The Inaugural KGSP Alumni Summit

Last month, KAUST hosted nearly 150 KGSP alumni from across the globe for the inaugural KGSP Alumni Summit, a three-day event celebrating the Kingdom’s most talented scholars and the enduring impact of the KGSP community.

The Summit spotlighted alumni contributions to national projects, energy and industry, and cutting-edge research. From founding startups to driving innovation in NEOM and Saudi Aramco, KGSP alumni are shaping the Kingdom’s future across sectors. Moreover, it served as a “welcome home” to the KAUST campus, bringing together alumni from different generations, cohorts, and fields of study, united by a shared vision and commitment to progress.

The event agenda featured a keynote address by Safa Al-Rashed, Deputy Minister for Future Jobs and Capabilities, who emphasized the critical role KGSP alumni play in shaping the workforce of tomorrow. There were dynamic panels on entrepreneurship, sustainability, health innovation, and artificial intelligence, as well as networking workshops and professional development sessions. Alumni also received updates from the KGSP Alumni Council and celebrated the first-ever Distinguished Alumni Award, which was awarded to Dr. Eman Alhajji in recognition of her role in expanding opportunities for youth in the field of sustainability.

Panel sessions moderated by KAUST leadership and outstanding alumni speakers set the tone for discussions on innovation, sustainability, and national development. Faculty members from KAUST also played a central role in the panels, sharing insights from their research and collaborations. Dr. Sami Alghamdi, Associate Professor of Environmental Science and Engineering, spoke on national projects and the importance of sustainable development. Dr. Husam Alshareef, Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, contributed to the energy and industry panel, highlighting advances in materials for renewable energy technologies. Dr. Bernard Ghanem, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, brought expertise on artificial intelligence and its applications, underscoring the role of cutting-edge technology in shaping future industries.

For many, the summit was deeply personal. “KGSP is a badge and an honor that I carry with me,” said Mariam Awlia, a member of the first cohort. “We believed this could create a big ripple not only in our lives but for generations to come.” Others reflected on the program’s transformative impact. Ahmed Aljohani, an alumnus of KGSP Cohort 9 and current Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University, shared, “I owe a lot to this community, and seeing it thrive is one of my personal goals. My impact right now is shining a lens on desert ecosystems and restoring such vast environments.” He added, “The experience has been life-changing because it opened my eyes to so many opportunities, and KGSP helped me reach those opportunities.”

The diversity of alumni achievements was a recurring theme. “We have people in government, the private sector, and entrepreneurs,” noted Cohort 10 alumna and KAUST Statistics PhD student, Farah Gomawi. “I feel like this is just going to continue growing.” For Ahmed Alsaggaf, a Cohort 8 alumnus and KAUST Marine Science PhD student, the summit reinforced the importance of long-term support: “What I hope for the future of KGSP is that it will continue supporting its alumni. That will bring amazing results for Saudi’s Vision 2030 and the Kingdom in general.” He added, “It’s amazing to see these people and reconnect because these people are my second family.”