Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has approved a number of decisions taken by the Higher Education Council in its 62nd session, it was reported here today. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency, Dr. Khalid Al-Anqari, Minister of Higher Education, said the monarch approved the establishment of 33 new colleges: 7 in Makkah Region, 3 in Al-Madinah, one in Jeddah Province, two in Hafr Al-Baten, one in Al-Hafoof, three in Assir , six in Qassim Region, three in Jazan Region, two in Hail, four in Tabuk Region, and one in Riyadh. Based on a recommendation by an ad hoc committee to benefit from UNESCO scientific academic chairs in Saudi universities, the King endorsed the Council's decision to set up the following chairs under the umbrella of the UNESCO: UNESCO chairs at Imam Mohammed bin Saud University on dialogue among followers of religions and cultures, on Society information, on quality in higher education ; UNESCO chairs at King Saud University on childhood studies, on water desalination in Saudi Arabia, and on education for sustainable development in Saudi Arabia; UNESCO chairs at Jeddah King Abdulaziz University on coral reef; on desertification; and on geological dangers; UNESCO chairs at King Faisal University for talent, for innovation and for the disabled studies. The Minister of Higher Education said that the Faculty of Medicine of King Fahd Medical City, an affiliate of King Saud University for Health Sciences, was merged into the current Faculty of Medicine at the university. --More
