The approach of most universities was to harness, each in its own way, all human and material resources, especially technology. This was through the activation of the latest information technology of computers, applications and networks to serve the educational process and develop its outputs. In this regard, and like all universities, Umm Al-Qura University (UQU) sought to develop a set of plans to develop the educational process and ensure the quality and suitability of its outputs to the requirements of the labor market. This was in line with the KSA Vision 2030, which sought to activate an integrated and evolving policy to meet the regional and global challenges and achieve leadership and strategic dimension. In this context, UQU entrusted the Deanship of Information Technology with the dissemination of the information technology culture and the activation of its use through participation in both the National Transformation Program 2020 and the e-Government Program "Yasser."  This would be achieved using advanced infrastructure, networks, applications and programs to ensure the availability of high quality, comprehensive and integrated services to the university community of students, staff members and employees easily, quickly, safely, professionally and transparently.

In line with the requirements of Vision 2030 and the strategic plan of UQU, the Deanship of Information Technology embarked on building and developing relations with various national and regional academic institutions and international companies to develop the readiness of infrastructure, networks, applications and programs. Therefore, the Deanship sought to further develop the work environment to provide a high quality service that contributed to the optimal use of information by all university structures, ensuring continuity of work, and providing high quality electronic services that met national and international standards through the activation of interim and future plans. In this framework, an action plan was prepared, including the preparation of a number of meetings and events to activate the organization of a series of working sessions with international companies. This culminated in a preparatory session between both the Deanship of Information Technology and the Deanship of E-Learning and Distance Education on the one hand, and the officials of Microsoft on the other. The session was held on Tuesday morning 21^st March 2017 (22^nd Jumada II 1438H).  Moreover, it was attended by Dr. Majid Qathami (Dean of Information Technology), Dr. Khalid Al-Mutairi (Dean of E-Learning and Distance Education), Dr. Saud Al-Otaibi (Vice Dean of Information Technology for Technical Affairs), Dr. Majid Farash (Vice Dean of Information Technology), Dr. Sultan Al-Mutairi (Vice Dean of E-Learning and Distance Education), as well as a group of academic advisors and engineers. The session also witnessed the participation of all affiliates at the Girls Section of the Deanship of E-Learning and Distance Education, headed by Dr. Hanaa Yamani, the Vice Dean. On the other hand, Microsoft was represented by Dr. Abdullah Al-Shamari, Development Solutions Manager, and Eng. Waleed Muhammad, Microsoft Educational Transformations Official in the Middle East. The participants discussed several topics, including the latest technical developments in the domain of supporting programs to develop the educational process and ensure the quality of its outputs in line with the challenges it faced. This was especially after the financial pressure to activate all means that reflected the objectives of Vision 2030 in the context of rationalization of governmental expenditures and good use of available capabilities while maintaining the effectiveness of performance.

At the beginning of the meeting, the most significant points of effective partnership between UQU and Microsoft were reviewed. This was through the presentation of a series of programs produced by Microsoft in the domain of service and development of the educational process. At the end of the meeting, discussions were held on ways, procedures and mechanisms that could be put in place and activated to reinforce the UQU-Microsoft partnership in many domains. In addition, the development of other knowledge sessions in close proximity to Microsoft's programs and applications to improve the infrastructure and systems used by UQU was discussed. This aimed to reach a high level of professionalism, and provide services in a manner that ensured excellence and integration in the developmental services of the educational process and guaranteed the quality of its outputs.

At the end of the session, both Deans of Information Technology and E-Learning and Distance Education expressed their thanks to Dr. Hani Ghazi, UQU Vice-President for Academic Development and Community Service, and Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Sorouji, UQU Vice-President for Educational Affairs, for their continued support of the plans, programs, means and actions that served and developed the educational process. Moreover, the two deans extended their deep thanks to the President of Umm Al-Qura University (UQU), Dr. Bakri bin Maatouq Assas, for his endless support to the two deanships in the framework of activating all available means to engage in the National Transformation Program 2020, and contribute to achieving the outputs of KSA Vision 2030 objectives.