المملكة: Including 203 Saudis.. KAUST celebrates a new batch of graduates

Today, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) held its 15th graduation ceremony, honoring 465 graduates, including 203 Saudis, which is a record number.
The achievement comes just one week after KAUST was named the best Arab university for the second year in a row by the Times Higher Education rankings.

KAUST Class of 2024

The KAUST Class of 2024 represented a milestone with a 13% increase in the total Saudi graduates and a 29% increase in the number of Saudi female graduates compared to last year, both the highest in the university’s history. This diverse class proudly represents 46 countries, highlighting the global appeal of KAUST and its comprehensive and distinguished academic community.

This year’s graduating class recorded unprecedented standards, with the number of Saudi graduates reaching an all-time high, including 108 Saudi female graduates, an increase of 29% compared to 2023.

Attracting and nurturing talent

The diversity of the graduates, who come from 46 countries, reflects KAUST’s global appeal and the university’s interest in attracting and nurturing talent from around the world.

In his speech during the ceremony, KAUST President Edward Byrne stressed the importance of the university’s pivotal role in promoting the Kingdom’s ambitious development goals and its mission to advance innovation and excellence on the global stage.
He said: “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has witnessed an unprecedented transformation since the founding of KAUST, and KAUST has developed with the Kingdom, and perhaps the most prominent example of this is our adoption of the (Accelerated Impact 2023) strategy, which has enabled us to assume a greater role in supporting research, development and innovation priorities, which will advance the country’s Towards the future.”

Investing in minds

In a speech, graduate Yousef Matar Al-Qaws, who holds a doctorate in mechanical engineering, expressed his happiness at having grown up in a country that cares about realizing the dreams of youth, in exchange for the unlimited support from the wise leadership for education and male and female students at all levels, pointing out that graduates are the product of the nation’s investment in minds and empowering them in specific specializations. Including the semiconductor industry and its innovations that will support the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

Among the graduating students, 188 male and female students obtained doctoral degrees (of whom 51 were Saudis), 253 male and female students obtained master’s degrees (of whom 128 were Saudis), and 24 male and female students obtained postgraduate diplomas (all Saudis).