"The approval of the bylaw reflects the scientific and technological progress achieved by Saudi Arabia," the minister told the Saudi Press Agency. He also noted the growing application of modern technology in electronic and distance education.
He emphasized the need for certain rules and regulations to ensure the quality and efficiency of distance education.
A number of Saudi universities including King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah currently offer distance education in different subjects. "The new bylaw sets out the criteria to assess the performance of institutions that provide distance education," he added.
Al-Anqari said the king approved many other recommendations of the council to strengthen higher education in the country. They include the decision to establish the department of Islamic economics at the College of Shariah in Madinah Islamic University, another department for general health at the College of Medicine in Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University in Riyadh.
"Three new departments will be established at the College of Applied Medical Sciences in Turba, under Taif University, for medical laboratories, naturopathic treatment and pharmaceutical industry," the minister added. The council also restructured the departments of the College of Dentistry in King Khaled University.
The Saudi government has given utmost importance to education and training, allocating more than a quarter of the national budget for the sector. There are 24 public and nine private universities in the Kingdom.
Spelling out other decisions, Al-Anqari said a new center for research and consultancy would be established at Taif University, a deanship for university education development at Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University in Riyadh, an agency for academic affairs at Dammam University and another agency for health information technology at King Saud University for Health Sciences (KSUHS).
Awad Al-Asmary has been appointed undersecretary for higher studies and scientific research at Al-Kharj University and Majed Al-Tuwaijery undersecretary of the new agency at KSUHS. The council also extended the services of 32 members of the teaching staff at some universities in the country.
