2024 Spring Site Visits
5/17/2024
This spring, KGSP student Advisors conducted site visits at campuses across the country. Site visits offer an opportunity for Advisors and students to interact in-person and discuss students’ academic progress and their overall well-being on-campus at their home universities. These in-person meetings also provide a great opportunity for students to connect with their fellow KGSP peers through fun group activities.
Image 1: KGSP Foundation Year Advisor Huziafa Potia at Iftar with students from North Carolina State University.
During their visits, advisors reviewed summer enrichment opportunities and the KGSP expectations with their students. All KGSP students are required to participate in at least one enrichment activity over summer break. These activities, which range from industrial internships to research fellowships, aim to advance students’ knowledge and skillsets in their respective academic fields, and to expose them to new topics as they grow their career and academic networks. The Advising and Enrichment teams support students in identifying and choosing enrichment opportunities that align with their interests, help them achieve their goals, and enhance their academic journeys.
Image 2: KGSP students at the University of California, San Diego during a dinner hosted by undergraduate advisor Rawan Shattah.
Site visits also foster community building within the KGSP community. During the month of Ramadan, KGSP Foundation Year (FY) Advisor Huzaifa Potia hosted an Iftar dinner for his students at North Carolina State University, where students wore university apparel in support of the NC State Wolfpack basketball teams. Abdullah Alshubrumi, an FY student at NC State, said in-person visits with his advisor offered a welcomed break in his routine and an opportunity to get together with other KGSP students. “Having Ramadan Iftar with Mr. Huzaifa and the whole group was the best thing that happened during the visit and the most interesting thing that happened in the spring semester,” Abdullah said. In California, Undergraduate Advisor Rawan Shattah visited students at the University of California, San Diego, where she also hosted an Iftar with her students. KGSP students at New York University met with their Advisor Sameera Sheikh for a night of burgers and video games. In Austin, Texas, FY Advisor Susanna Renfrow celebrated five April birthdays with her students at the University of Texas at Austin. And students at the University of California, Berkeley were treated to a group dinner by Undergraduate Advisor Leah Jeedas.
Advisors play a vital role in the KGSP as they actively promote students’ educational and professional growth. Through understanding student interests and engaging with them on campus, KGSP Advisors help foster a stronger community. The KGSP is proud to offer a crucial source of support to the student community through the availability of Advisors.
![scholarship-icon scholarship-icon](/images/default-source/icons/scholarship-icon.tmb-thumb80.png?sfvrsn=2a0c0ea1_1)
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.
![Application-icon Application-icon](/images/default-source/icons/application-icon.tmb-thumb80.png?sfvrsn=b852dd58_1)
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.
![about-icon about-icon](/images/default-source/icons/about-icon.tmb-thumb80.png?sfvrsn=876b9396_1)
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.
![about-kaust-v2 about-kaust-v2](/images/default-source/my-images/quote.jpg?sfvrsn=293fa50d_0)
—King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al Saud
1924 – 2015
![Home page 1 Home page 1](/images/default-source/my-images/home-page-1.jpg?sfvrsn=482ba7a_0)