His Excellency Prof. Abdullah bin Omar Bafail, the President of Umm Al-Qura University, has inaugurated the First Digital Citizenship Forum 'Towards a Secure Electronic Community'. The Forum was organized by the Deanship of E-Learning and Distance Education and held in King Abdul Aziz Historical Hall. The event was attended by Dr. Abdul-Aziz bin Rashad Al-Suruji, the University Vice President for Educational Affairs, Dr. Khalid Al-Mutairi, the Dean of E-Learning and Distance Education, and UQU vice presidents and specialists.

The Dean of E-Learning stressed the importance of the role of universities and educational institutions in creating proper intellectual awareness for the sons and daughters of our homeland, by providing them with the tools that enable them to distinguish between right and wrong in light of the great barrage of information around them.

Dr. Al-Mutairi added that the forum included training courses, discussion sessions, seminars, and opinion polls to spread the culture of digital citizenship in our society. Besides, it provided beneficial suggestions and future solutions to the educational policy makers and those interested in digital technology, and those responsible for preparing educational curricula and programs.

The University Vice President for Educational Affairs said, "The forum contributes to the transfer of knowledge and the development of skills in dealing with electronic applications." He pointed out that the achievements of the University Vice Presidency for Educational Affairs, represented by the Deanship of E-Learning and Distance Education, are considered important achievements of Umm Al-Qura University. Dr. Sarah bint Omar Al-Khuli, UQU Vice-President for Female Student Affairs, stressed the importance of recognizing the concept of digital citizenship, and understanding its significance as a means of ensuring the well-being of the society by protecting its citizens from being diverted from the basic objectives of digitalization.

During the forum, two training courses were held; the first, entitled, 'Secure Digital Educational Objects and Repositories: Towards a Conscious Digital Generation', was presented by Dr. Hanaa Yamani. The second was presented by Dr. Sultan Al-Mutairi, under the title, 'Safe Use of Electronic Applications and Protection against Risks'.

The first discussion session was entitled: 'Cyber Security and Electronic Protection for Citizen and Community Safety', and was attended by Dr. Adnan Qutb, Dr. Salim Al-Mufriji, Dr, Khalid Al-Matrafi, Dr. Nurah Al-Rashud, Dr. Areej Al-Farih, and Dr. Ahd Al-Jarf, and was moderated by Dr. Sultan Al-Mutairi and Dr. Nurah Al-Faruqi. It included the following themes: Cyber security and information protection, e-crimes, information awareness and the risks of information flow, as well as digital intellectual security, social networks security, and digital citizenship and the economic vision of the country.

The second discussion session: "The Digital Revolution and the Prospects for Digital Citizenship: Between Freedom and Moderation", discussed digital educational content and the vision of 2030, the prospects for digital citizenship and digital resources, electronic libraries, the role of educational institutions in instilling the values ​​of digital citizenship in the children, social rights and intellectual responsibilities of digital citizenship, and scientific research and its impact on the formation of a conscious digital generation. His Excellency Dr. Farid Al-Ghamdi, the Dean of the Faculty Members and Employee Affairs, Dr. Muhammad Al-Luhaibi, the Dean of the Library Affairs, Dr. Khalid Al-Mutairi, the Dean of E-Learning, as well as Dr. Hanadi Buhayri, Dr. Zainab Qadi, and Dr. Haifa' Fida took part in the session that was moderated by Dr. Muhammad Al-Ghamdi and Dr. Hana' Yamani.