Mar 04, 2026

Engineering Triumph on the Global Stage

KFUPM students delivered an outstanding international performance at the prestigious ENGCOMM 2026 competition in Montreal, Canada, held on February 24th, 2026, securing first place in their group, third place overall in the competition, and earning the Best Sustainable Solution Award.

Competing against leading global universities, the team advanced ahead of institutions such as the University of Alberta and UC Berkeley to claim first place in their category. They then secured third place overall across the entire competition, outperforming teams including the University of Texas. The additional recognition for Best Sustainable Solution highlighted the strength and long-term viability of their proposed project.

The winning team was led by Shimaa Alwadai, alongside members Asma Alanazi, Sarah Albajad, and Rana Almutairi, whose interdisciplinary collaboration and rigorous preparation were instrumental to this achievement. The team was coached and mentored by Dr. Yasser Almoghathawi, whose academic guidance and strategic direction played a pivotal role throughout the competition.

ENGCOMM is an engineering-based competition that challenges participants to develop an innovative technical solution and transform it into a commercially viable venture within an intensive timeframe. The competition requires continuous problem-solving—six consecutive hours in the initial stages and 12 hours in the final stage—culminating in a strategic presentation before an international judging panel. The team prepared through more than 40 hours of focused training to ensure full readiness for this global challenge.

Notably, this marks KFUPM’s second consecutive year participating in ENGCOMM, reinforcing the university’s growing international presence and its commitment to preparing globally competitive leaders capable of excelling among the world’s top institutions.

Offering advice to fellow students, the team emphasized:
"Approach such competitions as opportunities for learning and growth, not merely as contests. They refine scientific skills, strengthen the practical application of knowledge, and develop personal qualities such as confidence, communication, and teamwork."

This milestone stands as a testament to KFUPM’s dedication to empowering its students to represent the university and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with distinction, transforming ambition into achievement on the global stage.