Polls in Saudi Universities, Expats to be Admitted Soon

Wednesday, 23 January 2008
By: Amal Al-Zahrani and

Kholood F. Al-Rhamah

Jeddah-Saudi universities will soon have free elections to form students union and select deans and heads of departments.

Additionally, Saudi universities will soon accept non-Saudi male and female students.
The development are contained in draft regulation for a new system for universities that was approved by the Shoura Council on Sunday.

Final touches are to be put on the draft next week before it is submitted to the Council of ministries and the King.

" Finally we agreed on all points of the new universities system" Said Dr. Mohammed Al-Zolfa, a Shoura member.

"Formation of student union is a bold new step".

For expatriates, the opportunity for their children to study in Saudi government universities is a boon. Over the years, several expatriates have left the country for want of higher education opportunities for their children.

Under the new system, expatriate students will have to pay intuition fees. The university can also grant scholarships for talented non-Saudi students.

According to the draft, the dean of a faculty of a college or institute will be chosen by secret ballot to serve a term of three years, renewable once. Heads of departments will have two-year term, renewable once.

The decision to hold elections in universities is the latest step to introduce the concept of democracy in Saudi Arabia. Elections to 178 municipal councils across the country were held in 2005. It was Saudi Arabia's first experiment with countrywide elections.

" Our country is moving on democracy and the way of elections" Said Dr. Al-Zolfa. " We should teach our youth how to vote and how to respect their choice.

Many students don't know their rights and how to get them. Now they will know when they have their own unions."

Professors and academics welcomed the developments and were optimistic.
Dr. Ameera Khashgari, English professor in Girls College of Education in Jeddah was clearly pleased by the news. "Many girls can't get their rights or solve their problems as there is no official union to work under," she said. "Now they have a great chance to go through the election experience."

According to the new system, the elected head of a student union will be a member of the university council.

At the English department of King Abdul Aziz University (KAAU), professors cheered the decision.

"I believe that a university without a student union lacks many of its essential resources," said Dr. Abdullah Al-Shehri. "When the student comes to the university, he should be exposed to all sorts of life experiences and not only to academic life. It might not be a requirement in our society but, in my opinion as a university professor, it is a necessity."

Prof. Al-Korashi added, "It is the suitable time to ‘live' democracy and election process instead of teaching it to students. The university council will have the head of the student union in it, and that ensures that their voice is going to be heard and their demands are going to be achieved."

According to Dr. Al-Zolfa, universities will keep an eye on the student unions so that they don't stray away from their real purpose into any political movement or suspicious activities.

"Universities are responsible for all its student unions and to be sure they don't get affected by political movements or develop bad ideas, they should guide them to the right path," said Dr. Al-Zolfa.

The decision on elections was made after demands from students.

"From my personal experience with my students I found them eager to have their own student unions, although they now have it merely in the scientific societies," said Dr. Mohammed Al-Hizan, a member in one of the scientific societies at KAAU. "However, due to the differences in interest between the students and the people responsible for these societies, they tend to leave it or disregard it."

Students, long waiting for such a development, were thrilled by the Shoura's decision. "I'll be graduating this year, but my dream was to have a student union to raise our voices about the problems we face in the university," said Ibtisam Al-Hazazi, an undergraduate student in the English department in KAAU.

"Nobody listens to us when we complain and it was the best thing to happen.

"I envy those who will have the chance to join these unions," Al-Hazazi added. Another student said she would contest the elections.

"I love to lead," said Nora Mohammed, a second year student at the English department in KAAU. "It is my life's dream to have a student union like any other country where they respect and listen to the students' opinions and voices.

"I'll definitely contest and I really hope I win."

Students to Speak up at JEF ’08

Wednesday, 23 January 2008
By Kholood F. Al-Rhamah

JEDDAH - Exchange students from Effat College and Duke University in the US will participate in the interactive segment at the Jeddah Economic Forum (JEF) to be held on Feb. 24, 2008.

