King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
| Seal of KFUPM | |
| Motto | وقل ربي زدني علما Say my Lord Increase me in Knowledge (English) |
|---|---|
| Type | Public |
| Established | 1963 |
| Budget | $165,758,133 |
| Rector | Khaled S. Al-Sultan |
Academic staff | 800+ |
| Undergraduates | 10,000+ |
| Postgraduates | 500+ |
| Location | , , |
| Campus | Enclosed |
| Website | www.kfupm.edu.sa |
King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM or UPM) (Arabic:جامعة الملك فهد للبترول و المعادن - short:(جامعة البترول) is a public university in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia (26°18′35″N 50°08′38″E / 26.30972°N 50.14389°E). It was established on 23 September, 1963 by a Saudi Royal Decree as the "College of Petroleum and Minerals," providing high-level education about two of the most valuable natural resources in Saudi Arabia. It was given the university status in 1975.
General information
Unlike the nearby King Faisal University, the University is a male only university. Its acceptance rate is only 15%, making it the toughest to get into in Saudi Arabia. Among Saudi universities, KFUPM is highest regarded for its excellence in the science & engineering programs. The university offers some programs that are not offered anywhere else in Saudi Arabia.
Campus
Location
King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals is located in Dhahran, in between the HQs of the Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Saudi Aramco; and the Dhahran Air Base. The campus is near Persian Gulf at a distance of 7 KM from Al-Khobar city. The port city of Dammam, is only 20 KM away. The oil-producing town of Abqaiq is located 70 KM west, and the ancient oasis of Al-Hasa is about 130 KM south of campus. The island of Bahrain is 35 KM from the Saudi coastline.
The "Jebel" Hill
The academic buildings are located on a 100-foot "Jebel" (Arabic for hill). The Academic Complex of the Jebel dominates the surrounding countryside. Fortune Magazine called it "A jebel of a university on Arabian sands". A Water Tower located between academic buildings became the symbol of the University. It can be seen from several KMs away. The are about 30 academic buildings.
The Academic Complex consists of 31 major buildings, all of them completed and in use. The facilities available include: faculty/staff offices; shops and laboratory buildings, which include the Heavy Equipment Laboratory building and the Energy Research Laboratory building; the Information Technology Center; classrooms; the Administration Building; Library; the Faculty/Student Center, which includes the Faculty Dining Hall, the Post Office, and the Stationery Shop; Auditorium, which seats 850 people and is equipped for simultaneous translation in three languages; Gymnasium; a Mosque; the Research Institute; the Stadium, which seats 10,000 people; the Medical Center; the Conference Center; and multi-story parking garages. The facilities also include a natural exterior amphitheater, playing fields and indoor courts for intercollegiate and intramural sports, and the distinctive KFUPM water tower with circulatory water systems.
Information Technology Center (ITC)
The ITC consists of the following departments:
- Academic Information Systems (ACIS): is responsible for all applications related to student information.
- Administrative Information Systems (ADIS): maintains the University’s administrative applications such as payroll, personnel, financial accounting systems, material management, etc.
- Computing Services Department (CSS): serves the faculty, students, staff and the Research Institute with extensive IT consulting services and help desk support.
- Networking (NETS): is a service department for all the networking infrastructure, management
and security in the University.
- Systems Operations and Support (SOS): provides systems and operational support to different operating system platforms; Server administration of course management systems is also handled by SOS.
Wireless Service: The Wireless Connectivity (WiFi) Service is deployed within the university campus. This KFUPM Wireless LAN service is now available in all Academic and Administrative buildings.
Smart Card Service [1]
This Smart Card is an all-in-one card and is designed to make life easier for students, faculty and staff inside KFUPM campus. This single card can be used for a whole range of campus services and access control. You can use the card for:
- Identification
- Building access control (Parkings, Classrooms, Offices, etc.)
- Fingerprint access control for secure areas
There are other services that can be included and are kept as future extensions.
Academics
KFUPM is the highest ranked university in Saudi Arabia, with the number of about 9,000 full-time undergraduate and 2,600 full-time graduate students.
