King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
Motto"Through Inspiration, Discovery"
TypePublic University
EstablishedSeptember 23, 2009
Endowment$20 billion[1]
ChairmanMohammed bin Salman
PresidentTony F. Chan
UndergraduatesNone
Postgraduates940 (2016)[2]
Address
4700 King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
,
Thuwal
,
Mecca Province
,
23955-6900
,
Saudi Arabia

22°18′45″N 39°06′38″E / 22.312602°N 39.11047°E / 22.312602; 39.11047
Campus3,600 hectares (8,900 acres)
Websitewww.kaust.edu.sa

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST; Arabic: جامعة الملك عبد الله للعلوم و التقنية jāmiʿat al-malik ʿabd al-Lāh li-l-ʿulūm wa-t-teqniyya) is a public research university located in Thuwal, Saudi Arabia. Founded in 2009, the university provides research and graduate training programs in English as the official language of instruction. It is named after King Abdullah bin Abdulalziz, the ruler of Saudi Arabia from 2005 until 2015.

KAUST is the first mixed-gender university campus in Saudi Arabia.[3] In 2013, the university was among the 500 fastest growing research and citation records in the world.[4] In the 2016 Nature Index Rising Stars, the university ranked 19th in the world of the fastest rising universities for high quality research output.[5] In 2019 KAUST is ranked 8th fastest rising young universities (aged 50 and under) for their research output since 2015, as measured by fractional count (FC).[6]

History

In 2006, Ali Al-Naimi chaired a Saudi Aramco team to undertake the building and planning of the academics. Nadhmi Al-Nasr was chosen to lead the project. They employed the Washington Advisory Group's Frank H. T. Rhodes and Frank Press to design the academic structure, SRI International to develop the four research institutes, and the architectural firm of HOK for the campus master plan, which included wind towers and solar panels. The location of the campus at Thuwal included 16.4 sq km on land and 19.6 sq km of marine sanctuary offshore. Ground breaking took place in Oct. 2007, and 178 scholarships were awarded in Jan. 2008.[1]

KAUST officially opened on September 23, 2009, at an inauguration ceremony, where King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud gave a speech where he stated that places like the university that "embrace all people are the first line of defence against extremists". The university initially received a $10 billion endowment.[7][8] Upon opening, the university admitted 400 students from over 60 countries and 70 faculty. The campus is home to Shaheen, Asia's fastest supercomputer at the time of its commissioning.[9]

in September 2018, KAUST signed a 5-year R&D partnership agreement with McLaren.[10]

Campus

KAUST's campus with the campus mosque appearing on the left

Description

Residential street with outdoor sculpture

The university's core campus, located on the Red Sea at Thuwal,[11] is sited on more than 36 square kilometres (14 sq mi), encompassing a marine sanctuary, museum, and research facility.[12]

KAUST is the first mixed-gender university campus in Saudi Arabia.[3] Saudi authorities hope the mixed-gender center will help modernize the Kingdom's deeply conservative society.[13] The religious police do not operate on-site. Women are allowed to mix freely with men and they are not required to wear veils in the coeducational classes.[14]

KAUST was Saudi Arabia's first LEED certified project and is the world's largest LEED Platinum campus.[15] Designed by international architecture firm Hellmuth, Obata and Kassabaum, it was also chosen by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Committee on the Environment (COTE) as one of the 2010 Top Ten Green Projects.[16] The university library received the 2011 AIA/ALA Library Building Award for accomplishments in library architecture.[17]

Research

KAUST organizes its research teams across three academic disciplines, 12 research centers and individual faculty labs. KAUST focuses its research around the areas of food and health, water, energy, environment and the digital domain.[18]

Academic divisions

Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division

Research in the Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division (BESE) is organized around six focal areas: environmental systems; epigenetics; functional biology; genomics; imaging/structural biology; and marine science.[19]

Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Sciences and Engineering Division

Research in the Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Sciences and Engineering Division (CEMSE) is clustered into four main areas:[19]

  • Electrical engineering, including the development of communication networks; CMOS integrated circuits; electronic and optics/photonics devices; micro-electro-mechanical systems; various types of sensors, measurement and detection devices; as well as functional- and nano-materials.
  • Mathematical analysis, including modeling and simulations with applications to physical, chemical, biological and environmental processes; materials science; oil exploration and reservoir management.
  • Computer science and big data, including bioinformatics; and visual and extreme computing.
  • Statistics and data science, including climate science, environmental statistics, and biostatistics.

