2021 Spring Graduate Interviews
In fall 2021, KAUST welcomed forty-three recent KGSP graduates to the university to begin their journey as graduate students. These students successfully completed rigorous undergraduate programs at 23 universities in the US, such as Columbia University, Cornell University, Emory University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and University of Pennsylvania. They also earned invaluable enrichment opportunities participating in various industrial internships and pre-professional development programs while with the KGSP. Now KGSP Alumni, they are starting a new chapter with the knowledge to succeed and excel at KAUST. As they begin their master’s or doctoral studies, they represent 11 of KAUST’s 16 academic programs.
Below are interviews featuring two of the recent KGSP graduates who matriculated to KAUST in fall 2021. Amna Abdullah, a graduate from The George Washington University, majored in Biomedical Engineering, and she started the Program as a Foundation Year student in 2015. Hadi Homaidi, a graduate from the University of Delaware, majored in Chemical Engineering and joined the KGSP as an ESL student in 2014. These interviews, conducted by their KGSP Advisor Monica Matais in July, reveal personal anecdotes of their KGSP experience, highlight their academic and professional growth, fond memories, future goals at KAUST, and advice to their fellow KGSP peers.
The interviews below have been edited for brevity and clarity.
STUDENT PROFILE
KGSP students represent the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s future scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, and thought-leaders. As both individuals and as a community, they reflect the KAUST mission of driving scientific discovery through excellence in education and cutting-edge research, and share a commitment to fostering innovation, economic development, and social prosperity throughout the Kingdom and the world.
ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS
Selection to the KGSP is extremely competitive, and currently by invitation only. Successful applicants are Saudi Arabian students in their final year of high school who demonstrate impressive academic credentials within STEM fields, meaningful extra-curricular achievements, and who share the KAUST ethos of continuous discovery. Learn more here.
KGSP ADMINISTRATION
The KGSP is administered by the Office of Strategic National Advancement at KAUST, under the direction of Vice President & Senior Associate to the President, Dr. Najah Ashry. Strategic National Advancement directs the university's strategy to serve Saudi Arabia's transformational priorities: Through initiatives in young talent and Saudi workforce development, social responsibility, and national engagement, the Office contributes to a thriving innovation ecosystem by building knowledge capacity, creating opportunities, and strengthening impact.
—King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al Saud
1924 – 2015