KING SAUD UNIVERSITY

KSU’s Aspiration: Becoming a World-Class University

Part III: Engagement

Mohamed M. ElMadany

Member of Strategic Planning Committee

 

King Saud University aspires to be a place that brings positive change to the life opportunities of its students and a source of creativity and new knowledge that is relevant, robust and contributes to individual, community, and nation development. The University’s place will be at the leading edge of knowledge, providing a contemporary education that builds successful lives and careers for its students and graduates, and conducting research that articulates to the development of the Kingdom and Gulf region, the new economy, cultural life and professional practice.

KSU is an institution that puts knowledge to work in the education of its students for employment, in the application of its research to contemporary problems and in partnerships with its communities, the nation and the world at large which are mutually enriching. Engagement is a defining characteristic of the University’s identity, and of its academic culture and scholarship.

This article, from the point of view of the author, looks at the engagement mission of the university.

 

KSU will be renowned internationally for its leadership and scholarship in national and international engagement

 

Through KSU's programs of knowledge exchange and application, the University will help put knowledge to work to create new opportunities that advance the Kingdom and solve a variety of technical and social problems.

KSU will synergistically devote its knowledge and expertise toward increased responsive and productive involvement in improving Riyadh's communities and the larger society, at home and abroad. This will be marked by KSU's commitment to sharing—to enrich and to learn, two-way partnerships with internal and external constituencies to achieve shared goals, and demonstrate the public purposes of King Saud University.

Innovation and engagement is integral to the work of KSU and its entire faculty, staff and students, extending expertise beyond the University for the benefit of society. Such activities have enormous breadth, extending across a spectrum from the exploitation of appropriate commercial opportunities stemming from or connected with research and teaching activities through to the development of an innovative and entrepreneurial culture and the wider sharing of expertise for social and cultural benefit. These activities will be derived directly from the excellence and expertise of the University’s research and teaching activities.

 

 

The predominant characteristics of this goal may include:

• Preparation of KSU's graduates to succeed as leaders, professionals, informed consumers, responsible citizens, and lifelong learners
• Recognizing the importance of engendering a culture of entrepreneurship among KSU's faculty, staff and students
• National leadership in demonstrating sharing and partnership characteristics by engaging the citizens as joint stakeholders in KSU’s future
• Demonstrated understanding of the needs of the nation, addressing those needs, and taking a leadership role in the Kingdom’s economic and social development
• Increasing the instances of faculty contributing to policy development through acting as expert advisors to, or by membership of steering groups of national and international bodies
• Demonstration of successful two-way partnerships and collaboration in responding to the needs of contemporary society in the nation, and in other nations seeking such partnerships
• Expanded outreach and extension by increased integration with discovery and innovation initiatives; and with student learning experiences
• Nationally competitive record of technology transfer consistent with the Kingdom's orientation toward science and technology
• Establishing strong relationships with industry and the private and public sectors with a view to increasing the volume and value of activities such as commercial contract research and development, knowledge and technology transfer, knowledge exploitation and the creation of spin-out and spin-in companies
• Systematic expansion of degree program offerings through distance education to meet the needs of place-bound citizens, including specialized programs meeting the needs of a growing workforce
• Promotion of human and intellectual diversity by providing equal access and opportunity to all citizens
• A balanced mix of knowledge-based and skill-based continuing education opportunities to serve the ongoing needs of workforce development
• A rich variety of life-long learning opportunities for alumni and other citizens of a learning, knowledge-based society
• Significant support of alumni and other partners in strategic initiatives
• Widespread use of information technology and resources, and application of advanced technology capabilities in expanded extension and outreach programs, in distance education, and in national and international programs involving collaboration and partnership
• Contributing to the welfare and advancement of human societies throughout the world
• Contributing to the cultural enrichment of the Kingdom, Gulf region, and the world.