Dr. Ghazy Bin Zagr, JEF academic member, said the segment aims to give participants "deep understanding of their identity" while allowing them to build new relationships.

The interactive segment is nothing short of a direct link between the speakers and the participants, said Sami Fouad Bahrawi, JEF organizer, and member of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industries.

Jane Summers, an exchange student from Duke University, expects the segment to greatly benefit the participants.

Researchers prove that a person who only listens (to a conference) retains just five percent of the information. However, those who are able to air their opinion during a discussion remember at least 50 percent of the information, she said.

Summers also lauded the exchange program which aims to reinforce commercial relations between the US and the Kingdom while giving the participants total freedom to express their opinions on different cultures.

Dr. Haifa Jamal Al Layl, dean of Effat College, said their sending participants to the JEF is in line with the forum's 2008 theme, "Value Creation through Alliances & Partnerships."

King Faisal Hospital Award announced

Thursday, 17 January 2008
By: Kholood F. Al-Rhamah

Jeddah- King Faisal hospital named 12 winners of its " Best Colleague Award" Wednesday.

The top three winners were Dr. Irfan Mamoun, chairman of the Radiology department, Dr. Abdullah Basalim a consultant in the surgery department, and Zainab Rashed a pharmacist in the inpatient Pharmacy.

Each winner received a crystal with his name engraved on it and SR 5.000. Winners were chosen through votes.

" After 20 years of working here, I am proud to have been recognized as "Best Colleague" Said Dr. Mamoun.

Rashed, a Yemeni thanked the hospital staff and described their relationship as co-workers as "Wonderful".

Naïf Al-Dabag, head of the hospital's operating and services department, said the award aims to develop social relationships among the staff.

Students learn how to Program a Robot

Thursday, 17 January 2008
By Kholood F. Al-Rhamah

JEDDAH - The first "Saudi Robo 28" contest wherein participants programmed robots was held Wednesday by the general administration for Students' Scientific Activities of the Ministry of Education (MoE). The robots were programmed to perform sumo wrestling, navigate mazes and follow lines.

Contestants were categorized into school, administration and ministry levels. Most of the participants were high school students.

"The contest aimed to guide students in solving scientific problems, release their creativity by creating something from nothing, and connect the school curriculums to a relevant project," said Abdullah Saeed Banaamah, Scientific Activities general supervisor of MoE.

Schools with ample technological equipment such as computers and electronics hosted the contest. Students who participated are those who took up a course in robotics in their schools, said Banaamah.

A website (www.roboticsksa.com) for the contest was opened a month ago by the ministry to answer questions about Robo-science, said Dr. Naser Al-Garny, head of the Students' Activities Committee of MoE.

"Saudi Robo 28" was held under the sponsorship of Jeddah Educational Administration.

Saudi Bags Bronze in Scientific Olympiad

Sunday, 13 January 2008
By Kholood F. Al-Rhamah

JEDDAH - A Saudi student won the bronze medal in the 4th International Scientific Olympiad held from Dec. 3-11, 2007.

Mazen Mahmoud Abo Al-Huoda, 15, bested 276 participants from 46 countries. He was among six other Saudi students in the olympiad.

"I felt a deep sense of patriotism when they shone the light on the Saudi Arabian flag during the opening ceremony. It was at that moment I felt I had to go back home a winner," Mazen said.

Mahmoud Abo Al-Huoda, his father, said Mazen had learned how to read and write even before he began schooling.

The boy began showing strong interest in science upon reaching 5th grade. Mahmoud nurtured Mazen's inclination by giving him books on the subject and registering him in various courses.

"I didn't just depend on school curriculums but tried to widen my son's thinking as much as I could," Mahmoud said.

Since Mazen is young and inexperienced in traveling alone, he and his mother were initially jittery in joining the olympiad.

"I had to convince his mother to let him go because I wanted him to go through the experience," said Mahmoud. "I pointed out to her that the people Mazen would be traveling with were high officials and trustworthy."

