The Future Entrepreneurs Forum:

Global Entrepreneurship Week is an important global event, being an international initiative aimed to acquaint youth with entrepreneurship. Launched in 2008 in the UK, more than 10 million people from 102 countries have taken part in the activities of this initiative. The one-week event brings together entrepreneurship experts, decision-makers, and education practitioners. This event aims to introduce the community to the benefits of entrepreneurship through various activities aimed at motivating young people to explore their project ideas.

In conjunction with Global Entrepreneurship Week, held from 4 to 7 Rabi` Al-Awwal 1440 A.H., the Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Umm Al-Qura University has organized the Future Entrepreneurs Forum, under the auspices of His Excellency the President of Umm Al-Qura University, Prof. Abdullah bin Omar Bafail, in the presence of His Excellency the Vice President for Development and Entrepreneurship, Dr. Hani Ghazi, the Vice President for Educational Affairs, Prof. Abdul-Aziz bin Rashad Suruji, and the deans of the colleges and supportive deanships. The event took place in the King Abdul-Aziz Historical Support Hall.

The Events Accompanying the Future Entrepreneurs Forum (Male Section):

The Future Entrepreneurs Forum, organized by the Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship and held from 4 to 7 Rabi` Al-Awwal 1440 AH., in conjunction with Global Entrepreneurship Week, included many awareness and educational workshops and lectures for university students and employees, presented by a number of experts and specialists in the field of innovation and entrepreneurship for a period of three days.

It is worth noting that these courses were designed to keep pace with Saudi Vision 2030; focus has been placed on marketing, discovering the tendencies of entrepreneurs in their field, and cognitive innovation and creativity. The workshops also included learning about the mechanism of entry into the e-commerce market and the freelance culture.

The Dean of the Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Dr. Muwaffaq Urijah, pointed out that starting from Saudi Vision 2030, which supports the knowledge economy based on investment in human capital, the Institute has been keen to establish the Future Entrepreneurs Forum and adopt student graduation projects. The Institute also works to develop their creative and innovative ideas, which will definitely serve the nation and guarantee its leadership in different fields.

Dr. Urijah expressed appreciation for the support and direction of His Excellency Prof. Abdullah bin Omar Bafail, President of the University, for the activities and programs of the Institute that are in line with the future strategy of the university and Saudi Vision 2030. He praised the UQU Vice President for Development and Entrepreneurship, Dr. Hani bin Uthman Ghazi, for his support and interest in the Institute's events. He also praised the Institute's vice deans and employees for the effort they have made to make the forum such a success and to provide this opportunity to promote a culture of creativity and innovation among the university community.

The Events Accompanying the Future Entrepreneurs Forum (Female Section):

The Vice President for Female Student Affairs, Dr. Sarah bint Omar Al-Khuli, attended the opening ceremony of the Future Entrepreneurs Forum in Al-Abidiyyah, under the patronage of His Excellency the President of Umm Al-Qura University, Prof. Abdullah bin Omar Bafail. The forum was organized by the Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship in conjunction with World Entrepreneurs Day. Her Excellency was keen to attend the Female Section program held on Tuesday and Wednesday, 5-6 Rabi` Al-Awwal 1440 A.H., in the Outer Court of Al-Jawharah Hall in Al-Zahir. During the Female Section program, the UQU Vice President for Student Affairs made a speech in which she clarified that the university role in this regard is to foster a culture of creativity and entrepreneurship among the academic community and between male and female students of the university, with the creation of an integrated environment to support innovation and entrepreneurship. The program was attended by a number of vice deans of colleges, institutes, and deanships, faculty members, university employees, and female students. The events of the Female Section program continued until Thursday, 7 Rabi` Al-Awwal 1440 A.H.

After the UQU Vice President's speech, a video about World Entrepreneurs Day was displayed, in addition to an acting scene featuring entrepreneurship. The Vice Dean of the Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Dr. Najwa Samarqandi, then delivered a speech on the role of the Institute in spreading awareness among male and female students regarding creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship and developing their capabilities towards starting and establishing entrepreneurial projects to move forward towards contributing to Saudi Vision 2030. She reviewed the importance and goals of Global Entrepreneurship Week and the four main tenets which the events of the Global Entrepreneurship Week 2018 are all about: women, youth, the investment environment, and work systems.