The President of Umm Al-Qura University (UQU), Prof. Abdullah bin Omar Bafail, launched the Future Entrepreneurs Forum organized by the Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship in conjunction with Global Entrepreneurship Week to be held from 4-7 Rabe' Al-Awal, 1440 A.H. at King Abdul-Aziz Historical Hall in Al-`Abdiyyah. Attending the launching ceremony were the UQU Vice President for Development and Entrepreneurship, Dr. Hany bin Osman Ghazy; the UQU Vice President for Educational Affairs, Dr. Abdul-Aziz bin Rashad Al-Soroujy; and the deans of the colleges and supportive deanships.  

 
After initiating the ceremony with a Quranic recitation, the Dean of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Institute, Dr. Mowfaq Oreijah, delivered a speech stressing that UQU provides quality programs in the field of entrepreneurship. He said this forum is held in conjunction with Global Entrepreneurship Week to embrace students' graduation projects and provide the needed guidance and training for them under the supervision of a team of highly experienced academic staff in the field of innovation and entrepreneurship.
 

"We are looking forward to seeing the university achieve in entrepreneurship depending on the teams trained and qualified by the institute to serve the nation and the community," he eexplained. He then praised the support of the UQU President, Prof. Abdullah Bafail, and the UQU Vice President for Development and Entrepreneurship, Dr. Hany bin Osman Ghazy.   

 
Prof. Bafail expressed appreciation for the support provided from the wise leadership to the university in the development of its administrative and research environment in accordance with international standards in the educational process. He said such meetings will contribute to boosting and spreading the culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, as well as developing cognitive skills amongst students. 

 
He explained that the university's goal to boost the culture of innovation and entrepreneurship is aimed at increasing the students' cognitive levels, depending on the educational and cultural programs, in order to make them one of the sources and founders of startups. He said the university has all the capabilities needed by innovators and entrepreneurs to set out in the world of innovation and creativity.

 
 
He added that this year, Global Entrepreneurship Week is occurring alongside the transformations currently taking place in the Kingdom in all areas of life with a view to development and reconstruction. "Such development is a gateway to promote entrepreneurship amongst youth as the main factor in developing the nation and its economy," he explained. He then described the forum as being in line with Saudi Vision 2030 with a view to achieving the strategic visions embarked on by the university. 

 
At the conclusion of the launching ceremony, Prof. Bafail honored the organizers of the forum.  
 
The first session of the forum was then launched under the title ‘Entrepreneurship in Saudi Vision 2030’  and was addressed by the Dean of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Institute, Dr. Mowfaq Oreijah; the Dean of  the UQU Consulting Research and Studies Institute, Dr. Aly Al-Shaary; the Director of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center at Hail University, Dr. Ahmad Al-Tamimy; and Dr. Mahmoud Falatah, the Professor of Al-Mualim Mohammed Bin Laden Chair for Creativity and Entrepreneurship.

 
This was followed by the second session, which was held under the theme ‘Entrepreneurship in the Development of E-Commerce’ and was addressed by the Vice Dean of the Computer College for Development and Entrepreneurship, Dr. Moslih Al-Solamy; academic staff member at the College of Business Administration, Dr. Yosry Nabeel ;and Dr. Ibrahim Al-Harthy, an entrepreneur interested in e-commerce. 

 
The third session, entitled ‘The Needs of the Labor Market’, was addressed by the Dean of the Applied Medical Sciences College, Dr. Ayman Al-Sayegh; the Public Relations Consultant at Al-Hokair Group, Mr. Muhammad Bazeeb; and the Assistant Director General of the Social Development Bank in Makkah, Mr. Abdul-Aziz Bukhari.