4.2 OPERATIONS
A house of knowledge accessible to everyone
The
KAUST Library is one of the crown jewels of the academic campus . With an award-winning architecture , the library building constitutes a 24 / 7 academic home to thousands of physical and digital educational resources , accessible to everyone . The library staff provides various services and resources , and everyone can browse through research , data , dissertations , and reports within the Research Repository collection . The Library includes several science and technology journal subscriptions , targeting both academics and community members , giving an opportunity to everyone to learn something new everyday .
A school within a university
The KAUST School ( TKS ) provides world-class education for the children of KAUST , showcasing KAUST ’ s commitment not only to students , faculty and staff but also to their families . TKS uses the inquiry-based coeducational International Baccalaureate ( IB ) curriculum and is authorized to deliver three programs : Pre K-12 ; Primary Years ( PYP ), Middle Years ( MYP ) and Diploma ( DP ) which are fully accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools ( MSA ) and the Council of International Schools ( CIS ).
The School comprises three divisions : Kindergarten ( K1-K3 ), Elementary ( Grades 1-5 ) and Secondary ( Grades 6-12 ). Since 2021 , TKS has been moved under the Office of the Provost , placing school students in the same Academic Division as university students . To further strengthen the relationship between the university and the school , the new KAUST-TKS Engagement Office was established to create programs that allow TKS students to take unprecedented
advantage from the research and technology on KAUST campus . This sinergy also allows school students to be tutored , mentored , perform research projects and get engaged with world-class scientists and graduate students in a variety of STEM topics , making KAUST a unique educational environment for young learners .
4.3 ENGAGEMENT & OUTREACH
Creating transdisciplinary educational opportunities for everyone
Winter Enrichment Program ( WEP ) is an annual , twoweek mandatory program specially designed to inspire students and attendees to unleash their creativity . In place since 2011 , and open to community and external attendees , the themes differ from year to year and include both technical and artistic components . WEP allows everyone to experience science in a fun and engaging way , and for students to experience science fields and topics far from their own .
Even though WEP 2021 had its theme of “ Connectivity ” chosen before the pandemic , the topic couldn ’ t have been more pertinent . As the first virtual WEP , the program counted with a diverse program , from smart grids and wireless technologies , to sensory perception and epidemiology . WEP 2022 theme was “ Resilience ” and explored tipping points such as climate change , pandemics , resource shortages , and rapid population growth , and how humanity can adapt in the face of challenges . All WEP programs provide unique learning opportunities delivered by experts from all over the world .
Formula E and Extreme E founder Alejandro Agag at WEP 2022
A commitment to preserve and teach cultural heritage
The
Museum of Science and Technology of Islam ( MOSTI ) at KAUST is a celebration of all scientific contributions from Islam that laid the foundation for modern civilization . Inaugurated with the university in 2009 , the museum is intended to expose visitors such as the general public , school students , and KAUST ’ s modern-day researchers to the contributions Muslim scholars made to science and technology during the first Golden Age of Islam from the 650 to 1650 . The exhibits cover the three main academic departments at the University : Chemical Life Sciences and Engineering , Material Sciences and Engineering & Applied Mathematics and Computational Sciences . The museum was renovated in 2022 to create an updated immersive and interactive experience inclusive of touch screens , moving plasma screens , multi-touch tables , flipbooks , automated scale models and interactive videos , in order to tell the story of ancient science .
Exhibition at the KAUST Museum of Science and Technology of Islam
Raising champions in STEM
KAUST launched during 2022 an
intensive training forum for gifted students together with The King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity ( Mawhiba ). The forum aims to nurture gifted male and female students , and provide training programs that develop their skills , while also qualifying them to participate in international competitions . With a participation of 185 students , it is considered the largest training forum for international Olympiad students , including both theoretical
and practical training .
Before this forum , KAUST had already contributed to the participation of 16 students — and eight prize winners - at the 2022 edition of the International Science and Engineering Fair ( ISEF ), considered the largest scientific fair for competition in the field of scientific research for the pre-college level .
13 | KAUST SDG HIGHLIGHT REPORT