Dr. Abdullah bin Omar BaFail, the UQU President, opened the first forum for the Deans of the Colleges of Designs at the Saudi Universities. It is being hosted by the UQU College of Designs over Tuesday and Wednesday, Shaaban 1-2, 1439H. It was attended by Dr. Hesham bin Abdul Rahman Maghrabi, the Dean of the College of Designs, with the participation of the College’s Deans and Departments’ Heads at the Saudi universities.

The UQU President gave a speech in the opening session, in which he welcomed the Deans participating in the first forum that took place at King Faisal Hall in the University City in Al-Abediya. He stressed on the role of the Colleges and Departments of Design as a specialty that acts as an important part that serves the different social fields. He noted that UQU has been keen on hosting such scientific and educational meetings for the students of these specialties and discussing the most important and prominent challenges that face the Colleges and Departments of Designs in the Saudi universities and the updates that aim at developing these specialties in a way that copes the requirements of the job market.

He then pointed to the support and consideration given by the wise government, led by King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and the Crown Prince to the educational process in the Saudi universities, which contributed to establishing specialized scientific Colleges and Departments, including the Colleges and Departments of Designs and increasing their capacities, which reflects the great consideration given by the wise government.

Dr. BaFail pointed to the importance of  expanding in the various fields of design and focusing in its outputs on the actual needs that cope the current and future phase of the job market in these vital fields. He wished all good luck and success and ending the forum with recommendations that would serve the Kingdom and the citizens regarding this fields.

Dr. Hesham Maghrabi, the Dean of the College of Designs, highlighted that the first forum aims at promoting the cooperation between the Colleges and Departments of Designs in the Saudi universities, which would be reflected positively on their outputs and the academic and educational programs offered to their students. He pointed to paradigm shift that was witnessed by the UQU College of Design since it was established in 1433H and the expansion in its Academic Departments that grew to be four, including (Housing and Home Management Department - Fashion Department - Internal Design Department - Graphic Design Department). He lauded the generous support given by the wise leadership to the science and students and the directives and follow up of the UQU President that contribute to performing its role and academic and educational message towards their students. He then expressed his pleasure for the participation of the Deans and Heads of the Departments of Designs in the Saudi universities. He wished that the first forum would end with recommendations that achieve the hopes and aspirations of the leaders and officials in the Saudi universities and serve the Kingdom’s students.  

In their first session held on Tuesday, the Deans of the Colleges of Designs in the Saudi universities discussed nine main themes, starting with “Identifying the Reality of the Colleges of Designs” through their establishment and their most prominent academic departments. In the second theme, the Deans presented “Admission Procedures in the Colleges of Designs” via equal percentages, specialized tests and their consistency. The third theme tackled the “Development, Quality and Academic Accreditation” through presenting the experiments, difficulties and problems. The meeting discussed the reality of facilities, labs and infrastructure “Available Potentials and Substitute Solutions” in the fourth theme. The Fifth tackled “the Difficulties and Problem Faced by the Students of the Colleges of Designs during Studying and After Graduation”. As for the sixth theme, it was about “the Prospects of the Community Partnerships between the Colleges of Designs, Supporters, Sponsors and Special Institutions”. 

The Deans ended the session by discussing  “the Possible Solutions to Develop the Bachelor Programs of Art Education Amongst Programs of Colleges of Designs”. This was followed by an open discussion between the participants, then they paid a visit to Wadi Makkah Company for Technology.

The Deans of the Colleges of Designs will pursue their work program in the second day of the forum tomorrow, Wednesday, by inaugurating the Design Unit Workshop, followed by attending the exhibition that is currently held at the UQU College of Designs.