KAUST has launched a new master’s degree program in Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship (TIE), set to begin in August 2024. The 16-month program includes core courses, electives, summer internships, and product development, aligning with Saudi Vision 2030. The final six months will be spent at InnoX Academy in Shenzhen focusing on product and venture development. Why it matters: This program aims to cultivate a new generation of innovators and entrepreneurs to contribute to Saudi Arabia's economic diversification and technological advancement.
KAUST has launched a master’s degree program in Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship (TIE), a 16-month program designed to transform research innovation into commercially viable products and services. The program includes training in AI/ML, robotics, design thinking, and entrepreneurship, plus a six-month stay in Shenzhen, China. The inaugural TIE cohort will consist of 30 students, including 18 Saudi nationals, and will study at the Suliman Olayan Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Why it matters: The program aims to bridge the gap between academia and industry and drive Saudi Arabia's economic diversification and innovation agenda in line with Vision 2030.
KAUST is offering a 16-month Master of Science degree in Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship (TIE). The program includes a six-month internship at a Global Technology Innovation Hub. KAUST provides access to facilities like the Prototyping and Product Development Core Lab, robotics and embedded systems labs. Why it matters: The program aims to prepare students for roles in technology startups and established organizations within the rapidly growing Saudi innovation ecosystem.
MBZUAI has opened graduate admissions for the 2025/2026 academic year, offering five M.Sc. and five Ph.D. programs, alongside a new Master in Applied AI (MAAI). The MAAI program is designed for working professionals, focusing on applying AI to solve organizational and societal challenges, taught by MBZUAI faculty and international guest speakers. The university also provides fully-funded scholarships for its M.Sc. and Ph.D. programs in computer science, computer vision, machine learning, natural language processing, and robotics. Why it matters: This new program and scholarship offerings will help MBZUAI attract top talent and further establish itself as a leading AI research institution in the region.
Ahmad Alabdulghani, a KAUST master's student in Energy Resources and Petroleum Engineering, is studying fluid flow mechanisms in heterogeneous media under the supervision of Professor Hussein Hoteit. Alabdulghani is a member of the Advanced Reservoir Modeling and Simulation (ARMS) research group at ANPERC. He previously worked at Saudi Aramco's EXPEC Advanced Research Center and aims to pursue a doctorate at KAUST. Why it matters: This highlights KAUST's role in developing Saudi talent for the energy sector and fostering collaboration between academia and industry.
MBZUAI held a pre-commencement celebration for its inaugural graduation on January 30, 2023, in Abu Dhabi. The first graduating class includes 52 students from 24 countries earning master's degrees in computer vision and machine learning. MBZUAI has quickly risen to become a top 25 institution globally in AI, with faculty from top 100 AI institutions. Why it matters: This milestone highlights the rapid growth and increasing importance of AI education and research in the UAE and the broader Middle East.
KAUST held its fifth commencement ceremony on December 12, 2014, celebrating 38 Ph.D. and 121 master's degree graduates. President Chameau and Board of Trustees Chairman Ali Ibrahim Al-Naimi honored the students, with Shamael Al-Shuhail as the Commencement Speaker. Stanford University President Dr. John L. Hennessy, the Distinguished Speaker, highlighted KAUST's rapid progress and advised graduates to pursue their passions and give back. Why it matters: While historical, this event underscores KAUST's ongoing commitment to developing STEM talent in Saudi Arabia, contributing to the region's growing focus on technology and innovation.
MBZUAI has launched master’s and Ph.D. programs in computational biology, expanding its research into life sciences. This includes projects like AIDO (AI-Driven Digital Organism) and analysis of the Emirati Genome Program. The programs are part of MBZUAI’s School of Digital Public Health and aim to integrate computational biology with precision medicine. Why it matters: This initiative supports the UAE's vision for a knowledge-based economy and its ambition to become a global center for scientific and technological progress in biotechnology and healthcare.