Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — Under the sponsorship of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, the eighth edition of the exhibition and the international forum for higher education will start in Riyadh on Wednesday under the slogan: “Transforming the Saudi universities in a fast changing world”.

Education Minister Hamad Bin Mohammed Al-Asheikh said the coming phase would be characterized by speed, as the universities themselves would be affected by social and economic changes as well as by the new trends in the digital age.

He said the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques is determined to promote the universities to keep pace with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, particularly in the fast changing world of technology.

According to the minister, the forum will continue for four days with the participation of international experts from renowned universities and international organizations in various parts of the world.

“This is the largest forum of its kind in the world yet,” he added.

Al-Asheikh said as many as 28 speakers and decision-makers will take the floor in five plenary sessions to discuss future changes waiting for Saudi universities.

He also said some 64 international university teachers from 33 countries will be attending the forum.

The minister said there will be about 75 workshops to be organized by local experts in addition to presentations and shows by 372 international and local organizations concerned with higher education.

“This large number of universities and international experts attending the forum reflect the high position of the Kingdom in the field of higher education,” he said.

The minister expected the exhibition and the forum to attract a large number of university students and teachers.

He revealed that the idea of the forum was born in 2010 with the holding of exhibitions and workshops. “The idea soon developed into a full-fledged international forum from the beginning of its second version in 2011,” he added.

Al-Asheikh recalled that over the past seven years a number of cooperation agreements were signed between Saudi and international universities.

“The Saudi universities have immensely benefitted from the expertise of the international universities,” he concluded.

This large number of universities and international experts attending the forum reflect the high position of the Kingdom in the field of higher education.