The Mathematics and Statistics Department, headed by Dr. Rabee` Al-Qahtani- Head of the Department, visited the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA), on Wednesday, 05/29/1437 AH, corresponding to 03/09/2016 AD, at 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
The objectives of the visit were strengthening relations of the Department with the local community, introducing students to one of the most prestigious institutions in Saudi society, increasing the connection of students with the labor market resources and knowing its requirements and skills, and urging students to study and gain knowledge and increasing their motivation and enthusiasm.
The visit included Dr. Ahmad Al-Rifai, Mr. Abdulrahman Al-Dakhil, and a group of outstanding students from the Department (Badr Al-Anzi, Ali Al-Harthi, Khaled Al-Qathami, Abdulrahman Al-Shammari, Abdulqadir Asiri, and Sami Zairi).
At the beginning of the visit, the delegation was received by Dr. Mansour Al-Harbi, Currency Museum Official. The delegation took a look at the map of SAMA branches across the country and a huge collection of rare coins, gold-bearing rocks, raw materials for making paper or metal currency, templates of paper and metal currency, and the stages of printing banknotes.
Then, they moved to the largest hall at the Museum, where they saw the evolution of money from the 1st Century AH until the 14th Century AH, currencies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, currencies of pre-Saudi era, coins of the Arabian Peninsula, and coins from around the world.
After that, the delegation moved to Saudi Arabia coins hall, where different versions of the currencies of Saudi Arabia are presented; there was a special edition of money used by the pilgrims, which takes into account their various languages, the first edition for gold and silver coins (King Saud's edition), second edition (King Faisal's edition), third edition (King Khaled's edition), fourth edition (King Fahd's edition), and fifth edition (King Abdullah's edition). Moreover, the delegation listened to the adopted means of security in the current Saudi currency, which prevent its counterfeit, and how to ensure its high security means.
Afterwards, they moved to the fifth floor to attend an introductory presentation by Mr. Ahmad Yousef Al-Zaid, economic specialist in the Information and Statistics Center in SAMA, in which he clarified that the Center regularly issues annually, semi-annually, quarterly, and monthly statistical bulletins inside the Kingdom and abroad. It also provides reports on inflation, monetary and banking developments, and financial stability. Furthermore, it is responsible for all statistical processes such as data collection and analysis and writing reports, conclusions, and recommendations. Data in the Center are available for researchers to conduct statistical studies; in addition, usually newly enrolled statisticians and mathematicians attend some courses to master economic practices that they need in writing statistical reports and linking them with other important economic, social, and financial factors, etc. Moreover, there are job opportunities for statistics or mathematics specialists.
The visit was concluded by answering questions from some students, thanking everyone, and promising future visits. This type of visits is supported and guided by Dr. Muhammad Babtain, Dean of the College of Science.
