The global standing of King Fahd University is our pride

During his visit to the university on Tuesday morning, 17th October 2017, he stressed that King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals is a national university with international standards, referring to its great role in the development of the Kingdom through the graduation of distinguished students, its role in qualitative research and its contributions to community service.

His Highness pointed to KFUPM’s efficiency in taking government investment and support and turning it into products, initiatives and projects of high quality.

"During this visit we witness the University's keenness to compete with the world's top universities, maximize its developmental role and realize its great responsibility”. He added.

During his meeting with students, HRH stressed the enthusiasm of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdul Aziz and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz for youth, pointing out that the Kingdom's vision 2030 is primarily aimed at young people.

In response to a student's question about the expected role of young people in the vision, His Highness said that the vision of the Kingdom for 2030 is comprehensive and includes all sectors. He said: "Your affiliation with this prestigious university

and your success in your mission is the important part of your participation in Kingdom Vision 2030”. His Royal Highness suggested organizing  lectures and workshops at KFUPM and in all the Eastern Province universities to explain the Kingdom Vision’s objectives and themes to all students and increase their awareness of their role.

His Highness praised the level of university students, pointing out that KFUPM does not focus only on scientific excellence, but also focuses on the development of the students’ personal skills, good morals, belonging and patriotism.

For his part, Dr. Khalid bin Saleh Al-Sultan, KFUPM Rector expressed his appreciation for the generous visit "which will continue to motivate the University and its employees to continue their role in the service of our country and citizens."

This generous visit confirms the  willingness of HRH to support the University, his appreciation of its role, and his support for its efforts at the level of education, scientific research and community service. All the achievements of the University were made possible with the help of Allah and with the great material and moral support from our wise government under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz - may Allah protect them.

During his visit to the Eastern Province in the spring of last year, His Royal Highness the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, honored our University with the launch of the second phase of the development of the University City, which cost 2 billion riyals, and is aimed at strengthening its infrastructure and providing the best learning opportunities for our students.

 The University has received special care and attention from His Royal Highness Prince Saud Bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz, Governor of the Eastern Province, who hosted the University twice during the past year

The University has launched one initiative after another to enhance its academic and research role. To its credit, KFUPM was at the forefront of educational institutions, launching a number of initiatives to enhance its participation in realizing the Vision 2030 by enhancing the efficiency of its graduates and leadership in the fields of energy, environment, water and entrepreneurship with the nonprofit organizations management.

KFUPM International Advisory Board continued to improve the University's global dimension. Dhahran Techno Valley continued to attract the advanced research centers of the world's largest energy and oil companies, developed relations with universities and international research centers and made strategic partnerships with Saudi Aramco and SABIC, telecommunications and electricity. KFUPM was the top 14th universities in patents from the US Patent Office and established sustainable technology transfer and licensing mechanisms. The College of Petroleum Engineering and Earth Sciences, will continue, in active partnership with Saudi Aramco, to grow into one of the top five colleges in this area within ten years.  The University Endowment achieved great growth and began the work of establishing a business center. The University professors, researchers and students received distinguished awards in different areas, and the University volunteer work had some notable successes, and a number of university students led teams from all over the Kingdom in the Volunteer Day.

On this occasion, I would like to extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to His Royal Highness Prince Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz, Governor of the Eastern Province, for his constant patronage ofthe University's activities and I pray to the Almighty to preserve the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz and to preserve our country's security, stability and prosperity under the wise leadership of our government.

The visit program included a presentation on Research Institute projects and the role of the Institute in establishing the basis of applied research and the settlement of modern technologies. The program included a visit to the Center of Refining and Petrochemicals to view its role in providing technical consultations, conducting studies and implementing projects for companies and organizations in this sector, which represents a vital area for industrial development in the Kingdom.

The presentation of the Research Institute covered the achievements of the university students and the awards they received from local and international contests, many of the awards in areas far from their specialties.

The presentation also covered the technology transfer, innovation and entrepreneurship sector, which includes the Entrepreneurship Institute, the Innovation Center, the Center for Modeling and Technology Development, the Center for Business Incubators and Industrial Relations. and the University Award for Best University in the Kingdom to support entrepreneurs from the Small and Medium Enterprises Authority. The presentation also covered the primary and advanced modeling facilities such as Fab Lab Dhahran and the Center for Modeling and Technology Development and stressed that Dhahran Valley is the largest gathering place for energy research companies in the world. It also discussed research cooperation with world famous universities and strategic partnership with major companies.

The presentation dealt with a number of initiatives of the university such as the International Advisory Board, the University Endowment, the Business Center, the restructuring of the IT center, and the University's keenness on building an integrated infrastructure, moving forward on  future projects, and enhancing the ability of its graduates to compete with graduates of other universities.

The presentation addressed the role of the community outreach, KFUPM efforts in simplifying the science and some of the university's research products such as sulfur disposal operations in oil, conversion of heavy oil to olefins, catalystcracking techniques for the olefins industry, new technologies for the polyester industry, additives technologies for the plastics industry, and the techniques for treating contaminated water in factories.

The presentation tackled the role of the university in applied and contractual research and the provision of solutions to the problems facing the national industries. It also noted the implementation of a number of national strategic studies and plans, including the future plan for university education (Afaq project), and the strategic plan for the development of the judiciary facility for the general presidency of the affairs of the two Holy Mosques (Adel Project).

His Royal Highness reviewed a model of a patent that has been converted into an industrial product. He also went to the students’ dormitory and visited one of the students' rooms. Then he went to the student mall and looked at the services it provided to the students. He was also briefed about the student clubs and met the students.

The tour program also included a tour to Dhahran Techno Valley, the Science Park, the Innovation and Modeling Center, and the Entrepreneurship Institute. HRH also  reviewed some student projects, and toured the science park, which began with Schlumberger and ended at Yokogawa.