In conclusion of the approval of the Custodian of two holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz,  University of Umm Al-Qura has conferred an honorary doctorate on the Ambassador of the Custodian of Two Holy Mosques to France, the ex-Minister of Education Dr. Khalid bin Mohamed Al-Angari for his efforts in serving higher education in the Kingdom.  The ceremony took place on Sunday Jumada Al-Thani 27, 1438 H at the university campus in Abdiya in the presence of the Minister of Education Dr. Ahmed bin Mohamed Al-Iesa, number of their excellences the ministers, Presidents of Saudi universities, the Secretary General of the Interim Committee – acting for the Higher Education Council - Dr. Mohamed bin Abdel Aziz Al-Saleh and UQU Vice Presidents and Deans.  

The ceremony commenced with a Quranic recitation, then the attendees viewed a presentation about Dr. Al-Angari's career.

After that, UQU President Dr. Bakri bin M'atooq bin Bakri Assas delivered address in which he extended his thanks and appreciation to the Custodian of Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz for his precious approval and noble support, Crown Prince, Deputy Crown Prince and the Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Emir of Makkah HRH Prince Khalid Al-Faisal for his continuous support for Umm Al-Qura university. 

He said the approval given by the monarch for Umm Al-Qura University to award Honorary Doctorate Certificate to his Excellency in the service of higher education is an appreciation of science, education, and scholars; in this regard, we narrate Islamic wisdom which tells that “We appreciate education because it teaches us ethics".

 
He added "Looking into the Kingdom history you will not skip certain prominent names who contributed with their diligent work sincere efforts,  and shining minds to building the glory of our beloved kingdom and the distinguished position currently it occupied led by our great kings and princes, then a constellation of dedicated citizens who were assigned the responsibility by the rulers, and stood up to it relying on Allah with faithful to religion, king and the nation thus leading to glorious, prosperous and rising country, and aspiring nation". Dr. Assas noted that Al-Angari started his administrative service tenure 35 years back as Deputy Minister of Rural and Municipal Affairs, then Minister of Rural and Municipal Affairs, Minister of Higher Education and currently as Ambassador of the Custodian of Two Holy Mosques to France.  

 
He valued his efforts in serving higher education which expanded to include 28 universities covering all regions and cities of the Kingdom after being limited only to some big cities accommodating hundreds of thousands of student compared to only tens of thousands in the past.  

Further, Dr. Assas said "During his tenure, Dr. Al-Angari made three great leaps in the higher education at the qualitative, quantitative and track levels. At the quantitative level numbers of universities, colleges, teachers, and students multiplied significantly, at the qualitative level he launched the academic accreditation project and supported the National Commission for Academic Accreditation and Assessment and ordered the universities to adhere to this path, whilst at the track level the universities went further miles in the entrepreneurship, boosted their community presence, increased their patents, added empowerment and formation to initiation and  changed from only knowledge foundations to become scientific, educational and economic incubators.       

Moreover, he said the celebrated person enjoys an outstanding leadership talent which enabled him to keep the same distance from all parties. “His wisdom and good conduct helped him to overcome many challenges and crises circulated by newspapers and media channels at that time", he expounded.   

 He went on to add that such bright career led him to obtain four honorary doctorates in service of higher education from Ottawa University in Canada,  Kookmin University in South Korea, Jordanian University in Jordan and Corvinus University of Budapest in Hungary. 

Concluding his speech he said our university with its unique location and outstanding status was the focus of his attention. I do testify that he provided his full support to it at every step of its development and progress, however, the time has come to reciprocate some of his good deeds not only in its name but on behalf of all Saudi universities and all the beneficiaries of the higher education sector in this blessed country.

 
After that, a poem was delivered by Dr. Hussein Waleed Abo Al-Faraj, and was appraised by the attendees.

Afterward, the UQU Vice President for Graduate Studies and Scientific Research, Secretary General of the University Council announced awarding Dr. Khalid bin Mohamed Al-Angari the Honorary Doctorate from Umm Al-Qura University. He then received the certificate and the memorial gift given to him on this occasion. 

For his part, Ambassador of the Custodian of Two Holy Mosques to France, the ex-Minister of Education Dr. Khalid bin Mohamed Al-Angari extended his thanks and appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al-Saud for his noble approval to award him the honorary doctorate from Umm Al-Qura University saying this directive to honor those who served this country comes as no surprise from a man who is a symbol of trustworthiness and that giving concern to science and education is not an emergency issue to a man who has granted history, thought, culture and media his care, time and attention indicating that he learnt much things from him during his career in the field of leadership, management, and enthusiasm to serve public interest.  

 He added that Custodian of two Holy Mosques was very keen through his continuous follow up and interest in the higher education institutions and such a thing was proven in the establishment of university cities of King Saud, Imam Mohamed bin Saud, Princess Nora bint Abdurrahman, Prince Sattam, Al-Majmaa and Shagra, since he was not only Emir of Riyadh  but the guider of higher education. " His inclusive culture, intellectual status, awareness of authorship and education movement and interest in all aspects of development, gave him the capacity of watchful guidance and follow-up", he elaborated, saying that from his comments and physical presence, we -in the higher education sector- learnt that we are moving in accordance with the frameworks set by the wise leadership for education.      

 
Moreover, he said: it is a great honor for me today to receive honorary doctorate degree from this prominent university which was formed around the oldest institution of higher education in the Kingdom whereas the College of Sharia in Makkah was established in the era of the late King Abdul-Aziz in 1369 H , thus UQU took the honor of place and leadership in serving higher education. He noted that he assumed responsibility of two vital facilities  for  more than a quarter of a century in the reigns of two great kings; King Fahad bin Abdul-Aziz and king Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz. During my tenure he added the number of Saudi universities increased to 28 public universities and 10 national university and tens of national colleges thus providing higher education opportunities for Saudi citizens in all regions where colleges were opened in all provinces and the integrated university cities were built. Such orientation he said, helped students to settle within the confines of their families, building comprehensive development around the university cities, boosting different fields of economy and building various specialized university hospitals which will contribute together with the hospitals of the Ministry of Health in providing proper health services for citizens and residents. These facilities and infrastructures will play a vital role in the state's ambitious economic plans and will support national transformation plan.

        
He further added that "The focus of the Saudi leadership since the era of the founder King Abdul-Aziz until the current prosperous era of the  Custodian of Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz has been in building the human and the successive economic cycles has proven that human capital is the backbone of the knowledge-based economy. In anticipation of future prospects and because of the developmental requirements, the state has sent some of its students on scholarships abroad and will not decline such orientation under any circumstances to help graduate a Saudi generation combining originality and modernity".   

 
All the more he added, "Monitoring social mobility via social networks and different activities, the person will see that students of Custodian of Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program have interacted with the outputs of higher education from the international and local universities the thing which will contribute significantly to achieving the Kingdom Vision 2030". He highlighted the role played by the faculty members from different  universities in managing affairs of higher education in the ministry to achieve the mentioned national objectives and building relation between universities and general education in addition to their contribution to the external scholarship administration besides offering  male and female students their considerable expertise in scholarship and forging close relations with the international academic institutions". 

 
Concluding his speech, Dr. Al-Angari extended his thanks and appreciation to UQU President Dr. Bakri Assas and all affiliates of the university dedicating his honoring to all those who served higher education in the Kingdom. 

At the conclusion of the ceremony, memorial photos were taken for the Minister of Education and Chairman of the University Council Dr. Ahmed bin Mohamed Al-Iesa and the members of the council.