Accreditation
All programs of the engineering colleges were evaluated for “Substantial Equivalency” recognition by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) in April 2001. They were found substantially equivalent to similar accredited programs in the United States. The new trends in accreditation criteria have brought outcome assessment to focus. Accrediting agencies such the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (ACCSB), the Computer Science Accreditation Board (CSAB) and the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) require programs or colleges seeking accreditation to have self-assessment. Industry push and competitive job markets have also contributed to the need for continuous program quality improvement that focus on student learning and preparation for professional practice after graduation.
Preparatory Orientation Year Program
Preparatory Orientation (1st) year is mandatory to all students before being truly enroll in the university, i.e. begin freshman year. In the Prep year, only Mathematics, intensive English, Introductory Physical Sciences, Computer Skills and workshop courses are given. Those who pass prep year, or are exempted from it, become full students. A student must select a major by the end of the orientation year. The GPA of that year does, to some extent, affect the choices he may have, for example, the engineering, science and MIS programs have high (above 2.0) prep year GPA requirement, whereas other majors are open to those who have somewhat lower GPA's, specially in the mathematical courses.
Colleges
KFUPM has five main colleges:
1) College of Engineering Sciences Website
- Department of Aerospace Engineering [2]: B.Sc., M.Sc.
- Department of Chemical Engineering [3]: B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.
- Department of Civil Engineering [4]: B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.
- Department of Electrical Engineering [5]: B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.
- Telecommunication : M.Sc.
- Department of Mechanical Engineering [6]: B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.
- Department of Petroleum Engineering [7] : B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.
2) College of Computer Science & Engineering Website
- Department of Computer Engineering [8]:
- Computer Engineering: B.Sc., M.Sc.
- Computer Networks: M.Sc.
- Joint Ph.D. in Computer Science & Engineering
- Department of Information & Computer Science [9]:
- Computer Science: B.Sc., M.Sc.
- Software Engineering: B.Sc.
- Joint Ph.D. in Computer Science & Engineering
- Department of Systems Engineering [10] :
- Industrial & Systems Engineering: B.Sc.
- Control & Instrumentation Systems Engineering: B.Sc.
- M.Sc., Ph.D. in Systems Engineering
3) College of Sciences Website
- Department of Chemistry [11]:
- Chemistry : B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.
- Industrial Chemistry : B.Sc.
- Earth Sciences Department [12]:
- Geology: B.Sc., M.Sc.
- Geophysics: B.Sc.
- Environmental Sciences : M.Sc.
- Islamic & Arabic Studies Department [13]:
offers Social, Islamic & Arabic courses
- Department of Mathematical Sciences [14]:
- Mathematics: B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.
- Statistics: B.Sc.
- Department of Physics [15]:
- Physics: B.Sc., M.Sc.
- Medical Physics: M.Sc.
4) College of Industrial Management Website
- Department of Accounting & Management Information Systems:
- Accounting: B.Sc., M.Acc.
- Management Information Systems: B.Sc.
- Department of Finance & Economics:
- Finance: B.Sc.
- Department of Management & Marketing:
- Marketing: B.Sc.
- Management: B.Sc.
- Business Administration: M.B.A., Executive M.B.A. [16]
5) College of Environmental Design Website
- Department of Architecture [17]: B.Sc.
- Department of Architectural Engineering [18]: B.Sc.
- Department of City & Regional Planning [19]: M.Sc.
- Department of Construction, Engineering & Management [20]: M.Sc.
Additionally, there are three more community colleges:
Recently Damman community college was inaugurated by King Abdullah.
Other Academic Departments
- Continuing Education Department [24]
The Department of Continuing Education Programs offers shortcourses. These courses are designed for engineers, managers, and practitioners who are interested in pursuing further studies in their fields of specialization. The courses are open to all applicants who have the desire and the background to participate.
- English Language Center:
- Orientation English Program
- University English Program [25]
- Physical Education Program [26]
- University Diploma Programs: [27] offers Associate Degrees in: Accounting, Computer Applications & Marketing.
Dhahran Techno-Valley
Dhahran Techno-Valley is destined to gather national and international research centers in one location. It is expected that outstanding services plus recreational activities will add to the vibrancy and networking amongst tenants in the Valley Community. Academia support from KFUPM is a commitment that can be counted upon. Other leading technological and scientific institutions in the area will also be fully utilized.
