King Abdullah University of Science and Technology

Private university in Thuwal, Saudi Arabia

Not to be confused with King Abdulaziz University.

The neutrality of this article is disputed. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please do not remove this message until conditions to do so are met. (April 2018) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology

Motto| "Through Inspiration, Discovery"
Type| Public University
Established| September 23, 2009
Endowment| $20 billion[1]
Chairman| Mohammed bin Salman
President| Ed Byrne (neuroscientist)
Undergraduates| None
Postgraduates| 940 (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
Campus| 3,600 hectares (8,900 acres)
Website| www.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]

KAUST is the highest ranking university in the Times Higher Education Arab University Rankings 2023.[7]

Since September 2024, neuroscientist Sir Edward Byrne has served as KAUST’s fourth president.[8]

## History

[edit]

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 October 2007, and 178 scholarships were awarded in January 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.[9][10] 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.[11]

In 2013, Mai Majed Al-Qurashi became the first woman to receive a PhD in Saudi Arabia, from KAUST.[12]

In September 2018, KAUST signed a 5-year R&D partnership agreement with McLaren.[13]

## Campus

[edit]

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

### Description

[edit]

Residential street with outdoor sculpture

The university's core campus, located on the Red Sea at Thuwal,[14] is sited on more than 36 square kilometres (14 sq mi), encompassing a marine sanctuary, museum, and research facility.[15]

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.[16] 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.[17]

KAUST was Saudi Arabia's first LEED certified project and is the world's largest LEED Platinum campus.[18] 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.[19] The university library received the 2011 AIA/ALA Library Building Award for accomplishments in library architecture.[20]

## Research

[edit]

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.[21]

### Academic divisions

[edit]

#### Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division

[edit]

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.[22]

#### Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Sciences and Engineering Division

[edit]

Research in the Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Sciences and Engineering Division (CEMSE) is clustered into four main areas:[22]

* 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

[edit]

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.[22]

### KAUST Centres of Excellence

[edit]

In July 2024, KAUST implemented four new Centers of Excellence (CoEs) aimed at driving research, development and innovation (RDI) to address Saudi Arabia’s four RDI priorities: Health and Wellness, Sustainable Environment, Energy and Industrial Leadership, and Economies of the Future. The KAUST centers include the following:

#### The CoE for Renewable Energy and Storage Technologies

[edit]

This center develops and deploys renewable energy and storage technologies, supporting Saudi Arabia’s sustainable energy transition by prototyping and commercializing innovations that enhance industrial competitiveness. KAUST Professor Husam Alshareef, Materials Science and Engineering, is CoE chair, and Professor Zhiping Lai, Chemistry, is co-chair.

#### The CoE for Smart Health

[edit]

This center develops and deploys digital and AI-driven technologies aimed at transforming healthcare delivery in Saudi Arabia through precision medicine, promoting innovation, education and entrepreneurship. KAUST Professor Imed Gallouzi, Bioscience, is CoE chair, and Professor Xin Gao, Computer Science, is co-chair.

#### The CoE for Generative AI

[edit]

This center develops innovative general-purpose AI models tailored to meet the unique demands of Saudi Arabia’s RDI priorities, pursuing Generative AI research and driving advancements across multiple sectors. KAUST Professor Bernard Ghanem, Electrical and Computer Engineering, is CoE chair, and Professor Jürgen Schmidhuber, Computer Science, is co-chair.

#### The CoE for Sustainable Food Security

[edit]

This center develops agricultural technologies to enhance resource efficiency, crop improvement and sustainable biosystems, aimed at strengthening both Saudi and global food security. KAUST Professor Mark Tester, Plant Science, is CoE chair. Professor Peiying Hong, Environmental Science and Engineering, and Associate Professor Brande Wulff, Plant Science, are co-chairs.

