A delegation from the Physics Department of the College of Science at Al-Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University paid a visit to KAUST. The delegation participated in the Saudi universities open day and forum held at KAUST on February 2nd – 4th, 2016. The delegation met the university rector and his deputies, the colleges' deans and several senior leaderships of the university. An accurate description of the university scientific and academic programs and research groups was presented. The delegation also saw several advanced research labs and current research projects at KAUST. The delegation discussed the means for mutual research cooperation. The issue of Saudi female and male graduate scholarships to KAUST for Master's or Doctoral degrees was also discussed. Many other discussion sessions were held during the visit and resulted in an agreement for future mutual cooperation between the Physics Department and KAUST.
The Physics Department and the College of Science were represented by Dr. Ahmad Al-Qaoud, Head of the Department, Dr. Raed Al-Hathlool, Vice-Dean of Development and Quality, Dr. Osama Al-Daghri, Vice-Dean of Administrative and Financial Affairs, Mr. Turki Al-Toub, Teaching Assistant at the Physics Department, and Mr. Abdullah Al-Dakheel, Teaching Assistant at the Chemistry Department. Arrangements and coordination were gratefully done by Dr. Khalid Al-Shahrani, in charge of academic relations – Saudi Initiatives at KAUST.
Various delegations of all Saudi universities were present. The program commenced with a welcoming speech delivered by Dr. Najah Ashry, Vice President of Saudi Initiatives. She welcomed all the present delegates and presented a perception of the forum and its detailed program.
On Wednesday, February 3rd, 2016 the program activities started in the conference and exhibition building, with a lecture entitled (King Abdullah University for Science and Technology From Vision to Reality) delivered by Eng. Nadhmi Al-Nasr, Executive Vice President of Administration and Finance. Eng. Nathmi, Board Member of KAUST Academic Leadership Selection Committee, talked about the establishment of the university ever since it started as a notion and a vision of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Ibn Abdulaziz, May Allah be merciful to him, to make KAUST a home for wisdom and science, until it became a reality, competing with international universities. He also talked about the university future vision, which is partly related to the present forum, in the form of the partnership of KAUST with Saudi universities in the fields of scientific research and in the opportunity offered to the members of Saudi universities, faculty members and students, to conduct their scientific research and follow up their postgraduate studies at KAUST. It was followed by a speech delivered by Prof. James Calvin, Vice President for Academic Affairs, about (Studying at KAUST). He explained some study issues at the university and presented some statistics and data regarding the number of students and faculty members. There are 135 male and female faculty members and about 900 students from both genders from more than 100 countries. Dr. Calvin also talked about the degrees that the university offers, Master's and Doctoral Degrees, and about the joint degree program in which students study for the Master's and Doctoral Degrees together in one program. He added that the university has three scientific divisions:
· Biological and Environmental Science & Engineering Division
· Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Science & Engineering Division
· Physical Science and Engineering Division
After that, attendants were called upon to see the exhibition accompanying the forum in which current research abstracts along with devices developed by university members were exhibited such as drones, which are capable of automatically tracing any moving object.
Later on, the delegation was invited to lunch with Dr. Jean-Lou Chameau, the President of the University, and university students on the university campus. The president was keen to welcome the attendants by passing by every table to welcome and chat with them.
The visit also included visiting the following university scientific core labs:
· Chemical Analytical Core Labs
· Imaging and Characterization Core Labs
· Nanofabrication Core Lab
· Visualization Core Lab
· Support laboratory workshops to manufacture what researchers need in labs
In the conference building, the delegation attended a lecture entitled (Male and female Students' Life at KAUST) by Dr. Brian Moran, Dean of Graduate Affairs, about the privileges students enjoy at the university. Heads of scientific divisions also gave briefings about each division and its research groups.
The first day of the visit was topped with a supper at Al-Marsa Restaurant on the Red Sea beach followed by a round-trip to the university and its distinguished campus and a visit to the memorial erected to honor Late King Abdullah's vision.
On the second day, Prof. Jean Fréchet, Vice President for Research, gave a lecture on (Research at KAUST). He talked about the university interests in research focusing on four domains: water, energy, food, and environment, giving examples of them. This was followed by a cordial address by Dr. Najah Ashry, Vice President of Saudi Initiatives program, about (The Journey to KAUST). She explained the programs provided by the university to various social sectors and summer programs to gifted students and the conditions and procedures of acceptance in different programs. Next the attendants were divided into groups on the basis of their majors and according to the academic departments of the university to explain the details of every department and its narrow specializations and conditions of acceptance. The visit ended with a luncheon and a closing speech by Dr. Najah Ashry.
On the margins of the visit, the delegation of the Physics Department met with Mr. Mohammad Jaber Al-Hilali – Teaching Assistant at the Physics Department at Al Imam university-, on scholarship at KAUST. Mr. Mohammad finished the two phases of language course and Master's degree and is currently preparing his Doctoral Degree. The delegation met his academic supervisor Dr. Othman Bakr. It is worth mentioning that Mr. Al-Hilali is the only student from Al-Imam University on scholarship at KAUST.
At the end of the visit the delegation thanked KAUST and those concerned with the Saudi initiatives program, especially Dr. Khalid Al-Shahrani, responsible for academic relations of the Saudi Initiatives Program, and all the program staff for their organization and hospitality.
