Saudi Electronic University Participates in Global Healthcare and Business Summit

The Saudi electronic University participated in the Global healthcare and business summit held on November 12, 2020. Dr. Heba A. Alqurashi, Head of Health Informatics Department, represented the University in a dialogue session that focused on answering a number of questions about the technological advance of the health sector, the role of education in fulfilling the labor market needs, the impact of the covid-19 pandemic on education, and the role of the vision in reinstructing education.

Regarding the vision, Dr. Heba Alqurashi stated that the one who has viewed the Vision 2030 might see that it stimulated establishing distinctive programs to keep pace with changes so that the Kingdom is at the forefront of the world countries. For instance, the National Transformation Program, one of its goals is to enhance healthcare by improving the quality and efficiency of health services. The vision is concerned with improving workforce to make education keeping pace with novelty and requirements of the era and to be in line with labor market needs and improve learning outputs. 

Regarding SEU's role as a one of the education sectors that look forward to achieving the vision 2030, Dr. Alqurashi confirmed that the University seeks to contribute to this change. Since its establishment, it has adopted the blended learning model by providing courses through an environment that employs information technology and supports self-learning. Furthermore, the University cooperates with a couple of national and international universities by concluding partnerships with many institutions in various sectors.

She added that the University also conducts field research to study needs of the labor market. Afterward, it establishes and develops majors and programs that meet these needs. Then, there will be coordination with authorities concerned with classification, such as establishing the Department of Health Informatics in College of Health Science, one of the in-demand majors globally.

She added that the University also conducts field research to study the labor market and find out its needs, and then works to produce and develop new specializations and programs that meet this need, and then coordinate with the authorities concerned with classifications, including the establishment of the Health Informatics Department at the College of Health Sciences, which is one of the disciplines of global need.

As for the University's role during the Corona pandemic, she mentioned that the University has become a platform and reference of e-education for other universities. Hence, it provided courses on the best methods to use and apply the e-learning system. Besides, it completely transformed into an automated university. Regarding community awareness, the University held many seminars and sessions, including a seminar in which the College of Health Sciences cooperated with the Saudi Food and Drug Authority entitled: "Coronavirus: Can it be transmitted through food, and the role of food in improving immunity." Also, during quarantine, the College of Health Sciences contributed to conducting nearly 30 research studies on the pandemic and its impact on society, the health and education sectors. Some of which were published in scientific journals and some are still edited, and faculty members participated as volunteers with the Ministry of Health.

To conclude, Dr. Heba A. Alqurashi, Head of Health Informatics Department, said "the technological revolution will dominate all sectors in the future. However, because of our belief in the importance of human relations, we should adopt technology and make it closer to humanity and not vice versa".