King Abdulaziz University
{{Short description|Public university in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox university
| name = King Abdulaziz University (KAU)
| native_name = {{lang|ar|جامعة الملك عبد العزيز}}
| motto = {{lang|ar|اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ}}
"Read: in the Name of your Lord" (Quran 96:1)|
| latin_name =
| image_name = King Abdulaziz University logo.png
| image_size = 150px
| type = Public research university
| established = 1967
| endowment = US$1 billion
| administrative_staff = 4,000
| president = Tareef Yousuf Alaama
| students = 117,096 (55,576 male and 61,520 female students - academic session 2022/23){{cite web|url=https://www.moe.gov.sa/en/HigherEducation/governmenthighereducation/StateUniversities/Pages/KingAbdulazizUniversity.aspx |title=King AbdulAziz University |publisher=moe.gov.sa |date=2019-06-24 |access-date=2020-08-03}}
| city = Jeddah
| state = Makkah
| country = Saudi Arabia
| coordinates = {{Coord|21|29|38|N|39|15|1|E|display=inline,title|type:edu}}
| campus = Both urban and rural
| other_name = KAU
| website = {{URL|www.kau.edu.sa}}
}}
File:King-faisal sa faisal 318px 02.jpg played a significant role in King Abdulaziz University's success.]]
King Abdulaziz University (KAU) ({{langx|ar|جامعة الملك عبد العزيز}}) is a public research university in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Established in 1967 as a private university by a group of businessmen led by Muhammad Bakhashab and including author Hamza Bogary, it was named after the country's first monarch, King Abdulalziz ibn Saud.[http://waqf.kau.edu.sa/content.aspx?Site_ID=808&lng=EN&cid=3310&URL=www.kau.edu.sa King Abdulaziz University list of founders]. It was converted into a public university by King Faisal in 1974.
With over 117,096 students in 2022, it is the largest university in the country. Located in south Jeddah, the university is the center of teaching and research of the city, comprising 24 faculties, 15 of these are located on the campus and 9 are off-campus. The university also offers some courses that are unavailable at any other universities in Saudi Arabia, such as marine science, meteorology, and astronomy.
History
= Private university =
In the year 1964, the idea of establishing a private university in the city of Jeddah was originally put forward by Mohammed Ali Hafiz. In the same year, a preparatory committee of 6 members was formed, including Mohamed Ali Hafiz and Muhammad Abu Bakr Bakhashab. Shortly after, then-Crown Prince Faisal officially approved the idea. In 1965, the university's executive committee was formed. In 1966, the KAU held a competition to design their logo. The winning design was submitted by Abdul-Halim Radwi, a local artist from Jeddah.{{cite web|url=http://www.undergraduateawards.com/king-abdulaziz-university-signs-3-year-partnership-with-the-undergraduate-awards/|title=King Abdulaziz University signs 3-year partnership with The Undergraduate Awards|website=Undergraduateawards.com|date=13 March 2015|access-date=13 August 2018|archive-date=14 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180814002053/http://www.undergraduateawards.com/king-abdulaziz-university-signs-3-year-partnership-with-the-undergraduate-awards/|url-status=dead}}
In the year 1967, King Abdulaziz University was officially established as a private university, with goals to spread higher education in the western region of Saudi Arabia. Prior to this date, there were no higher-education institutions in Jeddah. These goals were met through efforts of high-ranking businessmen and notable Saudi figures; and additionally with the help of King Faisal's encouragement and financial support. The university started its first academic year in 1968, with a relatively small number of students (68 male - 30 female). In 1969, the first faculty was established (Faculty of Economics and Administration). In 1970, the Faculty of Arts and Humanities was established. The university was named after King Abdulaziz, founder of Saudi Arabia.
