Umm Al-Qura University Vice President for Student Affairs, Dr. Sarah Al-Khuli, stressed the importance of the manufacturing and modeling laboratories at the Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University in stimulating creative ideas and bring them into existence.

She said, during her visit to the lab in Al-Abdiyyah accompanied by a number of vice deans, that the institute plays a leading role in training students of various disciplines and authenticating theoretical concepts through practical experiments and applications, contributing to the linking of knowledge fields. This is achieved through the follow up of the faculty members and supervisors specialized in the field, in addition to the workshops and training courses that have been held by the institute this year for all affiliates of the university.

The delegation was briefed on the latest technologies and devices used in the world of innovation, and methods used in developing the skills of university affiliates.

The Dean of the Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Dr. Muwaffaq Urijah, pointed out that the stages of developing creative ideas entail: engineering design and programming, and then manufacturing, printing and finalization of the project as a primary product that meets the standards of scientific innovation, using advanced equipment and tools. All this should take place within a training environment, leading the talents of students in computer, engineering and design disciplines to the world of manufacturing and modeling.

The Vice Dean of the Institute, Dr. Najwa Samarqandi, noted the importance of the educational laboratory in refining the skills of students, and transforming their creative ideas into concrete prototypes that enable them to become entrepreneurs. This holds true, especially since the "My Factory" initiative is in line with the National Transformation Programs 2020. During her tours in the campuses of the university branches, she noted the role of the mobile laboratory in raising the level of knowledge among students and translating their talents.

His Excellency the UQU President, Prof. Abdullah bin Omar Bafail, had earlier opened central and mobile manufacturing and modeling laboratories, after the idea was launched last year at the Startups Forum. The UQU is in the process of completing the five plants, to serve all the students of the university and its branches.