The Department of External Relations and International Cooperation is functionally defined as the department that invests efforts to establish distinguished programs and relationships for the university with regional, international, UN, and local institutions of an international nature. The university engages with these institutions in accordance with written agreements and memoranda of understanding, or norms based on trust, respect, and shared scientific, research, cultural, and social interests. These external relationships must continue, directly or indirectly, to serve the university, these institutions, and society at large. Organizationally, the Department of External Relations and International Cooperation is defined as the direct administrative and executive level of the university, responsible to the University President and its various councils for developing and formulating policies, systems, structures, and mechanisms related to the university's external relations and international cooperation with all international universities, scientific and research centers, and donor agencies (Arab, African, international, and UN). It is also responsible for developing and prioritizing joint programs with these institutions to serve the development of the university's educational, research, and service processes and to develop the competencies of its members, including faculty members, their assistants, researchers, administrators, technicians, students, and graduate students.