The Personnel Affairs Department, in collaboration with the UQU Events Center, has organized the UQU Staff Annual Open Meeting with the UQU President, Dr. Bakri M. Assas. The event, held at King Abdulaziz Historic Auditorium in al-Abidiya Campus, was attended by Vice Presidents, deans of colleges and supporting deanships, as well as vice deans and heads of departments. And through video conferencing, the event was transmitted to the Girls Section in al-Zaher Campus.

Dr. Assas started his address by congratulating all faculty members and students on the advent of the new academic year 1438/1439H. He stressed that the door of the university administration will be always wide open for any student or faculty member facing educational or research-associated obstacles. He reiterated that the university administration will make every effort to remove such obstacles immediately, in an endeavor to improve the learning and research environments at the university. 

He made clear that Umm al-Qura University (UQU) is deemed to be the nucleus of higher education in KSA. The starting point was when the orders were given to establish the College of Sharia. The University has been expanding ever since. At present, it encompasses over 32 colleges, and accommodates over 120,000 students, in addition to more than 7,000 faculty members teaching at the UQU Headquarters in Makkah, and its branches in Jamoum, Leith, Qunfudah and Adham.

On this occasion, he reiterated the importance of boosting students' awareness, and urging them to make best use of the potentials provided by the university for their benefit. He lauded the colossal efforts exerted by the UQU vice presidents, deans of colleges, and all UQU staff to help students, and solve the problems facing them. He wished them the best of luck.
 It did not escape Dr. Assas's notice to commend the generous support the University has always been receiving from the the Government. The University, he affirmed, partakes in realizing the Saudi Vision 2030, by focusing on transformation to the knowledge economy stemming from the academic and research momentum underway in the University, with a view to transforming research contributions into commodities and services.

It followed that the UQU President, together with the vice presidents, answered the questions raised by attendees.