Expanding Horizons for Saudi Undergraduates

Mathematics and statistics school nurtures talented local students

KAUST is committed to advancing academic fields that will be vital to the future and can help drive knowledge and innovation in the Kingdom. The Strategic National Advancement division helps marshal these fields by ensuring that talented students are given the tools and opportunities to succeed and grow. To this end, KAUST conducted its annual Applied Mathematics and Computational Science and Statistics (AMCS-Stat) School in February 2021 for promising Saudi undergraduate students.

Each year, the Strategic National Advancement division partners with the Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Science and Engineering division to deliver the AMCS-Stat School, now in its fourth year. The week-long program introduces students to topics that go beyond conventional learning and exposes them to current and future directions in research. The school has evolved over the years to remain a leader in the field, and offers holistic development opportunities for students to broaden their perspectives and prepares them to be globally attractive candidates in academia or the job market.

The program offers tailored enrichment activities related to knowledge and skills in the field; provides insights into potential career paths in rapidly developing sectors; and gives students first-hand exposure to life as a researcher at KAUST and the support networks offered on campus.

KAUST works hand-in-hand with universities around the Kingdom to recruit and develop Saudi talent. This year’s program, held virtually for the first time, hosted 39 top students from 20 universities who will excel in their undergraduate programs and eventually apply to KAUST for MSc degrees. The event featured panel discussions, presentations, workshops and speakers, bringing together KAUST leadership and talent-recruitment staff, faculty and researchers, and current students and alumni.

The competitive program has become a favorite among Saudi undergraduates, who report benefits that go well beyond coursework support – including networking with faculty, meeting and hearing advice from current students and alumni working in Saudi Arabia, and gaining new perspectives on their potential futures as experts and contributors in the field. The AMCS-Stat School’s success and impact has made it a gold standard for national academic partnerships, and is paving the way for similar programs aligned with KAUST’s research and innovation fields that are serving the nation.

IMAM ABDULRAHMAN BIN FAISAL UNIVERSITY

“This opportunity gave students the ability to enrich their knowledge about different applications of mathematics. Such programs enhance students’ innovations and creativity in solving real-life problems, which aligns with the 2030 vision of Saudi Arabia.”

Dr. Amal Lafi Alotaibi, Dean of the College of Science at Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University

OMAR KNIO Interim CEMSE Dean and Professor of Applied Mathematics and Computational Science

MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS ARE THE LENSES THROUGH WHICH WE SEE THE WORLD AND SOLVE PROBLEMS.