Dr. Bakri bin M'atooq Assas, Umm Al-Qura University (UQU) President, inaugurated the Ninth Scientific Meeting for University students in a ceremony organized by the Deanship of Students Affairs at King Abdul-Aziz Historical Hall at the University Campus in Abdyia. The event was broadcasted via the closed-circuit television at Al-Jawhara Hall at Al-Zahir Campus. It was attended by Dr. Abdul Aziz bin Rashad Srougy, the Vice President for the Educational Affairs; Dr. Sarah bint Omar Al-Khouli, the UQU Vice President for Student Affairs; Dr. Amr bin Taha Al-Saqaf, the Dean of the Student Affairs; and the deans of colleges and assistant deanships. 

Upon his arrival, the UQU President launched the Traffic Safety Convoy, which is one of the programs offered by Saudi Aramco. He checked the persuasion device through which the seat belt is being fastened at 20 Km/hour and is ready for the collision. Then he inspected the Safe Driving Challenge Truck, which has awareness programs, as each visitor is required to answer 20 questions, then one move to an interactive simulation device to watch the mistakes the driver does, and then his commitment to the safe driving is being assessed. After that, he checked the student participations exhibition at the Ninth Scientific Meeting.

A celebration made especially for this event started with Quranic recitation, followed by a speech for Dr. Amr bin Taha Al-Saqaf, the Dean of the Student Affairs, in which he highlighted that one of the objectives of the Ministry of Education is training the students in the scientific research and innovation, dialogue and discussion, sharing views, and presenting works. Dr. Saqaf said that the scientific conferences are one of the most prominent means to achieve these objectives and develop the students' potentials and their intellectual and creative skills in different fields. He noted that the Ministry sought, through its programs, to develop the educational process in the universities, through activating the role of the scientific conferences, and the students' potentials, and raise their educational, cultural and skills levels.

The Dean of the Student Affairs then discussed the statistics reflected by the university student participation, which assure the volume of this meeting and the expansion of its programs this year. He added that the number of the university student participation in the scientific themes, besides the accompanying events, contests and debates between different colleges at the male and female sections, reached 25,000 in its first phase and were finalized to 300 participants. He noted that they participated in the meeting’s streams which reached 27.

On behalf of the students, Student Dalal Abdul Razeq Al-Sheikh gave a speech, highlighting that this platform gives the students the chance of the effective participation and contributes to developing their talents. She added that the meeting’s streams contributed to encouraging a large number of the university students to participate, noting that the experience of the students had a great impact on developing their recitation skills.

Afterward, Dr. Bakri made a speech saying that the UQU with all its administrations, colleges, departments and deanships always seeks the development of its students’ skills and potentials in all fields. He highlighted that the celebration organized by the Deanship of Students Affairs in this Scientific Meeting comes in the framework of encouraging the students on this, from the perceptive of the competition between with other to offer their best talents, innovations and scientific and artistic production to create a generation from the national, scientifically qualified youth cadres to service their state and participate in its development.

He said: “One feels happy to participate in such a celebration in which the UQU, represented by the Deanship of Students Affairs, awards an outstanding group of its excellent students for their significant efforts exerted during the last year study”. He then congratulated the excellent students and wished them all luck and success.

He added: “In such an event, I cannot fail to thank our wise leadership in this blessed country, led by King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques; the Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud; and Prince Khalid Al-Faisal, the Advisor of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and current Governor of Makkah Province. My thanks and gratitude also go to Dr. Mohamed Al-Issa, the Minister of Education, for what they all offer for the advancement and development of education in our country.”

The UQU President thanked Dr. Abdul Aziz bin Rashad Srougy, the Vice President for the Educational Affairs, and his working team at the Deanship of Students Affairs, including the Dean, Vice Deans, and employees, on organizing and holding this special meeting every year in an honorable way that is a form of pride to the University and its affiliates.

After that, Dr. Bakri awarded the 108 outstanding students; the top five colleges; 108 winning students in the meeting’s themes; and the meeting’s arbiters and coordinators.