There has been great advancement in scientific research at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) during the last four years, according to Dr. Khaled Al-Sultan, president of the university. Addressing a workshop assessing the current status and future direction of scientific research at KFUPM, organized recently by the university's Deanship of Scientific Research, Al-Sultan revealed that the university has witnessed remarkable achievements in scientific research. “The university (KFUPM) has made significant progress in scientific research over the last four years; the number of doctorate students has doubled, the expenditure for research has increased tenfold and the number of research proposals approved by King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) has surpassed other universities,” Al-Sultan said. He said achieving excellence in scientific research must go hand in hand with the university's objective of attaining excellence in education. He said researchers who have attained success should not be rewarded if they are not also excellent teachers. KFUPM has recently attracted distinguished faculty and researchers to collaborate on projects with such reputable universities and institutions as Stanford, MIT and the National University of Singapore. At present applied research available in the university's research institute is focused on its seven centers with their sections and laboratories. The university's International Advisory Board (IAB), which will convene its 7th annual meeting on Jan. 11 in Dhahran and Jeddah, has also called for an increase in scientific research and programs.
