16. Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

The University, represented by the University Vice Presidency for Educational Affairs, held the "First Annual Meeting of Scientific Department Heads" on Wednesday, 14/4/1441 A.H., at the Medical Clinics Theater, under the patronage of His Excellency Prof. Dr. Abdulrahman bin Hamad Al-Dawood, President of the University, and in the presence and participation of the University Vice President, Dr. Muhammad Al-Saawi, the University Vice President for Educational Affairs, Dr. Muhammad Al-Uthayeb, and the University Vice President for Postgraduate Studies and Scientific Research, Prof. Ahmed Al-Turki, the meeting aimed to discuss the issues and challenges faced by faculty members and propose appropriate solutions to them.

At the beginning of the meeting, the UQU President emphasized the importance of holding such meetings with the makers of academic work in the university to consult on everything related to the scientific departments, on which much or most of the academic work in the university is based. He pointed out that the University Council makes its decisions based on what comes out of the scientific departments, such as the appointment of faculty members, promotions, admission numbers, etc.

Al-Dawood explained that at the beginning of each semester, God willing, there will be a meeting with them to listen to each other, review what we agreed on in the previous meeting, and discuss what we can achieve in the future in all transparency, noting that the university is considered one of the largest Saudi universities through the number of colleges 38 colleges, with nearly 70 thousand students and covers the governorates of the region, and has a head start in many matters, and it has the lead in the past year in scientific activities by holding many conferences, seminars, meetings, workshops, and others. The university is the second university in the number of accredited programs, in addition to obtaining institutional accreditation as the third university in the Kingdom, as well as some colleges obtaining advanced and advanced programs, and through scientific research, the university has made great leaps in this field.

Al-Dawood pointed out that these achievements were made possible by the success of God, then by the support the university receives from the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and His Highness the Crown Prince, and the follow-up and interest of His Highness the Emir of the region and His Highness the Deputy Emir, and their encouragement and standing with us always, then your efforts, because you sow these fruits until they are ripe and plucked, because you are the basis of academic work at the university.

At the end of his speech, the UQU President said: "He thanked the attendees for what they presented in their scientific departments, pointing out that solidarity and working as one team will reflect positively on our departments, colleges and university in general. He also thanked the UQU Vice Presidency for Educational Affairs and the university vice presidents for participating in the meeting, wishing that this communication between everyone will continue at all times and wishing everyone success and prosperity.

For his part, the UQU Vice President, Dr. Muhammad Al-Obayeb, explained that the departments and their heads were contacted early on to present their views on the issues they wish to raise and deliberate in this meeting, and after collecting and arranging the proposals, the Vice Presidency tried to present many of them in a concise and comprehensive manner, indicating that among the ideas and proposals of the department heads that were discussed were such as alleviating the teaching burden of those working in committees and administrative works, as well as the possibility of cutting the leave of department heads, supporting scientific research and laboratories. Among the ideas and proposals of the department heads that were discussed were reducing the teaching load of those working in committees and administrative work, as well as the possibility of cutting the leave for department heads, supporting scientific research and laboratories, the authority of the department head in evaluating faculty members or obliging him with academic tasks, and considering the issue of contracted faculty members with outstanding qualifications who exceeded ten years and those who exceeded sixty years of age.

He added that the meeting discussed finding a mechanism to motivate and develop department heads, the shortage of faculty members and increasing quotas, especially in emerging colleges, in addition to having a specialized employee for each department to assist in quality and accreditation work and transactions in general.

He added that the meeting also discussed finding a mechanism to close and open departments or restructure them according to the requirements of the labor market, presenting successful experiences between departments and creating competition between them, as well as culminating the meeting with the heads of departments with a survey study on department heads aimed at developing performance and proposing solutions to overcome difficulties and presenting the results and recommendations of the study to the UQU President, and answering all queries raised by the heads of departments.