified low-income status.

○ Impact: Providing cost-free housing removes the single largest living expense, making university access and persistence financially viable for the lowest income group.

3. Food Services (Catering): Catering services are available to all registered students (internal and external) possessing a university card, with dedicated restaurants in each residence.

○ Impact: Guarantees access to consistent, subsidized daily nutrition, removing a critical food insecurity risk.

4. Transportation: All students can utilize university transportation services to commute between residences and academic institutes.

○ Impact: Provides cost-free transportation, eliminating a recurring expense and ensuring reliable physical access to the educational environment.

5. Health and Welfare (Health Prevention): Students are provided with proximate health prevention services throughout their residency, including medical clinics and qualified staff (doctors and nurses) on university premises.

○ Impact: Ensures access to basic healthcare and prevention support, addressing health-related risks that could otherwise disrupt academic completion.