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| Motto | "Through Inspiration, Discovery" |
|---|---|
| Type | Public University |
| Established | September 23, 2009 |
| Endowment | $20 billion[1] |
| Chairman | Mohammed bin Salman |
| President | Tony F. Chan |
| Undergraduates | None |
| Postgraduates | 940 (2016)[2] |
| Address |
4700 King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
,
,
,
23955-6900
,
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 |
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]
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.[8][9] 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.[10]
In 2013, Mai Majed Al-Qurashi became the first woman to receive a PhD in Saudi Arabia, from KAUST.[11]
In September 2018, KAUST signed a 5-year R&D partnership agreement with McLaren.[12]
The university's core campus, located on the Red SeaatThuwal,[13] is sited on more than 36 square kilometres (14 sq mi), encompassing a marine sanctuary, museum, and research facility.[14]
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.[15] 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.[16]
KAUST was Saudi Arabia's first LEED certified project and is the world's largest LEED Platinum campus.[17] 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.[18] The university library received the 2011 AIA/ALA Library Building Award for accomplishments in library architecture.[19]
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.[20]
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.[21]
Research in the Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Sciences and Engineering Division (CEMSE) is clustered into four main areas:[21]
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.[21]
Research in the Academic Divisions is driven by independent faculty labs and 12 Research Centers.[22]
| Research center | Affiliated 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 |
| Academic rankings | |
|---|---|
| Global | |
| ARWU[23] | 201-300 |
| U.S. News & World Report[24] | 95 |
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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