King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Science Park
KASP was established in 2002. Located on a 35-hectares site in the north of KFUPM campus, the park is closely integrated with the university. The location with its proximity to science and engineering colleges provides for considerable interaction between tenant firms, their personnel and university scientists and engineers. At present, there are few companies that joined the park. These are Schlumberger, Ciba, Yokogawa and JCCP presently share research interests with the university and are located in its Research Institute.
Research
The Research Institute (RI)
Website
Research at the university can be classified into personal, sponsored, and client-funded. The mission of the RI is to serve the nation by conducting client-driven research and development utilizing university resources. Among its objectives are: serve the nation as a professional problem solver; adapt imported technologies to the Saudi environment; serve the needs of government organizations, local industry, and businesses for research and development; develop local expertise; support graduate and undergraduate programs at KFUPM, and contribute to the high quality education and training of students.
The technical expertise for applied research available in the RI is focused in its seven centers with their sections/labs.
• Center for Applied Physical Sciences: The Metrology & Standards Section and the Central Analytical Laboratory.
• Center for Communications & Computer Research: Computer Technology, and Communications Technology Sections.
• Center for Economics & Management Systems: Business Incubators, Economic Studies, and Management & Quality Control Sections.
• Center for Engineering Research: Materials, Urban Areas Engineering, Engineering Analysis, Energy Systems Sections, and Material Characterization Laboratory.
• Center for Environment & Water: Water, Environment, and Marine Studies Sections.
• Center for Petroleum & Minerals: Petroleum & Gas Engineering, Petroleum Geology & Geophysics, Minerals Resources, and Remote Sensing Sections.
• Center for Refining & Petrochemicals:Refining, Petrochemicals, and Petrochemical Products Development Sections.
The man power of the RI as of 01 January 2005 are 258 full-time employees, of with 53 held PhD degrees, 64 held MS degrees, 50 held BS degrees, and 91 held other credentials. Project teams are typically formed of 35% full time RI researchers, 25% faculty members, 10% students, and 30% support staff.
Library
It is centrally located in Building 8, within a short walking distance from most classrooms and laboratories. It has an available floor space of nearly 7000 square meters. It is an "open stack" library, allowing users free access to its resources. Reading areas are provided on the first, third, and fourth floors. To encourage maximum utilization, the University Library operates with a minimum of regulations and restrictions. The current collection of books and bound periodicals totals over 328,000 volumes, 32% in Science, 21% in Engineering, 24% in Humanities, and 23% in Social Sciences. The Library has over 23,000 volumes in Arabic and over 300,000 volumes in English, and also subscribes to approximately 1,500 periodical titles. In addition, there are some 490,000 research reports on microfiche and 63,000 documents in other media, including more than 25,000 educational films and 38,000 reels of journal back issues on microfilm. Audiovisual materials are provided through a well-equipped AV department with a collection consisting principally of motion pictures, filmstrips, videotapes, and audiocassettes. These AV materials can be used in the Library Auditorium which is also used for seminars, lectures, short courses, theses defense, and other presentations
Campus Life
The University Cafeteria
A large spacious building is situated adjacent to the Student Dormitories. It can accommodate more than 1500 students at a time. Students are provided with subsidized meals, comprising of breakfast, lunch and dinner. Apart from the Student Cafeteria, there are a number of Coffee Shops,located in different academic buildings and student dormitories, offering varied refreshments.
Sports and Recreation Facilities
Sports and Recreation Facilities are in three large areas ideally situated on the main campus.
1) The Stadium: The University’s major sports facility is the Stadium, located near the main entrance to the University. It is designed to seat 10,000 spectators. The Stadium is open and has facilities for VIP seating, press box, and TV booths. The playing area is a “super turf” artificial grass field.
2) The mid-campus areas: this area include a 25 meter indoor swimming pool, student shower and changing facilities, 3 soccer pitches (one with an artificial grass “super turf” surface), 5 handball/six-a-side courts, 5 tennis courts, athletic track, 4 basketball/volleyball courts, 4 squash courts, a weight training room, 2 rooms equipped with television and video facilities to aid the teaching and coaching of all sports.
