He said the plan, which has taken into consideration Shariah teachings, the country’s future vision and national development plans, was prepared in line with global best practices in higher education. “We want to have a strategic planning for our universities,” said the minister.
Al-Anqari said the Higher Education Council, which is chaired by the king, restructured the departments at the College of Designs & Arts and the College of Home Economics at Princess Norah bint Abdul Rahman University to cope with job market requirements.
He said King Abdullah has approved a new community college in Badr, near Madinah, adding that it would have departments for medical sciences and technologies, computer and information sciences and engineering administrative and financial sciences.
“A number of new specialized science departments will be opened at the College of Social Sciences in Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University,” the minister said. A new center for sustainable development will be established at Qassim University. King Abdullah approved the appointment of Muhammad Al-Hamoud as vice president of King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Dhahran, Suleiman Al-Yahya, vice president of Qassim University and Musaed Abdul Monem, vice president at Shaqra University.
He also extended the terms of 23 teaching staff members at some universities.
