King Abdulaziz University, represented by the Arabic Language Institute for Speakers of Other Languages and the Deanship of Student Affairs, celebrated the International Day for Tolerance alongside the International Students Day through a series of activities designed to promote coexistence and highlight Saudi Arabia’s role in advancing the values of moderation. The event, held on Sunday, 16 November 2025, saw strong participation from international students enrolled at the institute.
The program featured a lecture titled “The Efforts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Promoting a Culture of Tolerance and the Role of Educational Institutions,” delivered by Dr. Masoud bin Mohammed Al-Qahtani, General Supervisor of the University’s Intellectual Awareness Unit. Dr. Al-Qahtani emphasized that the Kingdom’s commitment to fostering tolerance, moderation, and rejecting extremism is both continuous and firmly rooted, grounded in the principles of moderate Islam and aligned with Vision 2030.
He outlined key national initiatives, including the development of academic curricula that cultivate balanced and well-rounded individuals; investment in human capital to prepare national cadres with open and moderate worldviews; the establishment of specialized institutions dedicated to promoting tolerance and countering violence; and the encouragement of volunteer initiatives that strengthen social cohesion.
The lecture also highlighted Saudi Arabia’s international contributions, from global cooperation and partnerships with international organizations to advocating dialogue and peace in global conferences and forums. It further noted the Kingdom’s humanitarian efforts through relief and development aid to affected countries, as well as its active participation in international alliances aimed at combating terrorism and curbing its financing.
As part of the student-centered activities, the institute organized several initiatives, including a creative writing booth where international students shared multilingual cultural and linguistic reflections on the concept of tolerance, spotlighting diversity and fostering mutual understanding. The institute also launched a competition titled “Promoting the Values of Tolerance and Coexistence,” encouraging students to create phrases and visual expressions that reflect shared human values. The competition drew enthusiastic participation from students of various nationalities.
The Deanship of Student Affairs also marked the occasion by hosting an open gathering with students and the deanship’s leadership. During the event, the Dean of Student Affairs, Prof. Fouad bin Abdulaziz Abul-Libn, spoke with university housing students about expressions of tolerance and its significance in university life, followed by student contributions reflecting their thoughts on this global observance.
For his part, the Dean of the Institute, Dr. Badr Al-Otaibi, affirmed that celebrating this international day aligns with the University’s mission to advance the values of moderation, tolerance, and coexistence, and to highlight the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s pioneering role in promoting these principles locally and globally. He added that such initiatives enrich the experience of international students and provide them with an engaging and supportive educational and cultural environment.