Although Mazen was given a celebration party in his school, Mahmoud feels the recognition his son deserves from officials is lacking.

"When sportsmen win medals, everybody rejoices. But if its achievements in education, it's as if it's no big deal. That's too bad because we have so many talented students," said Al-Mahmoud.

The international scientific Olympiad is a scientific contest involving the theoretical and practical side of natural science. The participants are given three tests on chemistry, physics and biology across nine days.

Winners are determined based on such factors as their scores on the scientific achievements tests, their overall intelligence, and their capability to participate in such tilt as assessed by seminar groups.

The contest is held yearly in different countries under the supervision of respective ministries of education.

Workshop on Metaplanning

Thursday, 10 January 2008
By Kholood F. Al-Rhamah

JEDDAH - A workshop on the Metaplanning method to enhance the quality of work of employees in the Kingdom was held recently by the Students' Activities Committee in the Ministry of Education.

The workshop was titled "The Skills of Distinguished Administration." Dr. Mohammed Al-Aamri, who presided over the session, said the thrust of the method is the gathering of work ideas from employees so that change and development for more productive administration come from the group itself.

"We asked each of the participants to write his work plan on cards of different colors which were shown face-up to the others 10 minutes later. Same-colored pens were used to keep the author of an idea anonymous," said Al-Aamari of the interactive session.

The Metaplanning method came from Germany and is akin to brainstorming with a time limit of 10 minutes. During sessions, participants freely express their ideas about work and resolve conflicting opinions.

Salem Mohammed Al-Amri, a participant in the workshop, said the session gave them more insight on how to be more efficient at work, thus, moving them closer to their goals.
Dr. Naser Al-Garny, head of the students committee, said they held the workshop because there is a need for it.

"We want a better work environment that serves our needs and is fastened to the best goals," he said. "We need to create a system where the employee feels that he is a partner and not just an executor of orders."

King Faisal Hospital Awards

Thursday, 10 January 2008
By Kholood F. Al-Rhamah

JEDDAH - King Faisal Hospital will announce the 12 winners of its "Best Colleague Award" in a ceremony to be held on January 16. A total of 24 nominees, narrowed down from 60, is up for the award.

"Employees were nominated based on their work ethics and the manner in which they help and deal with their colleagues," said Naif Al-Dabag, head of the hospital's Operating and Services Department.

He added that the winners have already been chosen through votes cast by the hospital staff, but their names are kept secret to maintain competitiveness among the employees.

NSHR Expects Early Return of Remaining Gitmo Detainees

Tuesday, 01 January 2008
By Kholood F. Al-Rhamah

JEDDAH - The National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) is expecting an early return of the remaining 13 Saudi prisoners from Guantanamo.

A new batch of 10 Saudis arrived in the Kingdom Saturday. "We praise the efforts which led to the release of 117 prisoners so far, and we are seriously hoping for the early return of the remaining 13 Saudis," said Dr. Mufleh Al-Qahtani, NSHR spokesman and its vice president.

NSHR is following up the prisoners' conditions in Guantanamo and continuing with the demands to release them and bring them back to the Kingdom. The Society works as a link between families and the returning prisoners.

"We visit the prisoners in jail and meet their families and facilitate the procedures for them to meet, and keep the families on the loop of any information about the detainees," said Suhailah Zain Al-Abedeen, NSHR member.

She said NSHR has a special committee to follow up with the prisoners' condition in Guantanamo. It meets regularly to discuss and take updates on their situation. NSHR praised the Ministry of Interior's rehabilitation program.

"The program focuses on health care, financial support for the prisoners' families, rehabilitating prisoners in the society and a guidance program," said Al-Qahtani.

NSHR is also asking for closing down the Guantanamo Bay prison, because it violates all international treaties on human rights.

"Many American politicians believe the prison is a bad publicity to the Bush administration, and that's why they are looking forward to its closure," said Al-Qahtani.