How Saudi Arabia have benefited from KAUST

This article discusses the various ways in which Saudi Arabia has benefited from the presence of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), including economic growth, infrastructure development, attraction of global talent, creation of international bonds, and addressing societal challenges. It also highlights some key performance indicators (KPIs) related to education, water desalination cost, food cost, and energy cost.

How Saudi Arabia have benefited from KAUST
How Saudi Arabia have benefited from KAUST
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How Saudi Arabia have benefited from KAUST
Introduction
Brief summary of KAUST
King Abdullah University of science and technology is a private campus which is
focused on research and it is placed in Thuwal, Saudi Arabia. The university was initiated in
2009 for the provision of research and graduate training programs in English geared toward
making it an official language of communication.KAUST was the first mixed-gender university
initiated in Saudi Arabia (Alshumaimri, Aldridge &Audretsch, 2010). In the year 2013, KAUST
managed to be among the most developing research institution globally.in the year 2006 the
university recorded a super improvement being ranked at position nineteen in the world
demonstrating a high-quality research output. The King Abdullah of science and technology also
signed a collaboration agreement with Elm in facilitating research in the regions such as the
technology of smart city.
KAUST Mission and vision
The main objectives of KAUST is to form a strong ground for both scientific and technological
advancements and research in order to solve global problems. It also has an objective of utilizing
the education to act as a catalyst for innovation, economic growth and social improvements in
both Saudi Arabia and the entire world domain
Benefits of KAUST
It acted as an economic engine in the country. King Abdullah University of science and
technology can be said to be the hotbeds of innovation and entrepreneurship in the region.it has
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How Saudi Arabia have benefited from KAUST
partnered with the government, business, and research and technology firms in aid to drive an
array of vital industries. This has been achieved by possession of skills and knowledge in the
region by the students (Taylor &Albasri, 2014). Such activities have attracted a number of investors
in the region. With a high number of investors, Saudi Arabia has grown in economic sectors.
Also, the university has made the predictive mind of individuals available who assist in
determining and rating the future performance of the country economy. This has completely
helped Saudi Arabia to determine the path to follow so as to avoid decrement at the economic
level.
It has changed the face of the city. The location of King Abdullah University of science
and technology have grown into an attractive city. The initiation of the university has attracted
the investors in the sector of infrastructure. The investors came as a result of meeting the needs
of the students in the university (Ahmad, Hussain, &Aqil, 2013). Some of the need that has led to
the growth of the infrastructure are accommodation and food requirement etc. This has made the
region more attractive both in business sectors and residential sectors.
It has attracted a global talent. With the high rate of growth-rate in both technology and
education wide, the KAUST have attracted a huge number of talented individuals who are geared
towards expanding their knowledge. Such an attraction has reflected a positive influence to the
economy of the country (Al-Khalifa, 2010). For example, students from other countries who come
to KAUST to upgrade their education level have ended up investing in their field of
specialization in Saudi Arabia. This has not only boosted the talent in the region but also led to
innovation in the economic sectors.
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How Saudi Arabia have benefited from KAUST
Creation of International bond. The KAUST have played a big role in connecting the
locals to the outside world and also creating a lasting links into the global networks (Al-Mubaraki,
2011). The university academic mobility and collaboration in research have extended the
intellectual and cultural connection and in doing so it has helped in developing the international
relation. For example, some students from outside world have to an extent ended up
intermarrying with the local. This has fully solidified the bond between the people of Saudi
Arabia with the outside world.
According to Drioli and Giorno (2010) KAUST have helped in addressing societal challenges. The
academic analysis of this University have provided Saudi Arabia and its prevailing communities
with a robust evidence base which is implemented in informing the public policy. The university
has also been offering vital services to the surrounding individuals which are otherwise scarce
such as access to the health-care. Also, the university has contributed to boosting Saudi Arabia
harmony as it has brought together people from a different corner of the country.
