Master’s Degree Awarded to Ms. Faiza Saeed Ali in Business Administration
Ms. Faiza Saeed Ali Abdu Al-Qadasi was awarded a Master’s degree in Business Administration with distinction for her thesis titled: The Impact of Strategic Awareness on Achieving Competitive Advantage in Yemeni Private Universities: A Case Study of Al-Hikma University, which was submitted to the Graduate Center for Business Administration Studies – Sana’a University. The MA defense was held on Saturday, August 20, 2025.
The MA Viva-voce Committee, which was formed based on a resolution issued by the Graduate Studies and Scientific Research Council, consisted of the following:
| # | Committee Members | Designation | University | Position |
| 1 | Prof. Sinan Ghalib Al-Murhadi | Internal Examiner | Sana’a University | Chair |
| 2 | Assoc. Prof. Abdulfattah Al-Qars | External Examiner | Amran University | Member |
| 3 | Assoc. Prof. Abdulaziz Al-Mekhlafi | Main Supervisor | Sana’a University | Member |
The study aimed to identify the impact of strategic awareness, represented by its three dimensions (internal awareness, external awareness, and future-oriented awareness) on achieving competitive advantage in universities, with Al-Hikma University as the case study. Competitive advantage was examined through three main factors: quality, cost, and academic accreditation.
The study yielded several significant findings, including:
- High levels of strategic awareness were observed at Al-Hikma University across all dimensions, with the greatest emphasis on external awareness and the least on future-oriented awareness.
- The university demonstrated strong attention to cost efficiency and quality, and a high degree of focus on academic accreditation.
- A statistically significant impact of strategic awareness on achieving competitive advantage was confirmed.
- Participants’ views on competitive advantage were largely consistent across job levels, while differences appeared regarding perceptions of strategic awareness based on job position.
The thesis concluded with several recommendations, including:
- Enhancing future-oriented awareness by directing financial and human resources efficiently to achieve institutional goals.
- Placing greater emphasis on quality assurance, through organizing workshops and seminars to improve both academic and administrative performance.
- Developing flexible strategies to adapt to rapid changes, including improving organizational structures to ensure responsiveness and maintain competitiveness.
The defense was attended by faculty members, researchers, professionals, colleagues, and family members of the researcher.
