JEDDAH, 11 June 2005 — The new universities in Jizan, Hail and Al-Jouf, which were sanctioned by Crown Prince Abdullah recently, will be opened by the beginning of next year, according to Higher Education Minister Dr. Khaled Al-Anqari.
“Studies at the three universities will start from the second semester of the next academic year (2005-2006),” Al-Anqari said in a press statement. The new academic year is scheduled to start in September.
“Ever since the crown prince gave his approval to establish the new universities, we have been working to set up its councils and discussing the subjects to be taught at their colleges,” Al-Jazirah daily quoted the minister as saying.
Al-Anqari indicated that the three universities would be named after the regions where they are located. The three institutions will increase the number of government universities in the Kingdom to 15.
At present there are 11 government-run universities in the Kingdom including the new universities in Qassim, Taif and Madinah. Efforts are also under way to establish the King Saud University of Health Sciences in Riyadh after the government gave approval for it.
Qassim University was established last year merging the branches of Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU) and King Saud University in the region. Taiba University in Madinah was formed merging the branches of IMSIU and King Abdul Aziz University in the holy city. The Taif branch of the Umm Al-Qura University became Taif University.
Al-Anqari chaired the first meeting of the council of King Saud University of Health Sciences on Wednesday. Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeea, who is president of the university and executive director of health affairs at the National Guard, briefed the meeting on the university’s colleges, syllabus and its future plans.
The university approved the syllabus of the College of Medicine and College of Nursing. It also approved a master degree program in health information and a bachelor degree program on cardio/respiratory medicine.
Speaking to reporters, Al-Anqari said the doctors who have been working with the National Guard Health Affairs and borrowed by the university for teaching would be categorized following internationally accepted norms.
It is the first time that the bachelor degree for cardio/respiratory medicine has been offered in the Kingdom, Al-Rabeea said, adding that the course will start within a year.
The government established new universities and colleges across the country in its bid to provide citizens higher education and meet job market requirements.