= Public university (1974-present) =
In 1974, the Council of Ministers of Saudi Arabia decided to merge the university with the government; converting it to a public university. {{as of|2017}}, it had almost 31,000 students, of which 28% are international.{{cite web|url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/king-abdulaziz-university|title=King Abdulaziz University|website=Timeshighereducation.com|access-date=13 August 2018}}
The building's construction was designed by Bangladeshi-American architect Fazlur Rahman Khan.{{cite magazine|last1=Kilpatrick|first1=Ryan|title=Google Doodle Honors Bangladeshi-American Engineer Fazlur Rahman Khan|url=http://time.com/4722439/fazlur-rahman-khan-google-doodle/|magazine=TIME|access-date=3 April 2017}}
In 2018, it was ranked the 1st Arab university by Times Higher Education due to very strong citation impact and highly international outlook.{{cite web|url=http://gulfbusiness.com/revealed-top-10-universities-arab-region/|title=Revealed: Top 10 universities in the Arab region|website=Gulfbusiness.com|date=21 March 2018|author=Aarti Nagraj|access-date=13 August 2018}} It also ranked no. 1 in percentage of total publications with international collaboration, according to US News rankings.{{cite web|url=https://www.usnews.com/education/best-global-universities/king-abdulaziz-university-501597|title=King Abdulaziz University|website=Usnews.com|access-date=13 August 2018}}
Research programs
Between 2004 and 2014, King Abdulaziz University enacted a program to attract the international community and has welcomed nearly 150 researches or various disciplines. The university has developed international research partners, including in Morocco where it has developed a joint lunar research program with the Astronomic Observatory of Oukaïmeden.{{cite web|url=https://lematin.ma/journal/2017/-laquo-avec-peu-de-moyens-et-beaucoup-de-volonte-nous-nous-sommes-arrimes-aux-meilleures-nations-raquo-/267828.html|title=Entretien avec le directeur de l'Observatoire astronomique de l'Oukaïmeden|website=Lematin.ma|date=26 February 2017|language=fr|access-date=13 August 2018}} The university has 13 different research centers, predominantly in the fields of medicine (medical genomes and osteoperosis), environment and energy, climate change, and desalination.{{cite web|url=https://cegmr.kau.edu.sa/Pages-Research-Staff.aspx|title=Research staff|website=Kau.edu.sa|access-date=13 August 2018}}
Founded in the 1970s by Sami Angawi, the research center on pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj Research Center) conducts a series of works around the religious event, notably on the aspects of logistics surrounding the pilgrimage.{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-hajj-stampede-saudi-arabia-20150924-story.html|title=Stampede near Mecca kills at least 717 pilgrims|website=Chicagotribune.com|date=24 September 2015|access-date=13 August 2018}}
Faculties
= Faculty of Engineering =
{{div col}}
- Electrical Engineering
- Computer Engineering
- Biomedical & Electrical Engineering
- Nuclear Engineering
- Aeronautical Engineering
- Chemical & Materials Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Electrical & Computer Engineering
- Industrial Engineering
- Mining Engineering
- Production Engineering and Mechanical Systems Design
- Thermal Engineering and Desalination Technology
{{div col end}}
These programs are accredited by ABET as Substantially Equivalent Programs since 2003.{{cite web |url=http://www.abet.org/subequi.shtml |title=ABET |access-date=2007-12-31 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071024133735/http://www.abet.org/subequi.shtml |archive-date=2007-10-24 }}
= Faculty of Economics and Administration =
The Faculty of Economics and Administration was the first college to be established in King Abdulaziz University, and until this day it is called "The Base of Founder's University," referring to the founder of the country.
- Department of Business Administration
- Department of Finance
- Department of Marketing
- Department of Human Resource Management
- Department of Accounting
- Department of Management Information Systems
- Department of Political Science
- Department of Health Administration
- Department of Public Administration
- Department of Economics
- Department of Law (defunct in 2012; separated into a new faculty)
In 2015, FEA received its fourth international accreditation, the AACSB making it one of the top business colleges in the middle east and across the world.
= Faculty of Law =
The Faculty of Law was established in 2012 as it segregated from Faculty of Economics and Administration.
- Public Law
- Private Law
= Other faculties =
- Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences
- Faculty of Medicine
- Faculty of Medicine at Rabigh
- Faculty of Arts and Humanities
- Faculty of Business
- Faculty of Education
- Faculty of Communication and Media
- Faculty of Computing and Information Technology
- Faculty of Design
- Faculty of Meteorology, Environment and Arid Land Agriculture
- Faculty of Nursing
- Faculty of Science
- Faculty of Pharmacy
- Faculty of Dentistry
- Faculty of Earth Sciences
- Faculty of Health Sciences
- Faculty of Environmental Designs
- Faculty of Home Economics
- Faculty of Marine Sciences
- Faculty of Tourism
- Faculty of Maritime Studies
- Faculty of Architecture and Planning
Ranking
{{Infobox university rankings
| ARWU_W = 151–200 |ARWU_W_year = 2023| ARWU_W_ref ={{cite web|url=https://www.shanghairanking.com/rankings/arwu/2023|title=Academic Ranking of World Universities 2023|website=shanghairanking.com|access-date=24 February 2023}}
