The rector is also president of the Supreme Committee of the First Saudi International Medical Education Conference (SIME 2012), featuring 30 foreign speakers in the field of medicine from prestigious universities and institutions around the world.
The rector, stressing the university’s effort in equipping itself with the latest curriculum and technologies, observed: “The medical field in all its applied aspects of education and training has witnessed tremendous strides in the life of this blessed country, through its close attention to medical education and health.”
The participants at the conference will also exchange experience and motivate researchers, besides creating open channels of communication between experts and scientists from various countries in advances in the field of medical education.
Abdurahman Al-Nami, associate professor, said Imam University has participated, sponsored and organized conferences with high-level representation, either of political or of scientific importance.
He said this event is the first organized by the College of Medicine and that is why “we have to use the long-term experience” of the university and their administration.
He said this event would not have been possible without the support and cooperation from all sections of the government administration.
Al-Nami said they had to work hard in order to prove that the excellent work has no limit. “Although we have a good reputation in social science and Arabic in addition to Islamic science, we had to prove that we are equally good in the field of science and medicine.”
The university now has more than 450 students.
He added: “In fact, we got a lot of support from King Abdullah and from the minister of higher education. As such, we see our students studying all over the world. Our local universities also got their share although there is a direct support from the Ministry of Finance for the special programs. This gives you an understanding about the government’s thinking on ways to accelerate higher education not only in terms of number but also in quality.”
Talking about Saudi students going abroad, he said it would not affect the country but rather enrich it in the long run. “We are lacking qualified staff in the medical field. Hence the country needs to expand the scope of training and education. Of course, we need people from different backgrounds because this will enrich the medical field. As you know the world is turning to globalization.”
