King Khalid University suspends in-person classes and switches to remote learning due to bad weather
King Khalid University announced, via its official account, the suspension of in-person classes for Wednesday at the main campus and all its colleges in the governorates, with the exception of the university's colleges in Tihama. The university explained that this decision was based on reports from the National Center for Meteorology and in the interest of the safety of students, faculty, and administrative staff. Lectures will be conducted remotely via the Blackboard e-learning platform.
This measure comes as part of a rapid response to the changing weather conditions in the region. The National Center for Meteorology and Environmental Protection indicated in its report that thunderstorms accompanied by strong surface winds and reduced horizontal visibility are expected to continue across most of the Kingdom. The Center also warned of continued cold weather in the northern regions (Tabuk, Al-Jawf, the Northern Borders, and Hail) until the end of the week, with minimum temperatures expected to drop to between 2 and 6 degrees Celsius. This cold snap is also expected to extend to the Riyadh, Qassim, and Eastern regions.
In a related context, this decision reflects the high level of readiness of Saudi universities in digital transformation, which is the result of years of investment in technological infrastructure within the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. King Khalid University is one of the leading institutions in activating e-learning systems, as the “Blackboard” platform has proven its high efficiency in ensuring the continuity of the educational process without interruption, making the option of switching to distance learning a successful strategic option that balances completing the curricula with preserving lives and property.
It is worth noting that the Ministry of Education has granted university presidents and regional education departments the authority to suspend classes based on field data and reports from relevant authorities. This ensures flexible decision-making tailored to the specific characteristics of each geographical area. The Asir region, where the university's main campus is located, is characterized by mountainous terrain that can pose a risk during heavy rainfall and flash floods. Therefore, proactive suspension decisions are crucial to prevent traffic accidents or strandings that could result from the weather conditions.
