The Shura Council issues important decisions concerning universities and Riyadh projects
The Saudi Shura Council held its seventeenth regular session of the second year of its ninth term on Monday, chaired by Speaker Sheikh Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al Sheikh. The session witnessed extensive discussions and the issuance of a number of resolutions aimed at developing the Kingdom's infrastructure, education system, and economy, in line with the objectives of Vision 2030.
Environmental guidelines for Prince Mohammed bin Salman Park
At the start of the session, the Council issued an important resolution concerning the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Park Foundation, urging it to expedite the preparation of its strategic plan. The Council emphasized the necessity of conducting thorough environmental studies for the project area, given the site's environmental sensitivity, to identify projects that are compatible with the local environment. These directives reflect the Kingdom's growing focus on quality of life and increasing green spaces. The Council also called upon the Foundation to enhance its integration with the "Green Riyadh" program to exchange expertise and implement global best practices in this field.
Strengthening international economic partnerships
On the international and economic front, the Council approved several memoranda of understanding aimed at strengthening economic and investment cooperation. These included a draft memorandum of understanding between the Saudi Ministry of Economy and Planning and its counterpart in Portugal, and another with the Republic of Guinea. A memorandum of understanding between the Special Economic Zones and Cities Authority and the Jordanian Ministry of Investment was also approved, reflecting the Kingdom's commitment to diversifying its economic partnerships regionally and internationally.
University Education File: Criticisms and Recommendations for Development
The issue of higher education dominated a significant portion of the session's discussions, with the council reviewing Jazan University's annual report for 2024. Members offered key observations aimed at enhancing the university's efficiency. Dr. Aisha Arishi urged the university to expedite its transition to the new "University System" and to establish effective partnerships with the industrial sector. Dr. Bandar Al-Buqami emphasized the necessity of adopting a plan to attract and retain academic talent to address internal challenges and improve educational outcomes. Dr. Ibrahim Al-Hadithi also highlighted the importance of research chairs in serving the community and achieving strategic objectives.
In a related context, the council discussed the annual report of Umm Al-Qura University, with interventions focusing on leveraging the unique character of Mecca. Dr. Abdullah Al-Najjar called for the adoption of a strategic model to attract international students through the "Study in Saudi Arabia" program, while Dr. Ghada Al-Hudhali advocated for strengthening research collaboration through the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Institute for Hajj and Umrah Research and attracting globally influential researchers to serve pilgrims, aligning with the Pilgrim Service Program, one of the ambitious Vision 2030 initiatives.
