President of Umm Al-Qura University (UQU), Dr. Bakri bin M'atooq bin Bakri Assas has launched at his office in Abdyia campus on Monday Jumada Al-Thani 21, 1438 H corresponding to March 20, 2017 scholarship Portal designed by Deanship of Graduate Studies to follow-up students and review their academic status, achievement stages and supervision reports. Present in the meeting were UQU Vice President for Graduate Studies and Scientific Research Dr. Thamir bin Hamdan Al-Harbi, UQU Vice President for Academic Development and Community Service who serves also as the acting UQU Vice President for Business and Innovation Dr. Hani Osman Ghazi, Dean of Graduate Studies Dr. Saleh bin Abdullah Al-Firaiah and the Dean of Information Technology Dr. Majid Al-Gethami.

Meanwhile, Dean of Graduate Studies Dr. Saleh Al-Firaih described the portal as a new initiative by Umm Al-Qura University to ease burden of scholarship officials in the Saudi universities. " Spur for such achievement is the great interest shown by large numbers of teaching assistants and lecturers to study at different colleges of the university. Students coming from 24 Saudi universities, total more than 500 students to do master and PhD for the academic year 1437/1438H", he expounded, attributing such high demand for university programs by students of other universities to the diversity and nobility of these programs.

He added the new approach adopted by the deanship since two year has given priority in admission to male and female teaching assistants and lecturers from Saudi universities according to university's rules and regulations. " Practical Implementation of this initiative comes as a result of care and interest of UQU President Dr. Bakri Assas and close follow-up of UQU Vice President for Graduate Studies and Scientific Research Dr. Thamir bin Hamdan Al-Harbi, thus having a positive impact on developing educational system of graduate studies", he elaborated. 

For his part, UQU President Dr. Bakri Assas praised launching of the new portal as a cooperation channel amongst universities, indicating that such large demand for university programs by students of other universities comes in consideration of the internationally certified MSc and PhD programs offered by different colleges of the university. 

Concluding his speech, he lauded efforts exerted by UQU Vice President for Scientific Research and Graduate Studies Dr. Thamir bin Hamdan A-Harbi, Dean of Graduate Studies Dr. Saleh Al-Firaih and all members of the team who designed and developed this portal which helps saving time and efforts of the officials in charge of following up students on scholarships.