«الشورى» لجامعة نجران: اعتمدوا برامجكم التعليمية

The Shura Council held its fifth regular session yesterday for the third year of the ninth term, chaired by the Deputy Chairman of the Council, Dr. Mishal Fahm Al-Sulami. During the session, a number of decisions were issued concerning the sports sector, the Higher Education Fund, and the universities of Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic and Najran, in addition to discussing annual reports from educational and religious entities.

The Council called on the Sports Sector Authority to enhance the readiness of its facilities to support hosting major international events, ensuring operational efficiency and providing an exceptional experience for visitors and participants. It also urged the development of a framework to diversify investment opportunities in its facilities and projects, which would enhance the participation of small and medium enterprises and increase local content.

Regarding the Higher Education Fund, the Council reaffirmed its previous decision to prepare a comprehensive strategic plan according to the best global practices and the directions of Saudi Vision 2030. It also called for the Fund to govern its financial and investment operations, as well as the mechanisms for calculating returns, profits, deposits, withdrawals, exits, and rights settlements, ensuring transparency and performance efficiency.

The Council urged Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University to market patents and innovations to develop its self-resources and to provide high-quality professional certificates that enhance the competitive advantage of its students, in addition to developing the student and career guidance system.

The Council requested Najran University to expedite the approval of all its educational programs and to diversify its local and international partnerships and agreements to contribute to preparing students for the labor market, while establishing indicators to measure the effectiveness of those partnerships, improving the student experience, and developing academic advising and guidance to address the challenges of academic failure.

The Council discussed the annual report of the Presidency of Religious Affairs at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025. Council member Dr. Mohammed Al-Aqeel called for the adoption of a program to qualify volunteers in advocacy and guidance initiatives, along with measuring volunteer hours and their impact. The specialized committee requested more time to study the members' observations and suggestions and to return with its perspective in a later session.

Establishing Research Centers

The Council discussed the annual reports of Umm Al-Qura University and Jazan University and listened to the members' observations regarding their performance. Council member Engineer Abdulaziz Al-Maliki urged Jazan University to study the establishment or development of research centers and to create academic programs that support the production of national knowledge and capacity building, linked to the developmental, economic, and geographical characteristics of the region.

Council member Dr. Salem Al-Jarbou emphasized the importance of aligning the outputs of Jazan University with the needs of the labor market and developing training and vocational qualification programs and career guidance in partnership with relevant authorities. Meanwhile, council member Engineer Mutlaq Al-Sharari stressed the importance of enhancing safety on the roads leading to university branches to ensure smooth and safe traffic flow.

The Education and Scientific Research Committee requested more time to study the members' observations and suggestions regarding the reports of Umm Al-Qura University and Jazan University and to return with its perspective to the Council in a later session.