RIYADH, 16 July 2005 — Authorities have approved the establishment of a number of new colleges in various parts of the Kingdom, according to Higher Education Minister Dr. Khaled Al-Anqari.
He said the Department of Medical Sciences at Um Al-Qura University in Makkah would be transformed into an independent college, adding that the new college would offer bachelor degree programs in medicine and surgery.
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd has approved the recommendations of the Higher Education Council that include establishment of an engineering college in Sakaka.
“The Department of Medical Laboratory Science at the College of Science in Al-Jouf will be converted into a college for applied medical sciences,” the Saudi Press Agency quoted the minister as saying.
The Department of Computer Science at the College of Science in King Abdul Aziz University will be made an independent college for computer science and information technology. The council has agreed to open new departments at certain colleges. They are: Department of Genetics at the College of Medicine and Medical Sciences at Um Al-Qura University, and Mathematics Department and Physics Department at the College of Computer Science in Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University.
A marine research center will be established at King Khaled University and will be brought under its college of sciences.
The council instructed King Saud University to take necessary measures to open a community college in Huraimala soon.
It also agreed to pay a monthly stipend of SR6,000 to graduates of medical and dental colleges and SR2,500 to graduates of health science colleges during their internship year.
Al-Anqari said a new agency for studies, development and social services would be set up at King Faisal University.
Dr. Abdul Rahman ibn Ibrahim Al-Maaqel has been appointed undersecretary at King Faisal University for academic affairs.
The terms of Dr. Eid ibn Misfer Al-Hejaili, undersecretary at the Islamic University in Madinah and Dr. Abdul Aziz ibn Abdul Rahman Al-Sowayan, undersecretary at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals for academic affairs, have been renewed for three years.
