The Shura Council directs King Khalid University to develop applied colleges
The Saudi Shura Council held its thirteenth regular session of the second year of its ninth term on Monday, chaired by the Council's Vice President, Dr. Meshaal bin Fahm Al-Sulami. This session falls within the Council's oversight and legislative role, aimed at supporting the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 and ensuring improved performance in government agencies and educational institutions.
Strategic decisions for the development of King Khalid University
At the beginning of the session, the council issued a crucial resolution requiring King Khalid University in the Asir region to undergo a qualitative transformation in its administrative and academic systems. The resolution emphasized the need to develop the academic advising and guidance system, as well as to formulate a comprehensive human resources strategy that ensures the university's objectives are achieved with high efficiency.
In a related matter concerning regional development, the council called on the university to coordinate effectively with relevant entities to develop applied colleges within its branches. The council emphasized the importance of adopting a clear operational model that prevents overlapping responsibilities and specializations with technical colleges, ensuring complementary roles rather than duplication, which ultimately benefits the labor market.
The council also focused on the developmental dimension, calling on the university to build accurate indicators that measure the extent to which its outputs are aligned with the “Asir Region Development Strategy,” which aims to transform the region into a global tourist destination, and to measure the actual impact of the university in achieving the goals of sustainable development in the region.
Strengthening international cooperation and investment
On the international relations front, the Council approved a draft memorandum of understanding between the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) and the State Administration for Market Regulation of the People's Republic of China (SAMR) in the field of conformity assessment. This agreement is of paramount importance given the substantial volume of trade between the Kingdom and China, which necessitates the harmonization of quality standards to ensure product safety.
The Council also approved a memorandum of understanding with the government of the Republic of Honduras to encourage direct investment, in a move that reflects the Kingdom’s direction to diversify its economic partnerships and open new markets for foreign and domestic investment.
The Islamic University: Towards Global Reach and Influence
The council discussed the annual report of the Islamic University of Madinah for the academic year 2024. During the session, members called for strengthening the university's international standing, with Dr. Lubna Al-Ajmi advocating for an institutional framework to measure the global impact of graduates, given the university's role as a tool of soft power for the Kingdom in the Islamic world.
For his part, Dr. Basem Al-Sayed called on the university to adopt an ambitious project that would make it the first standard reference for Islamic universities around the world, and to work on overcoming the obstacles of global rankings that may not do justice to the nature of Sharia and linguistic disciplines.
University of Bisha: Focus on comparative advantages and the knowledge economy
Regarding the University of Bisha, members' interventions focused on leveraging the province's comparative advantages. Council member Zaher Al-Shehri called for a study on establishing a leading college in "Agricultural and Environmental Science and Technology," given Bisha's agricultural potential, which would contribute to achieving food security and sustainable development.
In the context of the mineral wealth that abounds in the Arabian Shield region, Dr. Abdullah Al-Zahrani called for support for research in the field of artificial intelligence to uncover mining sites in the Asir region, stressing the great economic and strategic impact of this trend in supporting the non-oil national economy.
