On Tuesday, 2 Jumada Al-Awwal, 1440 A.H., the Wood Badge advanced scout leader training course was launched by Umm Al-Qura University Scouts as part of the activities of the Deanship of Student Affairs, under the auspices of the Saudi Arabia Scouts Association. The course is being held in the scouting camp of the University. The course consists of 40 training hours, on five consecutive days.

The number of scouts participated in this course reached 55. These included 40 trainees from Umm Al-Qura University, King Abdulaziz University, the Islamic University, Taiba University, Makkah Boy Scouts, and the Royal Authority in Yanbu`. There are also 8 leaders who have organized the course, and 7 trainers from the academic staff of the University to carry out the actual training.

His Excellency the Dean of Student Affairs, Dr. Amr bin Taha Al-Saqqaf, stressed the care of the Deanship of Student Affairs for these scouting training courses that pay great attention to developing the skills of the scout and the individual, and contribute in developing their abilities in serving the community and the country in all fields.

His Excellency the Vice Dean of Student Affairs for Activities and Student Training, Dr. Omar bin Siraj Sunbul, underlined the care of the Vice Deanship for scout activities, explaining that they help raise the standard of the University and promote country and community service.

The training course was inaugurated by the tradition of raising the Saudi flag in the camp. The course leader from the Saudi Arabia Scout Association, Musfir bin Ibrahim Asiri, welcomed the participants, and pointed out the importance of this training that aims at developing trainees skills in leading a scout unit and prepares them for more advanced training. He presented the first session entitled, 'The Leader of the Scouting Unit: His Role, Responsibilities and Duties'. He supplicated Allah to grant them progress and success.

Next, the Scout Advisor and Program Leader, Mr. Abdul-Rahman Madkhali, explained the training course for the trainees, and the most important points and elements of the course, including the rules and the regulations that help trainees achieve an excellent mark in the course. Then, the second training session entitled, 'Scouting, Development of Boyhood and the Ways of Solving Problems', was offered by the Scout Leader Dr. Isam Khan, the Vice Dean of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Institute for Hajj and Umrah Research (Academic Affairs)

It is worth mentioning that the advanced training course is the second course offered by Umm Al-Qura University Scouts. The first course was offered thirty years ago. This course is special as all trainers are scouting leaders from the academic staff of the University, headed by His Excellency the Dean of Student Affairs, Dr. Amr Al-Saqqaf, the Vice Dean of Student Affairs, Dr. Talal Muthanna, Dr. Isam Khan, His Excellency Dr. Samir Tawwakul, His Excellency Dr. Abdul-Khaliq Dawlah, Mr. Abdul-Rahman Madkhali, and Mr. Zuhair Hawsawi. They are all qualified scouting leaders.