Umm Al-Qura University (UQU), represented by the Arabic Language College, organized a lecture entitled "Language Education and Identity Formation" in conjunction with World Arabic Language Day on 18 December. The lecture was presented by the Professor of Linguistics in the Department of Postgraduate Studies, Dr. Sulaiman Al-Ayid, in the presence of the Dean of the College, Dr. Abdullah Al-Qarni, as well as the vice deans and department heads. 

 
Dr. Al-Ayid referred to the importance of adopting language programs to transform the specialized sciences into a public culture to be circulated in the mother tongue of society. "The new developments and updates in these sciences must be scientifically translated," he said.  
 
He said language is associated with identity and derives its strength from the power of its people. He urged correcting the concept of the pride in Arabic and criticized reducing the language in “narrow shells”. 
 
He said there is a need to combine persuasive speech with spiritual and emotional speech. "This must accompanied by practical programs to address linguistic problems, giving needed attention to linguistic planning, and adopting clear and systematic language policy," he said.  
 
Every year, the College of Arabic Language, in coordination with the King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz International Center for Arabic Language Service, hosts Arabic language scholars from different countries, organizes open meetings and symposia, and sends its Arabic language experts to present cultural activities in the community.   
 

The college also endeavors to prepare a generation of distinguished teachers and researchers by developing the talents of innovative youth who are capable of meeting the requirements of sustainable development, entrenching an ideology, developing linguistic culture, establishing an intellectual foundation that stems from the nation's identity in intellectual perceptions and methodological procedures, and adapting modern technology for education, scientific research, and Arabic language services.