OBG talks to Khalid Al Sultan, Rector, King Fahd University for Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM)

Interview: Khalid Al Sultan

What is the private sector’s role in research?

KHALID AL SULTAN: The private sector is increasingly realising the benefits of greater investment in research and development. The Eastern Province, in particular, is strong in this regard, due to the strength of the educational institutions and geographical advantages.

For companies to gain the most value from this type of collaboration, it is important to form medium- and long-term strategic alliances with research centres. Previous efforts in the Kingdom have faltered when organisations have sponsored sporadic research without building true capacity in human resources, equipment or technology. It has been found that changing topics after just two years – even among related subjects – will not develop sufficient capacity. A research timeframe of three to five years results in a more sustainable development of capacity. A good example of this long-term perspective can be seen in research centres developed by the Ministry of Higher Education, such as the Centre for Petrochemicals, the Centre for Renewable Energy and the KFUPM Centre of Research Excellence in Corrosion and the Centre on Marine Research, which has been sponsored by Saudi Aramco.

How would you describe the collaboration among local universities with foreign institutions?

AL SULTAN: There are two sides to this cooperation: the coordination among departments and colleges of different universities; and the collaboration among students of different universities. Regarding faculty connections, the focus is not merely knowledge transfer from one university’s faculty to another. Rather, the focus is more centred on joint research. One outcome has been the enrichment of Saudi universities’ curricula. For example, KFUPM’s collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Georgia Tech has helped shape our engineering coursework.

Second, student exchanges with overseas universities has brought exposure to different cultures and types of education – not only for those students who went abroad, but also for all local students who interact with these study-abroad students upon their return. These exchanges are of particular benefit to regional universities with a less international student body.

What can the university system do to better prepare students for the workforce and to what extent is practical training necessary?

AL SULTAN: Universities must align their curricula with the demands of the marketplace. But it is also important to emphasise the value of tangible skills in addition to acquiring knowledge. Formal training should be a necessary addition to any classroom. That being said, employers must also invest in training and developing this talent, as it is unrealistic to expect a fully trained graduate from Saudi Arabia or any country in the world.

Enhanced practical training in universities takes on greater significance when one considers the competition coming from overseas. Foreign workers’ salaries are much lower than those of Saudis. Improving the skills of our students is key to furthering hiring from within the Saudi population. At KFUPM, we focus on the undergraduate experience, which includes knowledge, skills, values and attitudes developed in classes and through several enrichment programs.

Which of the challenges that Saudi universities will face over the coming years are the most strenuous?

AL SULTAN: Globally, there is a lack of quality professors. The recruitment, development and retention of quality staff is a challenge for universities in Saudi Arabia, just as it is an obstacle for universities in the US and Europe. Key to overcoming this hurdle is continuously reviewing remuneration packages and enhancing the working environment. As we continue to improve recruitment, development and retention of quality faculty in our schools, we will look to increasing the number of Saudi professors, while at the same time recognising that there will always be benefits to having international academics on the faculty as well.