| QS_W = =143 | QS_W_year = 2024| QS_W_ref = {{cite web|url=https://www.topuniversities.com/universities/king-abdulaziz-university-kau|title=QS World University Rankings: King Abdulaziz University|date=29 June 2023|website=Top Universities|access-date=29 June 2023}}
| THE_W = 251–300 |THE_W_year = 2024| THE_W_ref = {{cite web|url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/king-abdulaziz-university|title=King Abdulaziz University|date=28 September 2023|website=Times Higher Education (THE)|access-date=28 September 2023}}
| USNWR_W = =65 | USNWR_W_year = 2023 | USNWR_W_ref ={{cite web|url=https://www.usnews.com/education/best-global-universities/king-abdulaziz-university-501597|title=King Abdulaziz University|author=U.S. News|access-date=27 February 2024}}
| QS_Arab = 5 (2024) | QS_Arab_ref = {{cite web |title=QS Arab Region University Rankings 2024 |url=http://www.topuniversities.com/arab-region-university-rankings/2024 |access-date=18 October 2023}}
| USNWR_Arab =1 (2020)
| USNWR_Arab_ref =[https://www.usnews.com/education/arab-region-universities/rankings?int=9e2808 U.S. News Education: Best Arab Region Universities Rankings 2020]
}}
King Abdulaziz University is ranked between 101 and 150 since 2020 by Academic Ranking of World Universities.[http://www.shanghairanking.com/World-University-Rankings/King-Abdulaziz-University.html King Abdulaziz University] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170705142455/http://www.shanghairanking.com/World-University-Rankings/King-Abdulaziz-University.html |date=2017-07-05 }} - website Academic Ranking of World Universities Furthermore, according to U.S. News & World Report Best Global University Ranking, King Abdulaziz University is ranked 44 in 2022.[https://www.usnews.com/education/best-global-universities/rankings?page=8 U.S. News Education: Best Global Universities 2020] And according to QS World University Rankings, King Abdulaziz University is ranked at number 143 in 2021{{Cite web|url=https://www.topuniversities.com/universities/king-abdulaziz-university-kau|title=King Abdulaziz University (KAU)|date=2015-07-16|website=Top Universities|language=en|access-date=2019-06-20}} in the world's top universities ranking by the London-based Quacquarelli Symonds (QS).{{Cite web|url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/king-abdulaziz-university|title=King Abdulaziz University|date=2018-02-05|website=Times Higher Education (THE)|language=en|access-date=2019-01-29}}
KAU has faced criticism for allegedly paying highly cited researchers from around the world to cite KAU as a "secondary academic affiliation" in order to boost their rankings.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailycal.org/2014/12/05/citations-sale/|title=Citations for sale|date=2014-12-05|website=The Daily Californian|language=en|access-date=2019-09-01}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2014/07/17/new-study-raises-questions-about-global-rankings-citations|title=Manipulating Citation Rankings|date=2014-07-17|website=Inside Higher Ed|language=en|access-date=2019-09-01}}{{Cite journal|url=https://journalofcontroversialideas.org/article/2/1/184|title=Saudi Universities Rapid Escalation in Academic Ranking Systems: Implications and Challenges|journal=Journal of Controversial Ideas|year=2022 |doi=10.35995/jci02010008 |language=en|access-date=2022-09-01|last1=Alhuthali |first1=Sakhr |last2=Sayed |first2=Anwar A. |volume=2 |page=1 |s2cid=248455850 |doi-access=free |hdl=10044/1/97083 |hdl-access=free }} It also faced criticism for its high ranking by Times of Higher Education.{{cite news |last1=Gornall |first1=Jonathan |title=University rankings are mostly meaningless |url=https://asiatimes.com/2020/03/university-rankings-are-mostly-meaningless/ |work=Asia Times |date=15 March 2020}}
Notable alumni
{{alumni|date=November 2018}}
- Magda Abu Ras, microbiologist and Deputy Director of the Saudi Environmental Society
- Nahed Taher, founder and chief executive officer of Gulf One Investment Bank
- Adel Fakeih, engineer and former mayor of Jeddah
- Muna AbuSulayman, Saudi businesswoman
- Tariq Alhomayed, journalist and former Editor-in-Chief of the Arabic-language newspaper Asharq Alawsat, the youngest person to be appointed that position
- Samar Alsaggaf, first female Saudi anatomist
- Tasneem Alsultan, Saudi-American photographer and artist, covering stories primarily for The New York Times and National Geographic
- Yahya Al-Hamud, Saudi politician and Governor of Bareq
- Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz, Saudi businessman and philanthropist
- Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, Saudi Minister of Transport
- Abdallah Bin Bayyah, Muslim scholar, teaches in the university; Bin Bayyah holds a Mauritanian citizenship
- Amr Dabbagh, Saudi economist and businessman. Member of World Economic Forum and founder of Jeddah Economic Forum
- Shalimar Sharbatly, Saudi abstract artist
- Said Aqil Siradj, leader of Nahdlatul Ulama, world's largest Islamic organization in Indonesia
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{commons category-inline}}
- {{official website|http://www.kau.edu.sa }}
- [http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings/2012-13/world-ranking/institution/king-abdulaziz-university KAU ranking] from Times Higher Education World University Rankings.
- [http://gcoe.kau.edu.sa/Default.aspx?Site_ID=364&Lng=EN Faculty of Design and Arts]
{{Port-City University League}}
{{Jeddah}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:King Abdulaziz University}}
Category:1967 establishments in Saudi Arabia
Category:Educational institutions established in 1967