His Excellency University Rector, Dr. Abdullah ben Abdurrahman Alothman, and His Excellency Sheikh Salih ben Abdurrahman Alhassine, Head of the National Convention for Intellectual Dialogue at King Abdulaziz Center for National Dialogue, signed yesterday morning an Agreement Memorandum at King Saud University geared to promote the culture of dialogue and spread its concepts among students at the University. The Agreement was also aimed at fostering intellectual and cultural consciousness, which springs out of the culture of dialogue that is embedded in the Islamic faith and the Saudi national values, and the principles of tolerance, communication and moderation for which this culture stands.
His Excellency University Rector welcomed Sheikh Salih and his companions, and confirmed to them that King Saud University is proud to be one of the main founding partners and consultative pioneers of the Center, and that it is equally proud of the membership of some of its staff there. Then, His Excellency expressed his gratification at signing such an Agreement, and considered it a unique change in the rapport between the University and the Center.
As to His Excellency Sheikh Salih Alhassine, he confirmed that the signing of this Agreement is expressive of a genuine tendency of national convergence enhanced through the culture of dialogue. His Excellency pointed out that the Center, while seeking to spread out such a culture, takes into consideration the real factors that may be involved with it either actively or passively at the religious, cultural and scientific levels. Sheikh Alhassine noted that signing the Agreement with an institution as prestigious as King Saud University is indicative of the significance of the cultural rapport existing between the various sectors of Saudi society.
His Excellency Faisal ben Abdurrahman ben Moammar, Secretary General of King Abdulaziz Center for National Dialogue, confirmed that signing the Agreement comes in the context of carrying out the instructions of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and His Royal Highness Crown Prince – may Allah preserve them.  Such instructions are to disseminate the culture of dialogue across society, and to broaden the scope of such partnerships to include the various national institutions so that the dialogue can reach every home, school, and mosque.  Signing the Agreement also comes in the context of carrying out cooperative endeavors among the various national institutions both to propagate the culture of dialogue and to expand the scope of partnership to include the citizens.
Speaking of the Agreement objectives ben Moammar confirmed that the memorandum is mainly aimed at:
• Engaging each party in promoting and updating social dialogue in Saudi Arabia.
• Encouraging individuals and institutions to make use of national work plans by establishing cultural partnerships with each other.
• Engaging consultative dialogue with the concerned non-governmental organizations through the formulation of laws and regulations.

Cooperation between the two parties shall be conducted in the form of culturally and intellectually engaged programs in the fields of education. A corporate team of specialists from both sides shall be formed to carry out the following tasks:
• Cultural cooperation by setting up a joint database on the culture of dialogue, toleration, and moderation
• Putting forth instructional guidelines through cooperation with the Ministry of Higher Education in order to reach consensus on a joint policy regarding the culture of dialogue.
• Establishing communication channels between the different levels of college education through the implementation of post-graduate programs in certain scientific departments in order to enhance the objectives of national dialogue.
• Proposing particular issues for study as part of the research work carried out in Master or Ph.D. theses, and preparing a set of instructional tools to this effect.
• Bolstering the culture of respect-for-the-other across society.
• Setting up and implementing strategic training programs to promulgate the culture of dialogue by organizing dialogical conventions and forums in the scientific and educational fields.

His Excellency praised the scientific and enlightening role of King Saud University, commending the methodical and scientific visions presented in its publications and research as well as its efforts in fostering a type of intellectual consciousness in tune with the national principles.  His Excellency Dr. Ali ben Said Alghamdi, Deputy Rector for Branches Affairs, hinted at the university’s intention to make some of the research at the post-graduate level socially engaged in order to help define and analyze certain social issues as well as work together towards social reform and nurturing the spirit of dialogue across society.