62K of IAU's students, Alumni and community members benefited from the University's summer semester programs and enrichment events!
President of the University, Dr. Abdullah Al-Rubaish explained that the Deanship of E-Learning and Distance Learning has a complete technical infrastructure of devices, equipment, systems, live broadcast rooms and professional studios that were prepared for the use of faculty members and students and enabled the university to hold a series of virtual enrichment programs using (Zoom) as well as other systems and applications. The number of meetings and workshops during these virtual events exceeded 537 workshops and meetings, with a total of 972 continuous working hours. Whereas the number of beneficiaries from IAU employees, students, alumni, and community members exceeded 62,693 participants; noting that the university is looking forward to monitoring and following up on societal needs to meet the directives of the Kingdom's wise leadership and the aspirations of the Ministry of Education in developing societal, technical, research and linguistic skills through innovative and modern methods linked to the university’s original role in meeting the national development requirements.
Dr. Munira Al-Mahashir, Dean of E-Learning and Distance Learning, mentioned that the university in partnership with government and private sectors played an important during the pandemic in providing various learning and development options for individuals and entities. This has been achieved according to a scientific methodology that originated from the strategic plans and community partnerships of the university's vice-presidencies and colleges. Among these initiatives, the Vice-Presidency for Studies, Development, and Community Service provided around 23 workshops that were attended by more than 15,000 of IAU's various colleges' Alumni. The Vice-Presidency for Innovation and Entrepreneurship held a second innovation camp in cooperation with the Saudi Enjaz Company, and Universities' Entrepreneurial Clubs camp that provided 32 educational hours. Also, the Vice-Presidency for Postgraduate Studies and Scientific Research represented by the Deanship of Scientific Research provided several workshops to develop and frame the university’s research systems, the most recent was the Institutional Financing workshop. The Institute for Research and Medical Consultation continued its pursuit of searching for talented students to support them by providing 200 working hours and 19 workshops that consisted of multi-disciplinary research programs. The Deanship of Library Affairs provided 19 workshops to enhance its Librarians' skills of serving beneficiaries through IAU's libraries' programs and systems. The Deanship of Community Service and Sustainable Development added several enrichment programs to the university’s activities such as the Disaster Safety Prevention Program, Disasters: An Introduction for the university's health hotel guests, "Sustainable Development and the Role of Saudi Universities" a training program in cooperation with the Ministry of Economy and Planning, and a partnership with the College of Design to provide the first enriching virtual summer school for Saudi designers and those who are interested in design. The Deanship of Student Affairs concluded its summer enrichment program that consisted of 29 hours of broadcasting for seven different enriching tracks and was attended by more than 3,482 participants.
Furthermore, the university's colleges served the community's needs of developmental initiatives by holding a few virtual activities such as ATAA Initiative and Daam initiative by the College of Arts, Inma Initiative by the College of Science, the first summer enrichment program (Tawaiq) by the College of Sciences and Humanities in Jubail, Sumo Club by the College of Sharia and Law, an Orientation Program for Female Respiratory Care Interns by the College of Applied Medical Sciences, the 2020 Summer of Administration program by the College of Business Administration, the College of Education in cooperation with the Continuous Education Center's summer training program for the Eastern Province's Educational Directorate employees. Dr. Al-Mahashir added that the events included a number of meetings such as field training students' meetings at the College of Applied Studies and Community Service, the Scientific Week in partnership between the College of Sciences and Humanities and the Egyptian Scientific Research School, an introductory meeting for interns of the College of Dentistry, and an annual forum for interns' research that was supervised by the College of Dentistry. She concluded by pointing out the outstanding efforts IAU's colleges and departments gave to expanding knowledge, scientific enrichment, and to enhance the efficiency of optimal use of virtual reality in serving the community.
