His Excellency the Minister of Education, Dr. Hamad bin Muhammad Aal Al-Sheikh, stated that Umm Al-Qura University is one of the top universities and is at the forefront of the universities eligible to join the ‘New University System’, thanks to the right components that enable it to play its leading role in university education in the Saudi Kingdom and in the entire region.

This came during the visit of His Excellency on Thursday, 19 Rabi` Al-Awwal, 1442 A.H., to Umm Al Qura University, while launching a number of initiatives and inspecting the university projects. He was received by the President of the University, Prof. Moaddi Aal Madh-hab, and the UQU vice presidents, different deans of the deanships and institutes, and a number of affiliates.

During his inspection tour, His Excellency the Minister of Education visited the new headquarters of the University City for Female Students in Al-Abdiyyah, the university hospital, the Clinical Skills and Simulation Center, the Dental Teaching Hospital, and the mobile dental clinics, in addition to Wadi Makkah Technology Company.

His Excellency, upon his arrival at the historic King Abdul Aziz Hall in Al-Abdiyyah, toured the Introductory Exhibition of Scientific Projects and Development Programs and also learned about the research mobility of the programs and the electronic applications provided by the university sectors.

His Excellency the Minister tracked the scientific development of Umm Al-Qura in an introductory presentation describing the historical timeline of the university. This started with the Founding King's decree to establish the College of Shari`ah, the development of its scientific programs, represented by the achievements of its colleges and institutes, and the contribution of different research and projects to develop the system of Hajj and Umrah and the services of the guests of the Most Merciful.

During his visit, His Excellency the Minister of Education inaugurated 5 scientific and research initiatives and development projects presented by the university sectors to the university community and the local community. These include the Volunteer Training Initiative with the Ministry of Interior, the Initiative of the Encyclopedia of Arabic Poetry in its second phase, the Institutional Funding for Research and Innovation, the Initiative of the Electronic Platform for Scientific Research, and the Initiative of the "Wifada" Platform for Training Hajj and Umrah Workers.

The UQU President, Prof. Moaddi Aal Madh-hab, stressed the university's determination to achieve the national goals, improve the academic curriculum, promote knowledge production and investment, enhance its global ranking, further its interest in scientific research, and transfer all systems to total automation. He also praised the efforts of His Excellency the Minister of Education, Hamad bin Muhammad Aal Al-Sheikh, and his keenness that the university colleges keep up with the requirements of the labor market, empower researchers and national personnel, and develop self-resources under the New University System.

Moreover, Dr. Hamad Aal Al-Sheikh met with university employees in an open dialogue in which he listened to their inquiries and answered their questions. He urged them to exploit the knowledge potential, enrich the research content and develop educational curricula in a way that matches professional mobility and the needs of the labor market.

His Excellency called on universities to redraw their strategic plans, achieve scientific sustainability, raise operational efficiency, and increase alternative resources. He emphasized the importance of constant planning in facing future challenges and keeping pace with global changes, calling for the need to develop the e-learning and distance education experience in order to improve its applications and programs, to be part of the evaluation process of the educational system and its personnel, and create new spaces.

His Excellency the Minister, accompanied by Prof. Moaddi Aal Madh-hab and His Excellency the President of Taif University, Dr. Yussuf Asiri, visited Dr. Rashid Al-Rajeh, may Allah give him a speedy recovery, the first President of Umm Al-Qura University, at his home in the Al-Awali neighborhood in Makkah to check on his health condition, as a token of recognition of his career in serving the country and the citizens over the past 40 years.

**To view the assessment and impressions of His Excellency the Minister of Education on Umm Al-Qura University and its staff, click here.