ISAHP 2001, Berne, Switzerland, August 2-4, 2001 CONSENSUS WITH THE ANALYTIC HIERARCHY PROCESS AT DAR AL HEKMA, SAUDI ARABIA Asma M. A. Bahurmoz Dar Al Hekma College P.O. Box 9550, Jeddah 21423, Saudi Arabia e-mail: Bahurmoz@kaau.edu.sa Keywords: AHP, group decision making, scholarship, Saudi Arabia. Summary: I designed and implemented a multicriteria group decision-making model based on the Analytic Hierarchy Process to select the best candidates to send overseas for graduate studies, eventually becoming teachers at the newly created Dar Al-Hekma women’s college in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The paper highlights the model together with the challenges involved in making a scientific application of an OR method that proves to be robust in a highly political environment. Its application does not require from the user an understanding of the sophisticated albeit transparent theory that underlies the methodology. It is user friendly and involves simple constructions in conformity with what people actually do using logic and discussion to express their opinions in a collective effort to make a decision. Its outcome creates public trust in the management of the college. 1. Dar Al-Hekma College Until 1998, the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) was the only authority in Saudi Arabia that was responsible for higher education. Education is provided free of charge in Saudi Arabia. Enrolled students are paid a monthly allowance until they graduate. However, as demand for higher education exceeds the capacity of public universities and other public colleges, MOHE is now giving permission to the private sector to provide higher education through non-profit organizations. Dar Al-Hekma is one of the first private colleges for women that began under the new system. It entered its second year of operation in August 2000. Located in Jeddah, The College offers a four-year baccalaureate program and associate degrees in Business Information Systems, Interior Design, and Special Education. All courses are taught in English with the exception of Arabic and Islamic Studies. This new college is facing several challenges involving a need for rational decision-making. The problem of shortage of qualified women to staff the three departments is only one such problem. Recruiting from the USA could be an option, but it is not a viable long-term solution. One way to solve the staffing problem is to send Saudi women to be trained abroad. To help Dar Al-Hekma carry out this policy MOHE is offering nine scholarships for graduate studies in the USA and the UK. Who to select? Proceedings – 6 th ISAHP Berne, Switzerland 33