The Intellectual Awareness Unit at Umm Al-Qura University (UQU) organized last Tuesday the first enriching meeting on “Intellectual Security Concepts.” This was at King Abdulaziz “supporting” Hall (for boys), and Al-Jawhara Hall at the Girls Section in Al-Zahir (for girls). The meeting was held in the presence of Dr. Yasser bin Suleiman Shosho, UQU Vice-President, and with the participation of UQU staff members.

With his speech, Dr. Yasser Shosho started the meeting stressing the significance of intellectual awareness and concept formulation in ways that corresponded to each stage of time. He added that this contributed to the achievement of intellectual security of society in general and the university community in particular. He also appreciated the role played by the Intellectual Awareness Unit in spreading the culture of intellectual security awareness. In addition, he confirmed that the Unit contributed to the treatment of imbalances in some intellectual concepts, which might lead to deviation in individual behavior that might affect community security. The Vice-President concluded his speech with wishes for guidance and success to everyone in the achievement of such benevolent meetings’ objectives.

In turn, Dr. Muhammad bin Ibrahim Al-Saidy, Head of the Intellectual Awareness Unit, demonstrated a comprehensive definition of the Unit and the mechanisms and objectives thereof. He also highlighted the role of such meetings to liberate the concept of intellectual security in the university community, clarify indicators of the need for awareness, release the major issues that had to be addressed and identify the latest possible means of intellectual awareness.  

In the same context, Dr. Al-Saidy analyzed the concept of intellectual security through four main themes: the meaning of intellectual security and intellectual awareness, the intellectually positive situation in the university community, the sources of intellectual danger, as well as the incubating environments for intellectual danger and the means of protecting the university community from them. He also stressed the significance of the role played by staff members in instilling virtuous values among their students within the university community. Moreover, he confirmed that staff members should correct misconceptions and intellectual imbalances that might lead to excessiveness. He added that this would preserve the safety and security of the university community in particular and the community environment in general.  

At the end of the meeting, Dr. Al-Saidy answered the queries of attendees.