His Excellency Prof. Abdullah bin Omar Bafail, President of Umm Al-Qura University, received Mr. Rick Wheet, Managing Director of Ellucian, a US-based higher education technology provider, and Mr. George Radi, Regional Office Director of the institution, in the presence of Dr. Abdulaziz bin Rashad Serouji, University’s Vice President for Educational Affairs; Dr. Sami bin Muhammad Eterji, Director of the University’s English Language Center; and Dr. Muhammad bin Sulaiman Shoushou, Deputy Director of the English Language Center. This was at Prof. Bafail’s office in the Abdiyah-based university town. 

Prof. Bafail learned about the digital English language educational platform experiment that was applied during the current academic year to the 700 Medical Path students at the Deanship of Preparatory Year. It was implemented in cooperation with the institution, in a modern style through the latest technological programs adopted in the educational process.  

Prof. Bafail expressed his appreciation of the support given by the wise leadership – may God grant them strength – to the education process and its academic, research, and administrative environment. He, meanwhile, stressed the significance of providing the latest technological aids and programs adopted in the educational process, which would contribute to serving male and female students, and to developing their cognitive skills that are harmonious with labor market requirements, in line with the Saudi Vision 2030. He further lauded the support and backing provided by His Excellency Dr. Ahmad bin Muhammad Al-Eissa, Minister of Education, to the University’s various activities and programs.  

For his turn, Dr. Sami bin Muhammad Eterji, Director of the University’s English Language Center, stated that the digital English language educational platform experiment was gradually applied, as a trial, to the 700 students in the Medical Path. He clarified that it is designed to provide “online” educational lectures in English language skills, in accordance with the curriculum specified, in an innovative scientific manner, which would enable students to interact directly. He added that it is characterized by an option to specify the time convenient for each student during their college day. Dr. Eterji expressed his appreciation of the support and directions given by Prof. Bafail, University’s President, for developing educational skills in the programs offered by the Center.