Under the patronage and in the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Turki bin Talal bin Abdulaziz, Governor of the Asir Region and Chairman of the Asir Development Authority, King Khalid University organized its 2025 annual ceremony last Monday evening under the theme "University Inspires." The event, held at the Exhibition and Convention Center in the University City at Al-Fara’a, was attended by several Excellencies, officials, and prominent businessmen.
The ceremony's activities commenced with a visual presentation conveying the message of inspiration, followed by segments highlighting inspirational leadership and its impact, the university's excellence in education and various sectors, and its future objectives. These segments included a recorded video in which the university's vice-presidents reviewed milestones of development and achievements, positioning the institution as a model in educational, administrative, research, and innovative fields. Subsequent segments showcased numerous local and international accomplishments achieved during the year 2025.
During his speech on this occasion, His Excellency the President of King Khalid University, Prof. Faleh bin Rajallah Al-Solami, expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and to His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister (may God protect them), as well as to His Royal Highness Prince Turki bin Talal bin Abdulaziz, Governor of the Asir Region. He also praised the efforts of His Excellency the Minister of Education and Chairman of the University Affairs Council, Prof. Yousef bin Abdullah Al-Benyan, and the Council of University Affairs, lauding the continuous support and care the education sector receives, which has enabled universities to fulfill their educational and developmental roles.
His Excellency emphasized that the annual ceremony is not merely a celebration of the passing of a year, but rather a moment to evaluate the university's achievements and strengthen its pillars of excellence. He pointed to the qualitative achievements realized in international rankings, scientific research, innovation, academic accreditation, digital transformation, and volunteer work, alongside student activities and other fields. He stressed that the university is continuing its journey toward a more distinguished future in alignment with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 and the Asir Development Strategy, concluding by thanking the university’s staff, students, and partners across various sectors for the teamwork that led to these successes.
During the ceremony, His Royal Highness Prince Turki bin Talal bin Abdulaziz inaugurated the Educational Grants Program, which aims to support the educational journey of university students by partially or fully covering tuition fees. His Highness also honored the businessmen whose contributions supported this program and other university initiatives.
Furthermore, His Highness honored the former members of the Board of Overseers and the Investment Committee of the University Endowments, recognizing their efforts in developing and maximizing the impact of the endowments. Dr. Ali Al-Bashabshi, Professor of Medicine at King Khalid University and Consultant of Cardiac Care at Asir Central Hospital, was honored as the "University’s Inspirer" in appreciation of his contributions and leadership in his field at the national level, along with several other entities and individuals.
The winners of the King Khalid University Excellence Award for 2025 were announced, totaling 54 winners out of 268 participants across various fields including scientific research and innovation, institutional excellence, revenue development and sustainability, community service, and university life.
The "Makers of Inspiration" were also honored across multiple categories with the participation of several businessmen. This included university employees and teams in administrative, medical, research, and academic fields, as well as teams working on academic accreditations, international rankings, and the digital index. Former leaders and retirees were also recognized for their contributions to the university’s journey.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, the event partners and sponsors who contributed to the success of the "University Inspires" ceremony were honored.