The UQU Vice President for Female Student Affairs, Dr. Sarah Al-Khuli, underlined that the university’s success in overcoming and confronting the Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis came as a result of the orchestrated cooperation between its different sections, the implementation of all the instructions and measures taken by the concerned authorities, the application of the preventive requirements and health precautions, and the integration of the efforts exerted by the university authorities to conduct the transactions of its beneficiaries and serve its students. Dr. Sara emphasized that the UQU's efforts mirrored the national cohesion and solidarity among the members of the Saudi society to overcome all the challenges that accompanied the pandemic, noting that the university and its affiliates, including the male and female students and academic staff members, had been playing an active role through their participation with various government entities to serve their country and society since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

This came during a dialogue session organized by the UQU Vice Presidency for Female Student Affairs on Tuesday evening, 5 Safar, 1442 A.H., via a virtual (video) conference, under the title: "Umm Al-Qura University's Efforts in Facing the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic". The conference was part of the "My Homeland: Love, Culture, and Loyalty" initiative that was launched to commemorate the 90th Saudi National Day.

The speakers discussed the efforts of the university, represented by its different sections, to contain the Coronavirus crisis and ensure the continuation of the educational process, implementing the distance education and work-at-home options according to the organizational plans and intensive meetings to facilitate a full digital transformation.

As for the technical efforts, the speakers discussed the university’s course of action that was implemented by the Deanship of E-Learning and Distance Education and the Deanship of Information Technology to achieve its academic goals and scientific missions, and fulfill its educational services toward its affiliates from the first hours of the decision to suspend the study and attendance in the workplace. The two deanships were the strategic partners for all sections of the system, harnessing and developing the programs and making them available around the clock with continuous technical support and introducing many new systems to be a support pillar for completing the academic year successfully, then holding the exams, and finally electronically submitting the documents to the graduates in record times.

As for the research and advisory efforts, the dialogue session touched on the contributions of the researchers and academics at the university to many scientific studies on the Coronavirus and the presentation of scientific proposals and solutions to the problems resulting from it. Such research yielded patents, being part of the initiative launched by the Deanship of Scientific Research for distinguished research on the Coronavirus pandemic. Such commendable contributions also included the great role played by the Institute of Consulting Research and Studies that organized the first virtual consultative crisis management forum with the onset of the outbreak of the pandemic, aiming to enhance the positive behavior of the society and properly develop the professional skills of practitioners in the field. This was in addition to the remote training courses and "Stay Safe" virtual discussion sessions on risk management and crisis containment, which benefited more than 25 thousand people both inside and outside the university.

As far as the health efforts are concerned, the speakers highlighted the role of the medical colleges at the university and their ability to manage the crisis, taking advantage of the expertise of its cadres in applying the concept of risk assessment and setting priorities to overcome the risks and deal with them with the help of scientific methodology. This was performed while enhancing effective communication among the authorities concerned with facing the pandemic, establishing volunteer teams dedicated to carrying out emergency tasks, providing health awareness to university affiliates, and maintaining the university education outcomes.

The dialogue session addressed the voluntary initiatives launched by the College of Community Service and Continuing Education at the University for all the UQU affiliates, including the academic staff members, employees, and students. These lauded efforts placed Umm Al-Qura University at the forefront of the Saudi universities with respect to the number of volunteers, with more than 6,300 volunteers. These initiatives aimed to enhance the mission of the authorities concerned and their participation in adhering to the preventive measures in confronting the Coronavirus pandemic, to achieve health security, and to promote the culture of health and safety to prevent infectious diseases.

During their speeches, the speakers demonstrated the efforts and contributions of the various sections concerned with student services and their lauded role in enhancing the communication and connection between the affiliates, meeting the students' scientific and knowledge needs, responding to their inquiries, and conducting their transactions according to the applicable regulations and instructions without the need for them to visit the university headquarters in person. They explained that the Deanships of Student Affairs, Library Affairs, Admission and Registration, and Postgraduate Studies formed a safe cordon for the students, providing them with an inclusive environment through the student programs, various initiatives, counseling, and student support, in addition to launching activities that enhance the national mission for them to stay in their homes, in order to preserve their safety and health.