This Monday, Umm Al-Qura University, represented by the Deanship of Student Affairs, held the second edition of the student club forum (female section). The aim of the forum is to support and develop female students' talents in a way that complements their educational goals. During the forum, an accompanying exhibition was held, to explain the tasks and roles of 21 student clubs. This took place in the presence of Dr. Sarah bint Omar Al-Khuli, the UQU Vice President of Female Student Affairs.

In the context of this forum, His Excellency Dr. Omar Sunbul, the Vice Dean of Students Affairs, stressed that the 21 student clubs offer programs, courses, workshops, lectures, visits, and trips that benefit students in their university lives. He said that each student has two wings; one is academic, and the other is devoted to activities that refine other skills.

The Vice Dean for Student Activities and Training, Dr. Nahla Hariri, explained that the forum introduces the activities and programs of the student clubs that are being organized in the female section of the Deanship of Student Affairs. She said: "We have 14 clubs in the Deanship of Student Activities and Training, 6 clubs in the Deanship of Guidance, Counseling, and Community Partnership, and a club in the university's Deanship of Student Support. All of them offer a variety of programs that benefit the female students during the university stage and refine their skills in several areas, including communication, diction, leadership, and specialized skills consistent with the student's field of specialization."

She also referred to the new student clubs, saying: “The Girl Guides Club has been created to prepare girls to become leaders. The club's main mission contributes to disseminating and promoting the values and principles of the scout movement. The Cultural Club has also been created through a merging process, with the aim of spreading the culture of Saudi Arabia inside the campus community through organizing activities, events, trips to historical places, cultural clubs, and major cultural competitions at the university level."

Regarding the importance of the forum, Dr. Sarah bint Omar Al-Khuli, UQU Vice President for Female Student Affairs, said: "The forum contributes to the discovery and development of talents." She added: "The attractive university environment provided by the activities achieves a kind of integration between the educational process and a wide range of activities, thus enabling students to fill their leisure time with beneficial activities that inspire them to be creative, innovative, and distinguished, and make them qualified and effective in the society."

Many students agreed on the availability of a suitable environment for joining the student clubs. In this regard, Ghada Hafiz, a student specializing in Qur'an and Sunnah, attributed her joining the Volunteer Club to her desire to do so since she was a child. She said: "I love the club and the events being held in it; it aims to make others happy and bring a smile to their faces."

Another student named Aishah Ishaq Ahmad Salih, who is specializing in English, said that her love of reading led her to join the Mouriqa Club. She said: "Reading takes people to fantasy and to a distant world, and for this reason I have joined the club in order to develop a passion for reading. Everyone needs to leave a fingerprint in their world."

The Head of Haya Club, Sumayah Al-Waqdani, stressed that her club is working to produce a sustainable environment, which aims at increasing environmental awareness among the students. She presented some of the initiatives and partnerships that are being implemented with parties outside the university. The supervisor of Nazaha Club, student Reem Kariri, who is specializing in Creed, empathized that the club is keen to spread a culture of integrity and fight corruption in order to develop self-censorship in each student. She pointed to the organization of forums, seminars, and workshops that serve this aspect and enhance the value of integrity among female students.

Student Areej Al-Sayid, who is specializing in chemistry, is the head of the Toastmasters Club that is concerned with rhetoric and leadership, and confirmed that it is officially certified in the Toastmasters system. She indicated that the club aims at honing the abilities of the club members in the areas of leadership and public speaking.

She mentioned some of the events that were offered during the past year, such as the "Stand and Face" competition, "Outstanding Personalities" play, and the Leaders Forum.