### Clarivates Highly Cited Researchers

[edit]

* Salim Al-Babili - Professor of Plant Science
* Mohamed-Slim Alouini \- Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering
* Husam Alshareef - Professor of Materials Science and Engineering
* Thomas Anthopoulos - Adjunct Professor, Material Science and Engineering
* Osman Bakr - Professor of Material Science and Engineering
* Hylke Beck - Assistant Professor of Earth Science and Engineering
* Stefaan De Wolf - Professor of Material Science and Engineering
* Carlos M. Duarte \- Professor of Marine Science
* Mohamed Eddaoudi - Distinguished Professor of Chemistry
* Abdel Hamid Emwas - Staff Scientist of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
* Jorge Gascon \- Professor of Chemical Engineering
* Mohamed Nejib Hedhili - Lead, Senior Staff Scientist of Surface Science
* Frédéric Laquai - Professor of Applied Physics
* Matthew McCabe - Professor of Environmental Science and Engineering
* Omar Mohammed - Professor of Material Science and Engineering
* Yoshihide Wada - Professor of Plant Science and Environmental Science
* Peng Wang - Professor of Environmental Science and Engineering
* Huabin Zhang - Assistant Professor of Chemistry

University rankings

Global – Overall
ARWU World[23]| 201-300 (2024)
USNWR Global[24]| 100 (2024-2025)

## Postgraduate programs

[edit]

### Master's

[edit]

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.[25]

### Doctor of Philosophy

[edit]

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.[26]

### M.S. / Ph.D. Program

[edit]

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.[25]

### Postgraduate Diploma

[edit]

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.[27]

### Internship programs

[edit]

#### Visiting Student Research Program

[edit]

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 stipend as well as having their accommodation, health insurance and travel costs covered.[28]

#### Visiting Student Program

[edit]

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 stipend as well as having their accommodation, health insurance and travel costs covered.[29]

### Program disciplines

[edit]

* 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

[edit]

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.[30]

## Fellowship

[edit]

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.[31]

## See also

[edit]

* Saudi Arabia portal

* House of Wisdom
* Education in Saudi Arabia
* Shaheen (supercomputer)
* List of things named after Saudi Kings
* List of universities and colleges in Saudi Arabia

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b 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. ^ a b Ulf Laessing; Asma Alsharif (23 September 2009). "Saudi Arabia opens first mixed-gender university". Reuters.com. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
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. ^ "Arab University Rankings". Times Higher Education. Retrieved 2024-03-03.
8. ^ King Abdullah University of Science and Technology appoints new President
9. ^ Kelly McEvers (16 November 2009). "Ambitious New University Opens In Saudi Arabia". Npr.org. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
10. ^ "The King's Speech at KAUST Inauguration Ceremony". Kaust.edu.sa. 23 September 2009. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
11. ^ Siraj Wahab (23 September 2009). "KAUST: History in the making". Arabnews.com. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
12. ^ Anbar, Zain (2013-12-16). "First Saudi woman to earn PhD from KAUST". Saudigazette. Retrieved 2023-08-04.
13. ^ "McLaren Racing - King Abdullah University of Science and Technology partners with McLaren Racing". McLaren Racing. 2018-09-04.
14. ^ "Map".
15. ^ "KAUST general FAQs". King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. Retrieved 2 October 2009.
16. ^ Slackman, Michael (18 November 2009). "A Saudi Gamble to See if Seeds of Change Will Grow". The New York Times. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
17. ^ "Saudis open hi-tech science oasis". Bbc.co.uk. 23 September 2009. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
18. ^ "Largest LEED Platinum project in the world". Construction Week Online Middle East. Retrieved 2020-01-16.
19. ^ "2010 AIA/COTE Top Ten Green Projects". ArchDaily. 2010-04-22. Retrieved 2020-01-16.
20. ^ KAUST Library - 2011 AIA / ALA Library Building Awards
21. ^ "Research | King Abdullah University". KAUST. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
22. ^ a b c "Research in Academic Divisions | King Abdullah University". KAUST. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
23. ^ "ARWU Rankings". 2024. Archived from the original on 2024-08-19.
24. ^ "US News & World Report 2024-2025 Rankings". Archived from the original on 2024-08-03. Retrieved Aug 21, 2024.
25. ^ a b "Masters Program | King Abdullah University". KAUST. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
26. ^ "Ph.D. Program | King Abdullah University". KAUST. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
27. ^ "King Abdullah University of Science and Technology". admissions.kaust.edu.sa. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
28. ^ "Home". KAUST-VSRP. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
29. ^ "The Visiting Student Research Program | KAUST". admissions.kaust.edu.sa. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
30. ^ "Graduate Admission - Masters and Ph.D. Programs | KAUST". admissions.kaust.edu.sa. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
31. ^ "Fully-funded M.S. and Ph.D. Fellowships | KAUST". admissions.kaust.edu.sa. Retrieved 2024-04-21.

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF

National|

* Germany
* United States