Our first meeting was in a spacious, wood-paneled boardroom with the university's rector, Dr. Khaled S. Al-Sultan. As always, outstanding hospitality was in order. Fresh squeezed orange juice, coffee, tea, and lots of treats such as pistachio baklava were presented for our enjoyment. Dr. Khaled began with an insightful explanation of the university's approach to education. In eloquent English, he told us that the administrators "consider KFU to be an experience, not just a curriculum to get through" and they "want [students] to be good global citizens and family members". We learned that faculty members come from 55 different countries. And with the exception of Islamic Studies and Arabic language instruction, all courses are taught in English.
Mirroring a theme from our previous site visits, the rector informed us that Saudi Arabia is striving to develop a knowledge economy. To that end, this year 25 to 28 percent of the government budget will go to education (of note, 90 percent of the Kingdom's budget is derived from oil revenues, but he explained that they are "trying to diversify"). Also, the Kingdom quadrupled the number of universities over the last five years.
We were made aware of recent university successes, such as last year's reception of 28 US patents (with 260 more awaiting registration). And this year, a new science park was introduced on campus. Dr. Khaled stated, "to get to a knowledge economy, you have to develop the ecosystem for it, you have to train kids to like math and science". Additionally, KFU and MIT entered into a recent agreement to establish a Center for Clean Water and Energy, in order to conduct collaborative research.
During the question and answer period we learned that 60 percent of Saudi Arabian energy use is consumed by air conditioning (foreshadowing our next day's visit to an A.C. manufacturer). However, the Kingdom is looking to improve that metric through the introduction of new insulation regulations. Another point of interest is that Saudi Arabia is the largest world producer of desalinated water. Rector Dr. Khaled stated that "the challenge is to make [desalination] more cost effective". Making it clear that the country wants to maintain it's leadership in this industry, he said, "I will not be surprised to see Saudi Arabia export water". Furthermore, benchmarking on international standards is now a major goal.
Final comments by Dr. Khaled discussed broader Saudi policies. He noted that the Kingdom is looking both East and West and that "rationality always plays a strong part in Saudi Arabian foreign policy, as well as the Realist school of [International Relations]."
The delegation then had the opportunity to meet with officials at the KFU Research Institute (RI). According to the officials, it has six major centers focused on Corrosion (particularly in regards to concrete, due to the harsh environment), Renewable Energy, Petroleum Refining & Petrochemicals, Nanotechnology, and Islamic Banking & Finance. Each center cost 30 to 40 million USD for five years. Also, each year they receive approximately 20 million USD from places outside the government. The officials stated that the RI "is one venue that is helping push toward the knowledge economy" and they are "shifting to 'design-based' courses". We also learned here that only one out of 20 applicants is admitted to KFU.
For many delegates, the next visit was the most enthralling. Undergraduate student Mohammed Abu Sharifah explained a solar-powered car that, with the exception of the German-made solar panels, the car was entirely built by undergraduate students out of Kevlar, chrome alloy steel, and lightweight aluminum. With a mass of 214 kilograms and 392 solar cells covering the body, the car has a range of 500 km and a top speed of 70 km/hr. It took two years to design and build. Called the Seraaj Solar Car Team, they recently placed 27th in the Veolia World Solar Challenge in Australia, beating even MIT! KFU was the only Arab team in attendance. They plan to compete again and in the meantime are focused on reducing the weight of the car to enhance performance.
The delegation then travelled to the Asharqia Chamber of Commerce, responsible for business in the Eastern Province, which is home for 20 percent of the population and the majority of the petroleum reserves. We were briefed by Mr. Mohammed T. Radwan, a 1999 Georgetown graduate. The Chamber's mission is "to provide unique and high quality services that meet the aspirations of the private sector, thus ensuring continuous development through the optimal investment in available resources, renewable technologies, and effective participation in the economic and social development of the region". Chamber membership is mandatory for businesses in the Eastern Province, of which 80 percent are small and medium enterprises (SME's). Membership more than doubled since 2001, which is an indicator of growth and development. The Chamber operates many services, to include an Investment Development Center, a Training Center, VIP Center, SME Development Center, Businesswoman Center, Information Center, and Employment Center. Additionally, several ISO Certifications from TUV Nord were displayed as well as noted in the extensive slide presentation we received. More information on the Chamber can be found at chamber.org.sa.
Later that evening, we visited the SITECH museum and IMAX theater. We watched a film called "Arabia", which outlined a thorough history of Saudi Arabia as well as a keen discussion of contemporary challenges. Overall, the movie was a strong look into the culture and we definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to gain a more accurate understanding of Saudi Arabia. After that, the delegates spent a fun and relaxing few minutes exploring the modern museum, which includes exciting features such as a large-volume fish tank and an earthquake simulator. Afterward, we returned to the hotel hungry for a dinner of hummus, chicken, lamb, and plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, followed by a good night's rest!
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