DHAHRAN — Students of King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) bagged 31 percent of awards at engineering and basic science competitions held on the sidelines of the 4th scientific conference for higher education students hosted by the Makkah-based Umm Al-Qura University recently. KFUPM won 15 awards in the competition axis, in addition to 13 awards in the accompanying activities axis, including elocution, entrepreneurship, documentary films, community service projects and art competitions, such as caricature, digital art and photo imaging. The competitions of engineering and basic sciences included “posters” and “presentations” competitions. The winners were announced at the closing ceremony of the conference, which was held by the Ministry of Higher Education in Makkah. Deputy Minister of Higher Education Dr. Ahmed Bin Mohammad Al-Saif delivered a speech at the closing ceremony. Al-Saif said, “The event is a comprehensive scientific demonstration combining the higher education students from all disciplines and scientific specialties in the government and private universities of the Kingdom.” He pointed out that the event started three years ago, when Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah decided it should be organized annually as a major gathering for students of higher education to test their skills at scientific competitions. The event also meant to promote the culture of innovation and plant confidence in male and female students to carry out their responsibilities toward the community. Al-Saif said, “Plans and strategies of higher education will be conceived according to our perception and hopes.” He said the 5th conference will be held in Riyadh, the 6th in Jeddah, the 7th in Jazan, the 8th in Madinah, the 9th in Al-Khobar and the 10th in Abha. Deputy Minister for Planning and Information and Chairman of the Conference Organizing Committee Dr. Abdulkader Bin Abdullah Al-Fantokh indicated in his speech that the Ministry of Higher Education intends to award researchers and creators winning the 2nd place, international scholarships for studying English language for one full year, and it will support and assist them to publish their researches in global scientific journals. The ministry also will give its consultancy, legal and financial support to the first three winners to visit some of the global high technical centers, such as the Silicon Valley, in addition to offering them an opportunity to go on developmental trips, including training courses and visiting prestigious universities and advanced research centers in the related fields. Additionally, the ministry will organize entrepreneurship meetings combining the winners with major investors to present their ideas and suggestions. Al-Fantokh said, “The minister of higher education approved giving the winners of the competitions of documentary films and visual arts support to participate in film festivals around the world and to enroll in advanced courses in those fields. The ministry will showcase the work of the winners in a special hall at one of its buildings.”
