Umm Al-Qura University, represented by the University Vice Presidency for Postgraduate Studies and Scientific Research, participated in a distance workshop entitled, “Institutional Financing: Aspirations, Empowerment, and Implementation”. The workshop, which was organized by the Ministry of Education, represented by the Vice Ministry for Research and Creativity, was held on Wednesday, 17 June, 2020 A.C., at 01:00 p.m. (remotely), in the presence of representatives of the Saudi universities. The aim of the workshop was to discuss topics related to the International Cooperation Initiative.

The meeting included the following: (1) Identifying the university's readiness to implement the institutional financing initiative. (2) Discussing the methodology adopted by the university in implementing the institutional financing initiative. (3) The university providing the approved research priorities and projects for each research priority that will be implemented in the first phase of the institutional financing initiative.(4) Agreeing with the vice ministry on the implementation mechanism proposed by the university for institutional financing projects. (5) The vice ministry providing total support to the university's needs regarding the implementation of institutional financing projects. (6) Explaining the electronic system through which institutional financing projects will be managed.

The Institutional Financing Initiative will contribute to raising the quality of scientific publishing and to maximizing its impact, while increasing local and international cooperation and focusing on the UQU research priorities and identity, as long as this corresponds to national priorities and regional opportunities aligned with the Saudi Vision 2030.

The meeting was attended by His Excellency Prof. Abdul-Wahhab bin Abdullah Al-Resini, the Vice President for Postgraduate Studies and Scientific Research, His Excellency Prof. Muhammad bin Shukri Al-Soufi, the Dean of Scientific Research, and His Excellency Dr. Jaber bin Saeed Al-Zahrani, the Assistant Vice President for Postgraduate Studies and Scientific Research.