The sessions and activities of the fifth international forum of the University Counseling Center concluded today at Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University. The forum was inaugurated yesterday with the launch of an initiative to report cases of harassment and behavioral violations in the university’s work environment, attended by specialists from various universities and hospitals across the Kingdom, the Gulf, and European countries.

It was emphasized that the university is committed to creating an attractive and stimulating educational environment, supporting it with the necessary resources to qualify and develop youth academically and professionally, while maintaining its educational and guidance role in ethics and behavior. This is regulated through the issuance of student conduct regulations and the formation of specialized committees, working to monitor and track the most pressing psychological and societal influences affecting students’ educational journey and negative factors impacting the surrounding community. Expertise is utilized to spread preventive awareness and therapeutic guidance, enhancing positive behavior that impacts education and its outcomes, complementing national efforts towards protecting human rights. This includes the attention given to enacting regulations, legislation, and deterrent penalties that ensure individual protection from all forms of harm, in addition to the establishment of relevant bodies, institutions, and administrations at all levels for protection, integrating this aspect within the pillars of the vision for a vibrant society.

Building on the integration between the Ministry of Education and various sectors and institutions—primarily the Ministry of Health—to enhance the educational system towards a healthy and ideal educational environment, making it a top priority, including the recent issuance by the General Department of Student Guidance of the “Awareness Guide to Reduce Bullying” as a rich reference that includes definitions of verbal, physical, social, material, and electronic bullying in the educational environment. It clarifies the key roles assigned to the educational institution, family, and student to address it, along with the most prominent preventive strategies and methods to deal with and reduce its effects. Therefore, the organization of the “Fifth Forum of the University Counseling Center” and its accompanying workshops came as a university initiative to achieve the aforementioned objectives, raising the level of psychological, social, health, educational, and judicial protection through this scientific platform that brings together a distinguished elite of experts, researchers, and specialists. Through this intellectual and knowledge contribution, efforts are aimed at completing the endeavors to address the phenomenon of bullying and aggressive behavior and its causes, achieving the necessary psychological security for general and university education students.

It was mentioned that “Prevention of Harm and Bullying Towards a Safe Educational Environment” was the important and decisive theme of the forum, which included 6 sessions over two days with 948 participants. The University Counseling Center at Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University was determined to hold its fifth forum this year, believing in the importance of the quality of education, its environment, and outcomes. It is well-known that psychological safety is the foundation of success in all aspects of life, especially education. From experiences, indicators, research, and examination, it is evident that among the greatest threats to the security and stability of any educational environment worldwide are issues of harm and bullying in all its types and forms. Bullying and harm have serious psychological impacts and consequences that shake the integrity of the student and disrupt the noble goal of the educational process. For this reason, this blessed forum carried valuable objectives, foremost among them raising awareness about the dangers of harm and bullying, presenting effective prevention strategies, and highlighting advanced therapeutic interventions to deal with victims of harm and bullying.

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Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University

Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University is a public university located in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. It was established in 1975 as the University of Dammam and was renamed in 2017 to honor Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal, the father of the nation’s founder. The university has grown into a major institution with a strong focus on health sciences, engineering, and research.

University Counseling Center

The University Counseling Center is a modern campus facility that provides mental health support and psychological services to students. It emerged in the mid-20th century as universities began formally addressing student well-being beyond academics. These centers now play a vital role in supporting mental health, academic success, and personal development in higher education.

Ministry of Education

The Ministry of Education is a government department responsible for national education policy, schools, and academic standards. Its history is tied to the development of public education systems, which many nations began formally centralizing in the 19th century to promote literacy and create a skilled workforce. Today, such ministries oversee curriculum development, teacher training, and the administration of public schooling.

Ministry of Health

The Ministry of Health is a government department responsible for national public health policy, healthcare systems, and sanitation. Its modern form was largely established in the 19th and 20th centuries as nations began to create centralized bodies to manage public health crises and organize welfare systems. Its history is often tied to major events like epidemics and the development of social healthcare programs.

General Department of Student Guidance

The General Department of Student Guidance is a modern administrative body within Vietnam’s education system, established to provide nationwide support for student affairs and career counseling. Its history is tied to the development of Vietnam’s contemporary educational policies, focusing on holistic student development and preparing youth for their future academic and professional paths.

Fifth Forum of the University Counseling Center

The Fifth Forum of the University Counseling Center is not a historical place or cultural site, but rather a professional conference or event. It is typically a gathering for university counseling professionals to discuss best practices, share research, and address current challenges in student mental health. As an event, it does not have a physical history like a traditional landmark.

Awareness Guide to Reduce Bullying

This is not a physical place or cultural site, but rather an educational resource or program. Its history is rooted in modern efforts to address the social issue of bullying, typically developed by educators, psychologists, or advocacy groups to promote empathy and create safer environments in schools and communities.