MBZUAI President Eric Xing reviewed the university's 2021 accomplishments, including faculty growth with 14 hires from top universities, launch of an Executive Program with 41 participants, and hosting delegations from various countries. MBZUAI's student body now includes 134 students from 40 countries, with the first graduation planned for 2023. The university aims to become a leading AI hub in the UAE through partnerships with government, industry, and educational institutions. Why it matters: This growth signals the UAE's increasing commitment to developing a world-class AI ecosystem and attracting global talent in artificial intelligence.
KAUST held its 12th commencement ceremony, celebrating 234 Ph.D. and master's graduates. The graduating class included 93 Saudi Arabian students. The ceremony featured addresses from President Tony Chan, student speaker Dr. Antonia Sugar, and Saudi Minister of Investment Khalid A. Al-Falih. Why it matters: The event highlights KAUST's role in developing local talent and contributing to Saudi Arabia's research and development goals.
KAUST researchers, led by Mohamed Eddaoudi, developed a metal-organic framework (MOF) capable of selectively adsorbing water, challenging the conventional view of MOF instability in water. They also advanced MOF understanding by adapting high-resolution transmission electron microscopy to observe their atomic structure. KAUST hosted the Innovation to Impact Roundtable, fostering collaboration between academics and industry leaders from the U.S. and Saudi Arabia. Why it matters: These activities highlight KAUST's role in materials science innovation and fostering international research collaborations to advance technological development in Saudi Arabia.
This is a year-in-review piece summarizing the activity at KAUST in 2017. It mentions talent development and innovation as areas of focus. Why it matters: Provides a high-level overview of KAUST's strategic priorities and activities during the specified period.
KAUST reflected on its research achievements during its fifth anniversary year, highlighting the inaugurations of the Clean Combustion Research Center (CCRC) and the Solar & Photovoltaics Engineering Research Center. KAUST also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg (ZSW) to develop thin-film photovoltaic technology. Several new directors were appointed for KAUST research centers, including the Extreme Computing Research Center (ECRC). Why it matters: These strategic investments in research centers and partnerships underscore KAUST's commitment to advancing scientific discovery and technological innovation in Saudi Arabia, particularly in areas like clean energy, agriculture, and computing.