Today, Wednesday, His Excellency Dr. Bakri bin Maatouq Assas, President of Umm Al-Qura University (UQU), patronized the ceremony organized by the Institute of Consulting Research and Studies at the University in King Abdulaziz Historical Hall to present the Institute’s achievements for the past year, 2017, and to honor the people, institutions, and entities that played a role in contribution to those achievements. This was in the presence of the University’s vice presidents and the deans of colleges, institutes, and deanships.

The ceremony started out with verses from the Holy Quran. After that, Dr. Ali bin Muhammad Al-Shaari, Dean of the Institute of Consulting Research and Studies, made a speech in which he stated that the Institute’s annual celebration of the achievements it accomplished through the past year comes to crown its role and the mission entrusted to it. He pointed out that it was through such achievements – the establishment of five consulting and training units and two specialized centers – that 300 training courses and programs were held, serving 10,000 male and female beneficiaries. He also said the Institute is done with the teaching packages for three executive diplomas, mentioning that the number of expertise offices established by the Institute amounted to 162 to involve a number of the sectors working in the region. He, meanwhile, added that the Institute signed 12 consulting contracts.

Dr. Al-Shaari stressed that UQU is one of four Saudi universities that have technology valleys, and a commercial arm for marketing knowledge, the thing that makes it in constant competition with the world’s leading universities for disseminating the culture of leadership and bridging the gaps between different cultures in future universities, whether academic, cultural, or leadership-related. He continued saying that this necessitates having an integrated system to complete the University’s third task; promoting and supporting the activities of innovation and leadership; and developing an effective system to embrace these activities.

Dr. Al-Shaari further stated that the Institute’s most important achievement for the past year was establishing Umm Al-Qura Consultancy Oasis, which was supported by the National Transformation Plan 2020. He said the first phase of Umm Al-Qura Consultancy Oasis involved a set of consulting units for training, development, education, and providing consulting programs in partnership with the University’s colleges, departments, and institutes, and that it thus constitutes a globally renowned national reference, and reinforces the community service role of UQU.

Moreover, he pointed out that Umm Al-Qura Consultancy Oasis is considered the University’s arm for technology and knowledge; provides a leading model, that is deemed the first of its kind in the region, in producing, transferring, and localizing knowledge and technology; and functions as a bridge between academic culture and the culture of leadership, to perform its role toward developing a knowledge society and economy and sustainable development. And finally he expressed his appreciation of the support and directions of Dr. Assas, UQU President, as well as all partners of success and all affiliates of the Institute.  

In her turn, Dr. Ameerah bint Jameel Al-Khusaifan, Vice Dean of the Institute, stated that the number of female trainees at the Institute’s professionally certified programs amounted to 842. She explained that those trainees benefitted from the courses that were held by the Institute at the female section in 2017, and presented by 27 male and female trainers in various specialties throughout the year, clarifying that a number of different units participated in these courses and that different specializations were included. She continued stating that the Institute promoted its branch at Al-Qunfudhah University College (female section) by organizing and arranging training courses in a number of specialties – number of trainees reached 117; communicating with the Deanship of Adham University College and carrying out a number of courses for the female affiliates of the College and the Education Administration at Adham Province; and enhancing the experience of the University’s female faculty members through the consulting contracts that serve a number of different entities.

Following this, everybody watched a documentary that summed up the achievements that were accomplished and the programs implemented through the past year. They also viewed a visual presentation on Umm Al-Qura Consultancy Oasis.

Afterward, Dr. Assas, UQU President, made a speech in which he praised the generous support provided to UQU by King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and His Highness the honest Crown Prince – may God protect them. He also lauded the continuous follow-up carried out by His Royal Highness Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Adviser to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and Prince of Makkah Region, and His Highness Prince Abdullah bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, Deputy to Prince Khaled Al-Faisal – may God grant them success. Dr. Assas also commended the assistance always given by His Excellency Dr. Ahmad bin Muhammad Al-Eissa, Minister of Education. He clarified that their contributions enabled the University to accomplish such successive achievements that it celebrates every day.

Dr. Assas talked in his speech about the role of the Institute of Consulting Research and Studies in implementing the University’s programs that are in line with the goals of the National Transformation Plan 2020, for achieving the Saudi Vision 2030, through the Institute’s participation in the consolidation of knowledge and its contribution to sustainable development in public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

He further emphasized that the Institute – and through the Umm Al-Qura Consultancy Oasis project that was inaugurated by His Royal Highness Prince Khaled Al-Faisal a few weeks ago – provides high-quality consulting services offered by experts with leading academic and scientific competence from UQU. Dr. Assas enumerated the Institute’s achievements and initiatives through the past year, 2017, for fulfilling its mission, including “Faran Center for Medical Rehabilitation” and “Saif Center for Occupational Safety and Risk Management.” This is in addition to the professional consulting units aiming at investing scientific competence and attaining support and partnership with colleges in various scientific specialties, besides the agreements and partnerships with different sectors. He also expressed his appreciation of the efforts of Dr. Al-Shaari, Dean of the Institute; the work team consisting of vice deans and affiliates; and what has been offered by the Institute in this regard, wishing everyone strength and success for serving this homeland.

At the end of his speech, Dr. Assas expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the good leadership for the kind attention and care given to Saudi women and for empowering them to perform their role and serve their homeland through the leadership positions they hold, citing the wise decisions that have recently been issued to appoint female vice presidents for female student affairs at Saudi universities. In the same context, he congratulated Dr. Sarah Al-Khouli on her appointment as Vice President for Female Student Affairs at UQU and all her colleagues, in whom this precious trust was put at all Saudi universities, wishing them success in order to perform the role entrusted to them for serving their homeland and Saudi community.

Finally, Dr. Assas and the Vice President for Female Student Affairs, with the participation of the Dean of the Institute and the Institute’s Vice Dean for Female Student Affairs, honored the entities and individuals – men and women – participating in accomplishing such achievements for the Institute.