Through the high education offered by the university, the lives of the local have been
boosted. Mostly to the youths, the education offered by the university has fully improved their
lifestyle through enhancing personal knowledge, the creation of employment opportunities and
also promoting civic participation. For example, in Saudi Arabia youth have become more
innovative to an extent they end starting their own jobs which in effect have lowered the rate of
unemployment in the region.
King Abdullah University of science and technology have fostered creativity and open
debate in the region. The universities support and boost several creative activities in a
community. The activities have helped the city where King Abdullah University Science and
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How Saudi Arabia have benefited from KAUST
technology is located by boosting global competitiveness (Househ, Al-Tuwaijri& Al-Dosari,
2010).Also, by improving the creativity level in the society, it has changed the mode of thinking
and reasoning in both political and economic dimensions. For example, the improved creativity
level in Saudi Arabia has lowered the political crisis in the region..
Key performance indicators (KPIS)
Education:
Number of students in 2016=700
Number of students in 2018=1000
% increase= ( 1000−700
700 )∗100=42.85 %
Turbidity
( 0.78−0.92
0.78 )=−0.2NTU
water desalination cost:
( 1000−700
700 )∗100=42.85 %
Food cost:
Food cost 2017= 2550
Food cost 2016 = 1980
( 2550−1980
2550 )∗100=22.35 %
Energy cost:
Energy cost 2018=1800
Energy cost 2017= 2500
( 2500−1800
2500 )∗100=28 %
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How Saudi Arabia have benefited from KAUST
Conclusion
As discussed above, Saudi Arabia has enjoyed a number of benefits from the existence of
King Abdullah University of science and technology. Mostly the economic sector in the region
has been greatly and positively influenced by King Abdullah University of science and
technology. KAUST played a basic role in the country as observed from the KPIs. For example,
it led to deduction of both energy and food cost.
Despite so many advantages, the University has been a way to erode some of the positive
values in the region. They include: through the interaction with people from other countries, the
locals have ended up copying bad dressing methods which have contributed to immorality
(ALdayel,Aldayel, Al-Mudimigh, 2011). Also, some individual has engaged themselves in drugs
habitat. Such behavior has negatively influenced the morals of the youths in the country.
The university management with the help of the government should join hand and find
the last solution in bringing remedy to such behavior which may end up breaching the good
name of our university (Drioli, & Giorno, 2010). For example, before students from other countries
are enrolled in the system, the university should engage in a thorough investigation in the student
behavior. The management should also set rules and regulation that governs the dressing mode
of the students in the university.
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How Saudi Arabia have benefited from KAUST
References
Ahmad, P., Hussain, A., & Aqil, M. (2013). Use of web 2.0 in Saudi Arabia
Universities. International Journal of Information Dissemination & Technology, 3(3).
ALdayel, A. I., Aldayel, M. S., & Al-Mudimigh, A. S. (2011). The critical success factors of
ERP implementation in higher education in Saudi Arabia: A case study. Journal of
Information Technology & Economic Development, 2(2).
Al-Khalifa, H. S. (2010). E-Learning and ICT Integration in Colleges and Universities in Saudi
Arabia. eLearn Magazine, 2010(3), 3.
Al-Mubaraki, A. A. (2011). National and global challenges to higher education in Saudi Arabia:
Current development and future strategies. In Higher education in the Asia-Pacific (pp.
413-430). Springer, Dordrecht.
Alshumaimri, A., Aldridge, T., & Audretsch, D. B. (2010). The university technology transfer
revolution in Saudi Arabia. The Journal of Technology Transfer, 35(6), 585-596.
Drioli, E., & Giorno, L. (Eds.). (2010). Comprehensive membrane science and engineering (Vol.
1). Newnes.
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How Saudi Arabia have benefited from KAUST
Househ, M., Al-Tuwaijri, M., & Al-Dosari, B. (2010). Establishing an Electronic Health Center
of Research Excellence (E-CoRE) within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Journal of
Health Informatics in Developing Countries, 4(1).
Taylor, C., & Albasri, W. (2014). The impact of Saudi Arabia King Abdullah’s scholarship
program in the US. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 2(10), 109.
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