KAUST cases
Two new cases of COVID-19 have been identified at KAUST, bringing the total number of cases of COVID-19 to 31. One of the new cases was identified and tested in quarantine and the other was found through the new gate testing program. Contact tracing has been completed and all affected parties are currently in quarantine.
We are keeping in touch with all of our active cases and monitoring their progress. We wish each of these community members well.
Remote working
As we continue to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact it has on both our employees and working arrangements, we also continue to make updates to our existing emergency management procedures. We have recently made some changes to our remote working procedure to support our return to work phased approach while maintaining a safe workplace environment.
We strongly believe that a cornerstone of KAUST is that we work together on campus and that this collaborative campus is part of the University’s unique spirit. Therefore, we wish to provide a clear timeline for return to campus for those working remotely over recent months.
Please note that these changes will apply to all employees (including postdoctoral fellows).
Out of Kingdom (OOK) remote working
Effective August 22, 2020, all OOK remote working arrangements will cease and all employees will be expected to return back to work at KAUST, provided that there are no government travel restrictions in the country they are residing in.
All OOK employees (including employees holding expired iqamas and/or exit/re-entry visas) are expected to register on KAUST chartered flights during the month of August, which will be announced later today, or take commercial flights if permitted at that time. Returning employees should check with their line manager about their working arrangements once back on-campus.
Employees requiring more time OOK after August 22 must use their annual leave. If annual leave is not sufficient for the duration of stay OOK, employees will be placed on unpaid leave and will need to coordinate with their line manager. The annual leave policy remains unchanged with 10 days carryover permitted.
In-Kingdom (IK) remote working
IK remote working (either from KAUST or any other location in KSA) remains an option for now and for VPs and Deans to approve for their employees. The flexibility for employees living on-campus or commuting from Jeddah to physically return to work and the availability of domestic flights for employees residing in other cities in KSA to return to KAUST on short notice is a key factor in allowing IK remote working compared to OOK remote working.
This is essential in order to balance the physical density at the workplace and reinforce our plans to Keep KAUST Safe.
Working arrangements
All employees should coordinate with their line manager on their working arrangements. In order to keep KAUST safe, employees may have a combination of working arrangements confirmed by the VPs and Deans. These arrangements may include:
- Working in shifts; and/or
- Working different days; and/or
- Working remotely from home (either in KAUST or in a different location in KSA)
We look forward to welcoming you back over the coming weeks. For questions about remote working, employees are encouraged to speak with their line manager in the first instance. Employees may also email HRHelpdesk@kaust.edu.sa.
Please visit the Health, Safety and Environment website where all details on the return to work plan and Keeping KAUST Safe Guidelines can be found.
Once again, we’d like to thank you for your cooperation and ongoing adherence to directives. These have been designed to keep you safe and to help manage the crisis.
KAUST COVID-19 Crisis Center (KC3)
Community resources
Staying informed
- Stay informed about COVID-19 and the University’s directives here
- Contact the COVID-19 Operations Hub or call 012 808 0950 Sunday to Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- For other matters please call:
- 054 470 0804 — for Emotional Support Helpline
- 012 808 0959 — for Facilities Management
- 012 808 2055 — for Human Resources
- 054 470 1111 — for Government Affairs
- Review changes to operating hours for facilities, services and programs
