King approves 4 new universities
Arab News

JEDDAH: Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has approved the establishment of four new universities in Dammam, Alkharj, Shaqra and Majmaa, Higher Education Minister Khaled Al-Anqari announced Monday. The minister thanked the king for his continuous support to higher education.

The Higher Education Council recommended the formation of the new universities after it observed that King Saud University in Riyadh and King Faisal University in Dammam had exceeded the natural size of a university, and feared that the present situation would affect their academic and research programs, the minister said.

King Saud University has now 120,000 students in 73 affiliated colleges located in 15 cities while King Faisal University has 66,000 students in 38 colleges dotted in six cities.

He said the existing 24 colleges in Dammam and surrounding cities would be brought under the new Dammam University.

They are: College of Medicine, College of Basic Medical Sciences, College of General Health, College of Arts, College of Science, College of Education, College of Clinical Pharmacology, College of Dentistry, College of Nursing, College of Administrative Sciences, College of Computer Science and Information Technology, College of Engineering, College of Applied Medical Sciences, College of Architecture and Planning and College of Design in Dammam; College of Applied Medical Sciences, Community College, College of Administrative Sciences in Qatif; College of Education and College of Applied Medical Sciences in Jubail; College of Education and College of Applied Medical Sciences in Hafr Al-Baten; College of Arts and Science in Naeeriya; and College of Arts and Science in Khafji.

As many as 20 existing colleges in Alkharj, Dalam, Aflaj, Wadi Al-Dawasser, Houtat Bani Tamim and Sulail will be affiliated to Alkharj University, the minister told the Saudi Press Agency.

They are: Community College, College of Science and Humanities, College of Applied Medical Sciences, College of Engineering, College of Business Administration, College of Medicine, College of Engineering & Computer Science, College of Dentistry, College of Pharmacology and College of Education in Alkharj; Community College and College of Science and Humanities in Aflaj; College of Arts and Science, College of Education, College of Applied Medical Sciences, and College of Engineering in Wadi Al-Dawasser; College of Education in Dalam, College of Business Administration and College of Education in Houtat Bani Tamim; and College of Science and Humanities in Sulail.

The colleges affiliated to Shaqra University are: Community College, Arts and Science College and College of Applied Medical Sciences in Shaqra; Community College and College of Science and Humanities in Huraimala; College of Science and Humanities in Dharma.

Other colleges affiliated to Shaqra University are: College of Education in Muzahamiya; College of Science and Humanities, Community College and College of Applied Medical Sciences in Quwaieya; Community College, College of Science, College of Engineering, College of Pharmacology, College of Applied Medical Sciences and College of Education in Dawadmi; College of Arts and Science in Sajir; College of Education and College of Business Administration in Afeef and College of Science and Humanities in Thadik wa Mahmal.

The colleges under Majmaa University are: Community College, College of Applied Medical Sciences, College of Administrative Sciences and Humanities, College of Engineering, College of Education and College of Medicine in Majmaa; College of Dentistry, College of Education and College of Science in Zulfa, College of Science and Humanities in Houtat Sudair; College of Science and Humanities in Alghat; and College of Science and Humanities in Remah.

The minister said the new universities would help more youths to pursue higher education.