Ministry Of Education,Riyadh,KSA

The progress of any nation entirely depends on the extent it achieves in building and developing its human resources. Higher education represents one of the most important means of developing human resources, which in turn is considered a strategic investment for any country. Through higher education programs, every nation manages to fulfill its needs of knowledgeable and skilled labor forces which labor market needs and which its national development requires. Higher education globally witnesses many of the changes, transformations and challenges imposed by the technical and information developments of the contemporary civilization. In the context of supporting the efforts of the universities and the institutions of higher education programs to reach advanced levels, the ministry has taken a number of qualitative initiatives aimed at raising the level of quality in universities which are represented in the three major projects. The first is the project of developing the creativity and the excellence of the faculty members. The second one is supporting the establishment of centers for research and scientific excellence in universities, in addition to what is approved in their budgets. The third project is to contribute with universities in supporting scientific societies. In order to continue the development of the Saudi system of higher education, the ministry has initiated the preparation of a strategic plan for the future of higher education over the following twenty-five years, a plan which adopted the name of (Horizons Project). These great developments in higher education in Saudi Arabia have reflected the noble patronage and the great interest of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, the Crown Prince and the prudent Saudi Government.