His Excellency the President of King Khalid University, Prof. Faleh bin Rajallah Al-Solami, issued a decision to establish the "Office of Continued Education and Sustainable Development," coinciding with the "Future Directions Forum: Universities and Sustainable Development," which is organized by the university. The forum aims to strengthen the university's role in developing skills, supporting sustainable development, and keeping pace with global transformations in the fields of knowledge and economy.

The University's Vice President for Educational Affairs, Prof. Saad bin Mohammed Dajam, confirmed that the establishment of the office comes in response to the major transformations witnessed by the higher education sector, which impose a renewed role on universities that goes beyond traditional academic education to actively contribute to economic, social and environmental development. He added that universities are no longer isolated entities from their surroundings, but have become a major partner in building societies, by providing opportunities for continuous learning, promoting the knowledge-based economy, and supporting sustainability in its various dimensions.

Dajam pointed out that the office will contribute to the design and implementation of specialized educational and training programs aimed at building national capacities, enhancing professional and technical skills, and raising the efficiency of individuals in various sectors, stressing that continuing education today constitutes one of the most important drivers supporting comprehensive development, and it is a central element in building a sustainable knowledge economy that relies on innovation, research and development.

He also noted that the office will work to launch qualitative initiatives in the field of applied scientific research, support entrepreneurial projects, and enhance integration between the university and various development sectors, in a way that contributes to creating a flexible and renewed educational environment that responds to the requirements of the labor market, and keeps pace with the rapid developments in the fields of technology and sustainability. He added that the office will adopt modern mechanisms in education and training, such as e-learning and open education, in addition to developing strategic partnerships with local and international institutions to promote innovation and knowledge production.

The announcement of the establishment of the office came within the framework of the forum, which hosted an elite group of academic and research leaders from various Arab universities, where participants discussed the roles of universities in achieving sustainable development, and enhancing the positive impact of scientific research and innovation in addressing development challenges, and developing flexible educational policies that respond to the needs of societies.

The forum also witnessed the signing of cooperation agreements between the university and a number of educational and development institutions, and the launch of initiatives aimed at strengthening the role of universities in supporting environmental sustainability, developing human capital, and achieving alignment between education outcomes and the requirements of national and global development.