Islamtoday.com
Sep. 26, 2009
Saudi Arabia has set up a new co-educatinal research university, a multibillion dollar venture. However, it is restricted to advanced post-graduate students in the sciences and technology.
The King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)—complete with state- of-the-art laboratories, the world's 14th fastest supercomputer, and one of the biggest endowments worldwide—was officially iaugurated on Wednesday.
The inaugural ceremony was headed by its namesake, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al- Saud, as well as several world leaders, dignitaries and officials.
The campus is built along the Red Sea coast about 80km north of the commercial centre of Jeddah.
Saudi officials have envisaged the postgraduate institution as a crucial part of the kingdom's plans to transform itself into a global scientific hub - the latest effort in the Gulf region to diversify its economic base.
The new university will not require women to wear veils or cover their faces, and they will be able to mix publicly on campus with male students and faculty.
They will also be allowed to drive, which is not allowed elsewhere in the country.
Yesterday, King Abdullah described KAUSTas a symbol of loyalty to his father King Abdul Aziz, the founder of Saudi Arabia.
"I am extremely happy over the inauguration of KAUST on the Kingdom's National Day when we remember the struggle and resolve of the founder of our modern state," the king said in a reply cable to Crown Prince Sultan, deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation.
"This university is an appropriate symbol of our loyalty and allegiance to the unifier of our country who had dedicated his life in the way of God," the king said. "We present this university as one of the fruits of his efforts as a cultural, humanitarian and scientific landmark."
Sources:
"Elite Saudi university set to open" Aljazeera September 23, 2009
P.K. Abdul Ghafour, "KAUST symbol of loyalty: King" Arab News September 26, 2009
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