The office of the VDDQ was set-up in 2009 under the directive of the University leadership. It functions in coherence with the University’s Deanship of Development and Quality. The aim is to improve academic standards and management quality and to carry out the core work of the Deanship of Development and Quality in the University, at the College level.

The University is on a fast track to become world class and a leader in building a knowledge society in the region. It will strive to produce outstanding graduates to advance international scholarship and to lead in the development of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Arab Region in general. The office of the Vice Dean of Development and Quality is navigating new strategies along this track and with the leadership of the Dean of the College of Architecture and Planning, will ensure arrival at the destined objectives.
The courage to make changes only demonstrate the unyielding efforts to strive for development at all levels within the College of Architecture and Planning. A major change in the College administrative structure was the setting up of the office for the Vice Dean of Research & Post Graduate Studies. The principal concern of the VDDQ is therefore to maintain a sound internal quality assurance system, to achieve the highest levels of quality academic environment in all its efforts. The concerns will provide the impetus for maintaining and improving the University position in the World Ranking.

According to the Times Higher Education – QS World University ranking, King Saud University was recognized as the top university in the Arab world, and one of the best 300 universities in the world. The Institute of Higher Education of Shanghai Jiao Tong University unveiled the 2010 Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU), which lists King Saud University (KSU) at No. 261, a standing never achieved by any Arab university. Also, according to the Webometric research completed by the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones (CSIC), King Saud University ranks first in the Arab world and 18th among all Asian universities and 186th worldwide with regard to visibility and impact.

Being part of the strong infrastructure in the University Strategic Plan as characterised by its emphasis on knowledge economy, as accounted by the University Rector, it is hoped that the office of VDDQ will provide the impetus for maintaining and improving the University position in the World Ranking, and at the same time confide in placing the College of Architecture & Planning in a leading position globally in the near future.