Physical Sciences and Engineering Division

Research in the Physical Sciences and Engineering Division (PSE) includes areas such as theoretical physics and physical chemistry; catalysis and bioengineering; polymers and composites; energy production, storage and conversion; water purification and environmental protection; novel materials, nanodevices and systems; sensors and smart devices for the detection of pollutants and the purification of air, water, and food; earth sciences, mechanics and geomechanics; oil exploration and recovery; and CO2 sequestration.[19]

Research centers

Research in the Academic Divisions is driven by independent faculty labs and 12 Research Centers.[20]

Caption text
Research centerAffiliated division
Advanced Membranes and Porous Materials Research Center (AMPMC)Physical Science and Engineering Division
Ali I. Al-Naimi Petroleum Engineering Research Center (ANPERC)Physical Science and Engineering Division
Center for Desert Agriculture (CDA)Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division
Clean Combustion Research Center (CCRC)Physical Science and Engineering Division
Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC)Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Science and Engineering Division
Extreme Computing Research Center (ECRC)Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Science and Engineering Division
KAUST Catalysis Center (KCC)Physical Science and Engineering Division
KAUST Solar Center (KSC)Physical Science and Engineering Division
Red Sea Research Center (RSRC)Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division
Resilient Computing and Cybersecurity Center (RC3)Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Science and Engineering Division
Visual Computing Center (VCC)Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Science and Engineering Division
Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC)Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division

Distinguished professors

  • Mohamed-Slim Alouini - Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Jean-Marie Basset - French chemist, Professor of Chemical Science at KAUST.
  • Jean Fréchet - French-American chemist, Professor of Chemical Science and Senior Vice-president for Research, Innovation and Economic Development.
  • Nina Federoff - American biologist, Professor Emerita.
  • Marc G. Genton - Professor of Statistics at KAUST
  • Takashi Gojobori - Japanese molecular biologist, Professor of Bioscience and associate director of the Computational Bioscience Research Center.
  • David E. Keyes - Professor of Applied Mathematics and Computational Science, Director of the Extreme Computing Research Center, and Senior Associate to the President
Academic rankings
Global
ARWU[21]201-300
THE[22]101-200
U.S. News & World Report[23]95

Postgraduate programs

Master's

The Master of Science (M.S.) program at KAUST can be taken in one of the 16 available disciplines. It is expected that students complete the degree in 18 months and may be completed with or without a thesis component. Admission to the M.S. program requires the satisfactory completion of an undergraduate science degree in a relevant or related area, such as engineering, mathematics or the physical, chemical and biological sciences.[24]

Doctor of Philosophy

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) program at KAUST can be taken in one of the 16 available disciplines. It typically takes three to four years to complete. Admission to the Ph.D. program requires the satisfactory completion of a master's degree in science in a relevant or related area, such as engineering, mathematics or the physical, chemical and biological sciences.[25]

M.S. / Ph.D. Program

The M.S./Ph.D. program allows students to apply for the Ph.D. program after completing a bachelor's degree. The program typically takes four to five years to complete.[24]

Postgraduate Diploma

KAUST offers a one-year Postgraduate Diploma in Digital Industrial Design, Physical Science and Engineering, and Bioscience. Each program is made up of soft skill, experimental, theoretical and entrepreneurship courses as well as a capstone experience.[26]

Internship programs

Visiting Student Research Program

The VSRP is a three to six-month internship program available for 3rd/4th year undergraduate or master's students. During the program, students will work under the guidance of KAUST faculty mentors on a current research project. Students accepted into the program receive a monthly stiped as well as having their accommodation, health insurance and travel costs covered.[27]

