Oct 02, 2025
Building Connections at the KBS Research Networking Symposium
On September 18, 2025, KFUPM’s Business School (KBS) and the Assistant Deanship for Graduate Programs brought faculty and graduate students together for the Research Networking Symposium, an event designed to build bridges between research interests and future collaborations.
The gathering opened with words of welcome from both the new Dean of KBS, Dr. Turki Baroud, and the Assistant Dean for Graduate Programs at KBS, Dr. Mohammad Alahmadi, marking a moment of continuity and shared vision for the school’s future. Among the distinguished attendees were Dr. Mohammad Alshayeb, Chairman of Information Systems & Operations Management, and Dr. Abdullah Almashayekhi, Chairman of Management & Marketing, whose presence emphasized the significance of cross-departmental engagement.
The symposium balanced formal exchanges with interactive elements. Beyond introductions and discussions, participants took part in engaging games designed to spark conversations and create connections in a more relaxed setting. The program also spotlighted the breadth of research at KBS, ranging from natural language processing (NLP) and financial technologies (FinTech) to the emerging field of agentic AI.
For faculty members, the event offered an opportunity to identify students whose interests align with their research, to open doors for serving on thesis committees across different tracks, and to strengthen ties with colleagues from other departments. It also created space to imagine interdisciplinary projects that could extend the reach of ongoing work.
Graduate students of the Master of Science in Business Studies (MSBS) program experienced the symposium as a milestone in their academic path. Attendance was mandatory, highlighting its importance as the place to meet potential thesis advisors, understand faculty expectations, and explore how best to position themselves as effective collaborators. Beyond these practical goals, the symposium encouraged students to establish lasting professional and social connections within the school.
By the end of the day, the Research Networking Symposium had become a living platform that strengthened the academic community at KBS. It laid the groundwork for enduring research networks and reaffirmed the school’s commitment to cultivating collaboration at every level.
