Social Working Unit Keeps Things Confidential: Dean

In an interview with Dr. Mohammed Al-Waheed, head of Social Studies Department, said the social unit could not conduct researches into the case studies as this would bring failure to the whole unit work. 

Fulfilling its responsibility towards the people on campus be they students, staff members, faculty members, the King Saud University KSU initiated a social Working Unit and assigned it to Dr. Mohammed Al-Waheed, head of Social Studies Department.

Morally, Al-Waheed feels responsible for all people on campus as they should lead a normal life free of psychological, academic or financial problems. The unit analyzes data to study problems thoroughly, saying, “We are responsible to give all types of consultations as this is the unit major objective. “

Al-Waheed enumerated other objectives for the unit like holding seminars and symposia to raise awareness about certain  problems the students face up; to promote how to face up their future life career; and to save their future away from hazards of deviation or deceit.  He said that the unit would issue a number of pamphlets and booklets on various social problems the unit registered.

Asked about girls and how they could ask for advice while the unit is located in the guys’ branch, Al-Waheed said that they could contact the unit via phone. Also, there is a place for the unit at the girls campus and the dean herself gives consultation in this field as she is specialist.

Al-Waheed complains that some students do not like to narrate their problem vis-à-vis, rather they prefer giving phone calls which the unit has  no other choice other than giving indirect advice. He said, “In financial problems, the students must show up in person at the unit to finish up some procedures to help them.”

Al-Waheed tackled the confidentiality of the advice-seekers and the possibility of conducting researches into their case studies. He denies that the inputs of the students or the like might be used in conducting researches and thus garnering  benefits for academic purposes. Rather, they help in recognizing the problems spread on campus.

Al-Waheed stresses the credibility aspect as it is the decisive factor for people to go or to refrain from going to the unit. He said, “if people feel that their secrets and problems are not for public, the unit will succeed, in addition to large media communication with the unit.”