The vision of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah for a world-class international research center to be established in the heart of Saudi Arabia was outlined by Nadhmi A. Al-Nasr, the interim president of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, during his meeting with Saudi writers and academics in Jeddah this week. Al-Nasr told of King Abdullah's personal interest in the plans to launch the new university.
Al-Nasr said the king has paid several visits to the construction sites in Thuwal and is very keen to see the university become a beacon of knowledge and research that will contribute to the Kingdom's progress and development and promote research needed to serve humanity and global prosperity.
The university will collaborate with international research centers to promote technological development that will benefit both Saudi Arabia and the world.
One example of this is the recent agreement signed by the university and the Institut Francais du Petrol (IFP) to work jointly on transportation energies and materials, as well as joint efforts to find innovative solutions for more efficient, more economical, cleaner and sustainable energy sources and materials. KAUST will offer graduate courses on specific research. The university's objective is to benefit from established research centers to gain technical expertise in the fields of research, development and training.
Reforming the educational system and raising the standard of our schools and universities remain the biggest challenges Saudi Arabia faces today.
Significant government efforts and private initiatives support the national objective of achieving academic excellence and improving Saudi universities, which fared poorly in recent rankings. Educational programs and well-endowed funds have been allocated for research projects at universities and teachers training centers to improve education. This year, we have seen several advances that provide great hope for a better educational system that will equip students with the necessary skills needed to power nation's development.
One novel project is King Faisal University's Preparatory Program (UPP), designed to stimulate critical thinking, change attitudes about learning and prepare students for success in their university studies. Program faculty comes from the US, Canada, Australia, the UK and South Africa. It is a Western educational program tailored to fit Saudi student needs.
The program marks a radical departure from the nation's traditional teaching methods that employ rote memorization. Developing student communication skills and problem-solving abilities will motivate young Saudis to learn more and foster the curiosity that is at the heart of research -- and progress.
King Saud University has launched a Nobel laureate program to promote science and technology, develop research and spread a culture of science and innovation with an aim to transform the Kingdom into a knowledge-based society. The university hopes the program will enhance the university's research and consultancy standards and encourage innovations as well as allowing students and staff to benefit from the experience of the 11 Nobel laureates taking part.
King Saud University has also launched a research-chair project supported by royalty, business, banks and philanthropists to finance research chains in all scientific, social and academic fields. Accordingly, the university will name the chair after the contributors, and the funds will be used to further cooperation with leading Western universities and international research centers.
Another major step in the right direction is introducing English in primary schools throughout the Kingdom.
English teachers attended orientation programs at the start of this academic year, and they were introduced to the latest teaching methodologies and technologies in the field of language. The Oxford University Press has conducted the orientation programs and exchanged views with Saudi teachers on the educational concerns and needs of our students. The press will publish a special version of a new series of books, called "Happy Street," specifically for Saudi Arabia.
I hope this initiative will put an end to the controversy of teaching English in Saudi schools. This cultural chauvinism against the language in many ways has isolated both our students and our nation from the highly competitive global arena. For our students, the consequence is a substandard education; for our nation, the consequence is diminished economic potential.
English is the window to the world of knowledge, technology and scientific advancement, not to mention business and international trade. Introducing English in our schools at an early age will allow our students to master the language and learn to better understand the latest technological and scientific developments in our world today. It is truly encouraging to see such initiatives that recognize the value of seeking the cooperation of Western and international expertise. We are finally on the right track reaching out to the more experienced and more advanced nations in order to build a better future for our youth.
This move neither threatens our culture nor is it against our religion as many have mistakenly contended in the past. Indeed, the King Abdul Aziz Center for National Dialogue and the Ministry of Education have signed a partnership agreement to promote the culture of dialogue and respect for others -- tolerance, moderation and freedom of expression, which are the basis of our Islamic principles. The organizations will cooperate in scientific studies, public opinion surveys and training programs, and the center will provide the ministry with technical support and train teachers in the basics of dialogue.
Good education influences positive change and helps us create a healthy environment. When we provide our graduates with quality education, we will be able to turn our nation into a more advanced and knowledge-based society. The current initiatives can propel our nation forward and pave the way to a more effective cultural transformation of Saudi society.
With energy prices high and the government reporting budget surpluses, it is easy for some to ignore the brutal consequences of inaction. That is why the government is advancing these important measures, and the leaders of our business, academic and financial institutions are supporting them.
If energy prices fall, inaction leads to a dismal future of poverty, ignorance and despair for our nation, but if we reduce our dependence on global energy markets through developing our greatest resource -- our people -- through education, we secure the future prosperity of our nation and ensure its competitiveness in the global economy. King Abdullah's vision for a prosperous Saudi Arabia and a better future for his people will only be realized when all Saudis support these initiatives. He can point the way for us, but we have to truly take his words to heart to help convert this vision into reality.
© Arab News 2007
