The KAUST School hosted its second annual Saudi University Fair on 4 March 2020, with high school students from Thuwal and KAUST attending to learn more about higher education opportunities, both in the Kingdom and abroad.
Finding out about higher education options is challenging and it can be difficult to know where to start in deciding how to choose a course, what to look for in a university, how to determine which is best for each individual. Although there is much information available online, a university fair presents an ideal opportunity to discuss options in person with multiple institutions in one setting.
The TKS University Fair opened with a presentation about two key KAUST programs – the KAUST Gifted Student Program (KGSP) and the Saudi Research Science Institute (SRSI). KGSP is a fully-funded scholarship program that supports the Kingdom’s most talented youth in earning STEM-based Bachelor’s degrees at leading universities in the United States, followed by post-graduate studies at KAUST. SRSI provides gifted Saudi Grade 11 students with a taster of university learning and life, with a summer school of comprehensive interaction with faculty and students through lectures and activities here at KAUST. Walid Abediseid, the KGSP Scholarship Officer, introduced two alumni of the programs. Ahmed Al Saleh is a KGSP graduate, gaining his Bachelor’s degree in Materials Science and Engineering from North Carolina State University, and completing his Masters in Material Science and Engineering at KAUST in 2017 before becoming Business Development Manager and country representative with Thermo Scientific, here in Saudi Arabia. Ghanimah Abuhaimed followed her SRSI experience with a KGSP scholarship to the University of Colorado, where she is currently studying Physics. After the presentation, Ahmed commented: “It was a wonderful experience to share with young enthusiasts my journey from high school to my current role with Thermo Scientific. The students were asking the right questions on how to better develop their personal and academic skills to ensure they are prepared for the right opportunity in the future.”
Students then moved to The KAUST School for a welcome from the Student Support Director, Dwane Harris, followed by a University Panel Question & Answer session. Afterwards, the students were able to visit the booths in the Flag Pavilion to have more detailed conversations with representatives from Dar Al Hekmah, Effat, Jeddah, Taif, Business & Technology, Saudi Electronic, King Abdulaziz, Princess Norah bint Abdulrahman Universities and Batterji Medical College and Swiss Education Group, as well as Lanterna Education who offer advice on effective study habits and IB exam preparation. Attendees enjoyed the face to face discussions on the range of subjects on offer, understanding admission details and how to apply. The Qiyas booth was able to answer many questions on the Saudi national assessment tests, Qudorat and Tahseli.
Hamed Alkhamees, a high school teacher in Thuwal, attending with his students, said: “A University Fair can be a life-changing opportunity for young Saudis. The students were inspired by KGSP and SRSI and pleased to meet official representatives from Qiyas.” He added that many students said they gained useful insight into the range of choices of course and university and are looking forward to applying their new-found information to the next step in their academic journey.
With thanks to the attending institutions
