Crisis Management in Saudi Arabian Universities: Evaluating Plans, Challenges and Obstacles Through a Cross-Sectional Study

This study aimed to evaluate the crisis management plans in Saudi Arabian universities by identifying key challenges and obstacles. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 473 faculty members. The participants completed a survey that included the university campus's existing crisis management plans, educational leaders' challenges in implementing effective crisis management, and a socio-demographic checklist. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed that there are three critical areas that need attention: comprehensive crisis plans, designated crisis management teams, and regular drills and exercises. The model yielded a chi 2 value of 236.18 with 84 degrees of freedom (df), resulting in a statistically significant outcome (p < 0.001). Among the key challenges and obstacles affecting crisis management performance in educational centres, as identified by faculty members, ensuring effective coordination and communication between different departments and stakeholders within the university, conducting regular evaluations and drills to test the crisis management plan's effectiveness and identify areas for improvement, and coping with emerging or evolving threats that require constant updates and adaptations to the crisis management plan need more attention, with factor load values of 0.92, 0.90 and 0.84, respectively. The findings indicated that, although universities had well-documented crisis management plans and designated teams, significant gaps remained in their implementation, coordination and regular evaluation. The study underscored the importance of establishing robust communication frameworks, improving coordination among departments and stakeholders, and ensuring continual updates to crisis management plans. Finally, the study contributes to the literature by providing insights into the current state of crisis management in Saudi Arabian universities and offering practical recommendations for enhancing preparedness and resilience in the face of crises.