The King Abdullah Scholar Award will link KAUST with the worldwide community of leading research universities by recognizing excellence in academics and research among doctoral students.
Dhahran, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (PRWEB) October 3, 2007 -- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) (http://www.kaust.edu.sa/), a new world-class graduate research university under development in Saudi Arabia, today launched a program to recognize excellence in academics and research by doctoral students from around the world. The King Abdullah Scholar Award (http://www.kaust.edu.sa/students/king-abdullah-scholars.aspx) will provide up to four years of financial support at the university of the recipient's choosing. KAUST will select approximately 24 King Abdullah Scholars annually from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the world, beginning in 2007.
"King Abdullah Scholar Awards are intended to recognize the very best young minds in those academic and research areas that are the focal points of KAUST," said KAUST Interim Provost Ahmad Alkhowaiter. "Those selected as King Abdullah Scholars will have a demonstrated potential to be at the forefront of future innovations in science and technology."
The selection process began this week with the mailing of nomination packets to selected research universities from around the world. Nominations will be judged by a panel composed of higher education experts and premier global research faculty. The panel will recommend finalists to KAUST officials, who will endorse the final selections.
King Abdullah Scholars will receive the following benefits:
• Annual award to cover tuition, living stipend and educational expenses as well as research activities for up to four years.
• Research opportunities at the KAUST campus.
• Travel funds to participate in special KAUST sponsored conferences and events.
"King Abdullah Scholars will serve as ambassadors for the KAUST mission of excellence in global research," said Mr. Alkhowaiter. "They will help foster the collaboration and understanding that is crucial to advances in science by helping to build ties between their institutions and KAUST."
The King Abdullah Scholar Award is the second of two University funded scholarship programs. The KAUST Discovery Scholarship, a separate program announced earlier this year, provides tuition and other financial support to university undergraduates who will enter KAUST as master's degree students in September 2009 and 2010.
Additional information about the King Abdullah Scholar Award and the KAUST Discovery Scholarship can be found on the KAUST Web site: http://www.kaust.edu.sa
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