3) Sports Hall area located on the "Jebel" contains the latest in modern indoor physical education facilities. Included are areas for basketball, volleyball, gymnastics handball, squash, table tennis, judo, tae kwon do, karate, weight training, and many other sports activities. Shower and changing rooms plus seating areas for spectators are also provided. Adjacent to the gymnasium is Olympic-size swimming and diving pool with its own shower and changing rooms.
Student Housing
The University has provided a separate area for the Student Housing on campus consisting of buildings which accommodate about 2000 students. This is in addition to the already existing 67 barracks which accommodate about 2,200 students thus bringing the total of students residing on campus to 4,200. Presently the construction of Phase-I housing buildings is finished and now accommodate 1500 students. In addition Phase-II of students housing is under construction which will also accommodate about 1500 students.
Students Clubs
- Aerospace Engineering Club
- Civil Engineering Club
- College of Industrial Management Club
- Chemical Engineering Club
- Cultural Club
- Electrical Engineering Club
- Environmental Design Club
- IEEE KFUPM student branch
- Public Relations Club
- Jawala Club (Scouts)
- Petroleum Engineering Club
- Science Club
- Social Club
- Systems Engineering & Computer Club
- Theater Club
- Mechanical Engineering Club
- ISA KFUPM Student Branch
Facts about KFUPM
- The current Rector of KFUPM is Dr. Khaled S. Al-Sultan.
- The main language of instruction in KFUPM is English. However, a few, including courses discussing Islam and the Arabic language are usually taught in Arabic.
- The grading system is the standard 0 to 4.0.
- KFUPM, like many other Saudi universities, sponsors its graduates who showed academic excellence to continue their postgraduate studies out of Saudi Arabia.
Previous Rectors of KFUPM
- H.E. Sheikh Ahmed Zaki Yamani
- H.E. Dr. Saleh Ambah
- H.E. Dr. Baker Bin Baker
- H.E. Dr. Abdulaziz Al Dukhayel
Tuition
Like all Saudi public universities, there is no tuition fees and all students who maintain a good standing status (GPA > 1.75/4.0) receive 990 Saudi Riyals (264 US Dollars) as a monthly allowance. Housing is available in shared rooms of two students for about 1200 Saudi Riyals a semester for every student.
Notable alumni
- Turki Faisal Al Rasheed: Chairman, Golden Grass, Inc. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and President
TFIC Enterprises, Director/Founder, Saudi Voters Center.
- Ghazi Mashal Ajil al-Yawer: President under the Iraqi Interim Government and current Vice President of Iraq.
King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM) College of Industrial Management (CIM)
CIM Alumni: Source of Pride
CIM prominent alumni are too many to name in this space. They are represented by the following:
Name & Degree
H.R.H. prince Abdulaziz bin Majed bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud-BS Government of Al Madinah Al Munawarah Province
H.R.H. Prince Abdulaziz Bin Salam Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud-BS Assistant Minister of Petroleum- Ministry of Petroleum Mineral Resources.
Mr. Abdallah Aldulrahman Al Bassam-BS Chief Executive Officer, Integrated Business Solutions (IBS)
Mr. Abdulaziz Aldullah Al-Duailej-BS President & Chief Executive Officer, Adwan Chemical Ind. Co.
Mr. Abdulla Mohammed Al-Zamil-MBA Chief Operating Officer, Zamil Industrial Investment Co.
Mr. Abdullah S. Al-Rubaian-EMBA Executive President, ARASCO Co.
Mr. Abdul-Munem Rashed Abdul-Rahman Al-Rashed-BS Chief Executive Officer – Al-Jazira Bank
Mr. Abdulrahman Khalid Al-Dabal-MBA President & Chief Executive Officer, Gas Arabian Services
Mr. Adel Abdul-aziz Al-Suhaimi-BS & MBA King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM)
Mr. Ali M. Al-Seflan-MBA Senior Vice President (Former), Industrial Relations & Affairs Saudi Aramco
Mr. Aryedh Farhan Al-Gahtani-BS President Al Oula Co.