Visiting Student Program

The Visiting Student Program (VS) is a flexible program allowing 3rd/4th year undergraduate or master's students to work directly with KAUST faculty members. Its length can range from a few days to several months. Students accepted into the program normally receive a monthly stiped as well as having their accommodation, health insurance and travel costs covered.[28]

Program disciplines

  • Applied Mathematics and Computational Science
  • Applied Physics
  • Bioengineering
  • Bioscience
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Chemistry
  • Computer Science
  • Earth Science and Engineering
  • Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Energy Resources and Petroleum Engineering
  • Environmental Science and Engineering
  • Marine Science
  • Material Science and Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Plant Science
  • Statistics

Admissions

While there is no minimum academic entry requirement, those admitted typically have strong grade profiles and clear research interests. Applicants are also required to meet English language requirements for entry unless they qualify for an exemption.[29]

Fellowship

Every student who is admitted receives the KAUST Fellowship. This fellowship covers the cost of a student's tuition fees, accommodation, health insurance, and relocation costs as well as giving the student a monthly stipend.[30]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Al-Naimi, Ali (2016). Out of the Desert. Great Britain: Portfolio Penguin. pp. 250–258. ISBN 9780241279250.
  2. ↑ "Quick Facts" (PDF). King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  3. 1 2 Ulf Laessing; Asma Alsharif (23 September 2009). "Saudi Arabia opens first mixed-gender university". Reuters.com. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  4. ↑ Charles McPhedran (15 October 2013). "How Saudi Universities Rose in the Global Rankings". Al-fanarmedia.org. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  5. ↑ "Top 100 institutions 2016". Natureindex.com. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  6. ↑ "Top 10 fastest rising universities aged 50 and under". Natureindex.com. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
  7. ↑ Kelly McEvers (16 November 2009). "Ambitious New University Opens In Saudi Arabia". Npr.org. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  8. ↑ "The King's Speech at KAUST Inauguration Ceremony". Kaust.edu.sa. 23 September 2009. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  9. ↑ Siraj Wahab (23 September 2009). "KAUST: History in the making". Arabnews.com. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  10. ↑ "McLaren Racing - King Abdullah University of Science and Technology partners with McLaren Racing". McLaren Racing. 2018-09-04.
  11. ↑ "Map".
  12. ↑ "KAUST general FAQs". King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. Retrieved 2 October 2009.
  13. ↑ Slackman, Michael (18 November 2009). "A Saudi Gamble to See if Seeds of Change Will Grow". The New York Times. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
  14. ↑ "Saudis open hi-tech science oasis". Bbc.co.uk. 23 September 2009. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  15. ↑ "Largest LEED Platinum project in the world". Construction Week Online Middle East. Retrieved 2020-01-16.
  16. ↑ "2010 AIA/COTE Top Ten Green Projects". ArchDaily. 2010-04-22. Retrieved 2020-01-16.
  17. ↑ KAUST Library - 2011 AIA / ALA Library Building Awards
  18. ↑ https://www.kaust.edu.sa/en/research KAUST Research
  19. 1 2 3 https://www.kaust.edu.sa/en/research/academic-divisions KAUST Academic Divisions
  20. ↑ https://www.kaust.edu.sa/en/research KAUST Research Centers
  21. ↑ "ShanghaiRanking's Academic Ranking of World Universities". Shanghai Ranking Consultancy. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  22. ↑ "World University Rankings 2024". Times Higher Education. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
  23. ↑ "2022-23 Best Global Universities Rankings". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  24. 1 2 https://www.kaust.edu.sa/en/study/masters-program KAUST Masters Program
  25. ↑ https://www.kaust.edu.sa/en/study/phd-program KAUST PhD Program
  26. ↑ https://admissions.kaust.edu.sa/PGDip.html KAUST Postgraduate Diploma
  27. ↑ https://vsrp.kaust.edu.sa/ KAUST Visiting Student Research Program
  28. ↑ https://admissions.kaust.edu.sa/research-program.html KAUST Visiting Student Program
  29. ↑ https://admissions.kaust.edu.sa/admission-requirment.html KAUST Admission requirements
  30. ↑ https://admissions.kaust.edu.sa/phd-fellowship.html KAUST Fellowship
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