KAUST celebrated the graduation of 290 students from KAUST Academy’s Specialization Program this week. The program develops Saudi talent in five technical fields identified as national priorities: artificial intelligence, bioinformatics, cybersecurity, energy, and water sustainability.
Applications and selection
The program drew applicants from across the Kingdom. Around 23,995 people applied. Of those, 5,065 advanced to the placement exam, 2,473 enrolled in the preparatory stage, and 1,176 qualified for the advanced stage. 242 completed the final summer phase. Women made up roughly 63 percent of participants.
Structure
The program runs across four stages, combining remote learning with intensive in-person training and ending in an eight-week summer program. During the summer phase, students worked with academics, industry specialists, and researchers from inside the Kingdom and abroad.
The ceremony
The graduation drew KAUST leadership alongside representatives from government entities, Saudi universities, academic and strategic partners, and international scientific and research institutions.
Context
The Specialization Program is part of KAUST’s contribution to Saudi Arabia’s human capability development agenda. It connects Saudi talent to advanced science and technology and prepares participants for sectors where demand for skills is growing, including AI, cybersecurity, energy, water, and biotechnology.
The 290 graduates came from a pool of nearly 24,000 applicants. They now return to universities and workplaces across the Kingdom, in fields where national demand is rising.