The e-learning systems at Umm Al-Qura University recorded that the students have accessed the remote education systems approximately nine million times since the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, thanks to the personnel and technical capabilities that have contributed to achieving qualitative achievements that keep pace with the changing challenges in the world. As a result, more than 90,000 students at the university’s main campus and its branches were able to attend classes from the beginning of the outbreak of the pandemic.

The President of Umm Al-Qura University, Prof. Moaddi bin Muhammad Aal Madh-hab, appreciated the support that the university receives from the wise leadership, may Allah support it, which enabled the university to overcome this crisis through its digital environment, in line with e-governance strategies. He noted the support of His Excellency the Minister of Education, Dr. Hamad Aal Al-Sheikh, as well as the support of His Excellency the Deputy Minister for Research and Innovation, Dr. Muhammad Al-Sudairi, for the steps taken by the university during the crisis.

The UQU President stated that the university, with its capabilities, created a success story by which it surpassed the effects of this pandemic through its system linked to its educational, research, administrative and digital services. He pointed out that it has become possible to cope with all types of circumstances, as the university is noted for its highly qualified staff and its infrastructure that keeps pace with advanced educational institutions.

The UQU President, Prof. Aal Madh-hab, praised the efforts made by the university, including the faculty and staff, by which we were able to overcome this crisis. He also praised the keenness of our male and female students, and their diligence and perseverance to excel and make academic achievements, in order to be constructive citizens who contribute to the service of the nation.

In turn, the UQU Vice President for Educational Affairs, Dr. Amer Al-Zaidi, stated that distance education has proven effective in its first year, one year after the suspension of attendance for in-person learning and switching to online learning.

Dr. Al-Zaidi mentioned that the UQU Vice Presidency for Educational Affairs and all the deanships and support departments will work to strengthen the distance education system and harness modern technology to serve the academic system.

In the same regard, the Dean of the Deanship of E-Learning, Dr. Khalid Al-Mutairi, stated that with the onset of the coronavirus crisis, the deanship developed an emergency plan, in partnership with the relevant authorities at the university, to manage the e-learning environment and fully support the transition to digital education. It also equally worked to boost electronic educational systems and provide a specialized training system to achieve the university's strategic goals, in order to ensure the continuation of the educational process.

He said that, upon the issuance of the decision to switch to distance education, the deanship was able to activate more than 300 academic programs for all scientific degrees, and to prepare training plans remotely for the Umm Al-Qura University system with all administrative and academic staff and students. He pointed out that a year after the coronavirus crisis, the deanship's systems have recorded more than nine million entries for the active use of students.

It is worth noting that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recently published a report on its official website on the efforts of the Ministry of Education to confront the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. This brought to light the Saudi Kingdom's regional and global role in managing the crisis, and its extraordinary efforts to mitigate its implications, ensuring the continuity of the educational process remotely for more than seven million students in general and university education and training, and contributing to keeping them safe.