The International Exhibition and Conference on Higher Education (IECHE) in Riyadh will witness tomorrow, Wednesday, the signing of six agreements between UQU and the National Center for Academic Accreditation and Assessment (NCAAA), at the pavilion of the Education and Training Evaluation Commission in the exhibition.

Umm Al-Qura University will be represented by the university president, His Excellency Prof. Abdullah bin Omar Bafail, while the Education and Training Evaluation Commission will be represented by the president of the commission, His Highness Prince Dr. Faisal bin Abdullah Al-Mashari Al Saud.

The Vice President for Development and Entrepreneurship, Dr. Hani Ghazi, praised the support received by the Vice Presidency for Development and Entrepreneurship from His Excellency the UQU President. This support indicates His Excellency's attention and keenness to establish the principle of quality in the academic programs, in accordance with the international requirements and standards. Moreover, he pointed out that the total number of programs that obtained academic accreditation from international bodies and institutions amounted to 37 in all.

Dr. Hani also stated that the programs, which will become academically accredited upon signing the contracts, include those of the College of Shari`ah and Islamic Studies, the Qur'an and Sunnah Program at the College of Da`wah and Fundamentals of Religion, the Regulations Program at the College of Judicial Studies and Regulations, the Kindergarten Program at the College of Education, the Arabic Linguistics, Morphology and Syntax Program at the College of Arabic Language, and the Community Service Program at the College of Social Sciences.

Dr. Hani Ghazi asserted that the contracts, which will be signed by the two parties, Allah willing, aim to develop the programs and also qualify them to become academically accredited. He also pointed out that the next stage will be the signing of contracts for other programs taught by several colleges of the university. In addition, he indicated that the Vice Presidency for Development and Entrepreneurship had devised a comprehensive plan to obtain institutional and academic accreditation for the university programs. He also extended his thanks to Dr. Muhammad Thabit, Dean of Academic Development and Quality, and his team for the great effort they exerted in this regard.