H.R.H. Prince Faisal Bin Turki Abdul Aziz Al Saud -BS Advisor, Minstry of Petroleum & Mineral Resources
Dr. Khaled Ahmad Bu-Bushait-MBA Member, Shoura Council
Mr. Khaled Ibrahim Abubshiat - EMBA General Manager, Government Affairs, Saudi Aramco
Mr. Khaled Muhammad Al-Bawardi-BS Executive President, Al_Bawardi Group
Mr. Khalid Al-Faleh-MBA Senior Vice President, Industrial Relations, Saudi Aramco
Mr. Majed yousef Al-Mugla-MBA General Manager, Northern Area Projects Mgmt-Saudi Aramco
Mr. Mohammed Abdulaziz Al-Juraifani-BS & MBA Vice President, Contracting Sector, Saudi Electric Co.
Mr. Mohammed Hamzah Hussain Al-Faer Al-Sharif-BS & MBA General Secretary, Jeddah Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Dr. Mohammed Ihsan Ali Bu-Hulaiga-BS & MBA Member, Shoura Council & Executive President, Joatha Informatioin Consulting Center
Mr. Mohammed Saad Al-Farraj Al-Subie-BS General Manager, Al-Dawaa Medical Co. Ltd.
Mr. Muhammad Abdallah Al Bathi-BS Vice President, SABIC's Corporate Human Resources
Dr. Omar Abdallah Al-Jefri-BS & MBA Vice President, Marketing Planing, Saudi Arabian Airlines
Mr. Saleh A. Al-Humaidan-BS & MBA Managing Director, Al-Yaum Publishing, Dammam
Mr. Sameer Abdul-Rahman Al-Mugren-BS General Manager, Institute of Public Administration - Dammam
Mr. Samih Abdul-aziz Al-Suwaiyeh-BS President, Ibn Zahr Co. - SABIC
Dr. Sami Salman-BS President, Arabian Services Group Co. Ltd.
Mr. Turki Faisal Al Rasheed-EMBA President, TFIC Enterprises and Golden Grass, Inc., Chairman, Saudi Voters Center Founder/Director
Managing Director Global Suhaimi Company
MBA Mr. Ali M. Al-Seflan
Senior Vice President (Former), Industrial Relations & Affairs
Saudi Aramco
BS Mr. Aryedh Farhan Al-Gahtani President Al Oula Co. BS H.R.H. Prince Faisal Bin Turki Abdul Aziz Al Saud Advisor, Minstry of Petroleum & Mineral Resources MBA Dr. Khaled Ahmad Bu-Bushait Member, Shoura Council EMBA Mr. Khaled Ibrahim Abubshiat General Manager, Government Affairs, Saudi Aramco BS Mr. Khaled Muhammad Al-Bawardi Executive President, Al_Bawardi Group MBA Mr. Khalid Al-Faleh Senior Vice President, Industrial Relations, Saudi Aramco MBA Mr. Majed yousef Al-Mugla General Manager, Northern Area Projects Mgmt-Saudi Aramco
Mr. Mohammed Abdulaziz Al-Juraifani BS & MBA
Vice President, Contracting Sector, Saudi Electric Co.
Mr. Mohammed Hamzah Hussain Al-Faer Al-Sharif BS & MBA
General Secretary, Jeddah Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Dr. Mohammed Ihsan Ali Bu-Hulaiga BS & MBA
Member, Shoura Council & Executive President, Joatha
Informatioin Consulting Center
Mr. Mohammed Saad Al-Farraj Al-Subie BS
General Manager, Al-Dawaa Medical Co. Ltd.
Mr. Muhammad Abdallah Al Bathi BS
Vice President, SABIC's Corporate Human Resources
Dr. Omar Abdallah Al-Jefri BS & MBA
Vice President, Marketing Planing, Saudi Arabian Airlines
Mr. Saleh A. Al-Humaidan BS & MBA
Managing Director, Al-Yaum Publishing, Dammam
Mr. Sameer Abdul-Rahman Al-Mugren BS
General Manager, Institute of Public Administration - Dammam
Mr. Samih Abdul-aziz Al-Suwaiyeh BS
President, Ibn Zahr Co. - SABIC
Dr. Sami Salman BS
President, Arabian Services Group Co. Ltd.
Mr. Turki Faisal Al Rasheed EMBA
President, TFIC Enterprises and Golden Grass, Inc., Chairman