Umm Al-Qura University Council held its fifth session on Thursday, Safar 3, 1438H, under the chairmanship of Umm Al-Qura University President, Dr. Bakri bin Maatouq Assas.

Assas, who chaired the session on behalf of the Minister of Education, opened the session saying “All Praise is due to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, and peace and blessing be upon prophet Mohamed Bin Abdullah (peace be upon him), his family and companions. I am pleased and honored to open the first session for the academic year 1437/1438H on behalf of his Royal Highness / Minister of Education, the UQU Council Chairman. Welcome all of you, vice-presidents, deans, vice-deans and secretary general of the interim committee – acting for the Higher Education Council - our dear and honest colleague, Dr. Mohamed bin Abdel Aziz Al-Saleh”

“I am pleased, on behalf of his highness and the honorable council, to strongly applaud such support, follow-up, support and care that our original university receives from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Deputy Crown Prince and the good government, May Allah bless them”, added he.

He went on saying “I, on behalf of his highness, myself and all members of the honorable council, welcome and congratulate new members of both UQU council and the Supreme Advisory Committee. We, welcome Dr. Abdel Aziz bin Ali Al-Khutani, the designated dean of the College of Dentistry, expressing thanks and appreciation to former dean, Dr. Mohamed Mustafa Biary. We welcome Dr. Tareq bin Abdullah Zafr, the designated dean of College of Health Sciences, Al-Leith University College, expressing thanks and appreciation to former dean Dr. Fares bin Mohamed Nour Altaf. We, also, welcome Abdel Rahman bin Ghaleb Al-Ahdal, the designated dean of the College of Scientific Research, expressing thanks and appreciation to former dean, Dr. Faisall bin Ahmed Alaf. In addition, we express our thanks and appreciation to Dr. Hamza bin Ahmed Ghalman, Dean of Engineering and Islamic Architecture College, for accepting to be in charge of deanship of the Custodian of Two Holy Mosques Institute for Hajj and Umrah research in addition to deanship of Engineering and Islamic Architecture.

Decisions passed during this session included, inter alia: briefing the council members on those decisions taken by his royal highness, Minister of Education – on behalf of the UQU Council – during the holiday vacation of the academic year 1436/1437H, as per the University Council decision No (14) during the (fifth) session held on 19/08/143H. Approve of giving another opportunity to a number of post graduate students (Master and PhD). Approve of the final key and sub performance indicators - proposed by the Deanship of Academic Development and Quality Control- according to standards of the National Commission for Academic Accreditation and Assessment. Approve of extending authorizing his highness, the university president, with the council chairman powers for one year as of 18/02/1438H, with regard to the (second) article of the postgraduate study bylaw. Approve of secondment, extending secondment and extending transfer and secondment of a number of faculty members to serve at other universities. Approve of appointing nominated faculty members to be members of the Scientific Board. In addition the council considered and discussed several academic and administrative issues and made appropriate recommendations.