King Abdullah University of Science & Technology

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1

<p>The Washington Post had a story today about the new King Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia.
[Saudi</a> to launch elite science, tech university - washingtonpost.com](<a href=“http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/22/AR2009092201947.html?hpid=sec-religion]Saudi”>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/22/AR2009092201947.html?hpid=sec-religion)</p>

<p>With its large endowment (10 billion), do you think it will it succeed? If you were an American grad student in science or engineering would you consider attending KAUST?
If you think it will succeed, how long do you estimate it will take for it to have an impact outside its region? In five years, what do you predict its standing will be? What impact, if any, do you expect it to have on Saudi society, especially on the status of women?</p>

2

<p>They offer scholarships that will pay for your last two years of undergraduate, full tuition for masters, all expenses paid, etc…</p>

<p>I was considering doing it. Then I realized, KAUST has absolutely no legacy or weight behind it at all. So I would say…Yes… but I would prefer to going to an American graduate school instead regardless of the money (since prestige matters to me) and I am not a money whore. </p>

<p>KAUST will be the equivalent of an MIT in the Middle East which doesn’t really have world class universities really to begin with except maybe in Tehran or Kuwait. I heard women will be allowed access to higher education (great thing for the Saudi society.) Very cool stuff.</p>

3

<p>When I looked at the Kaust website, it became apparent that this place will probably be quite isolated from the rest of Saudi society. While the free tuition, housing, etc. might be an incentive to many students and professors, once you begin to realize that this is the ultimate bubble, where everything is bought and paid for and imported from the outside world. One wonders whether this planned scientific “utopia” will come to function as a disincentive for good research.</p>

<p>The other thought that occurred to me that the free tuition, etc. may prove attractive to students from South Asia, thus serving as a vehicle for Saudi “soft influence” in India. I’m not alone in my opinion that the Saudis certainly have attempted to use their money to influence American universities (albeit in a nonscience field, such as Middle Eastern studies).</p>

4

<p>Saw a mention of this in today’s paper. I was excited to read that it will be open to women. Co-ed classes for the first time in Saudi Arabia!</p>

5

<p>If educational opportunities in the middle east interest you, here’s another opportunity. Given the number of US/International educational partnerships that seem to be in the works these days, I suspect there will be many more like this in the years to come if these are successful.</p>

<p>New York University - Abu Dhabi</p>

<p>I attended a program in New York City to introduce the opening of the NYU Campus in Abu Dhabi and I wanted to share information on this new campus!</p>

<p>"Abu Dhabi is at the center of a unique and important experiment in the Arab world and NYU has an opportunity to make a very meaningful contribution to this new global city: a city that has extraordinary resources, imaginative plans, and, most importantly, a progressive vision for the future. Education is a crucial part of this vision, and that NYU was invited to establish a college in Abu Dhabi is a great opportunity for us to support its vision. The U.S. higher education system is one of the best things we have to offer the world. Abu Dhabi recognizes this and has included it in its hopes and plans for fostering real change in that region.</p>

<p>Abu Dhabi is at the crossroads of many rapidly changing cultures including those of the Indian subcontinent, where there is a felt need for good undergraduate education. Students in that part of the world come out of secondary schools extremely well prepared to start college, but there are as yet not enough good higher education opportunities. I believe that NYU Abu Dhabi will open doors to a high-quality liberal arts education for a lot of young people who may not otherwise have that opportunity."</p>

<p>Professor Una Chaudhuri
NYU Professor of English and Drama</p>

<p>XXX High School is among a select group of schools that have been invited to nominate two outstanding seniors to apply to join the inaugural class of students from around the globe who will enter NYU Abu Dhabi in the Fall of 2010. NYU is looking for students who consider themselves pioneers, students who strive to make their own mark on a more knowledgeable, productive, responsible, just and peaceful globe.</p>

<p>There will be several opportunities for nominees and selected early and regular decision applicants to travel to visit NYU Abu Dhabi. Student economy class airfair, accommodation, meals, and a $200 allowance to assist with other travel expenses will be provided by NYU Abu Dhabi.</p>

<p>Students who apply to NYU Abu Dhabi by September 25, 2009, will be considered for a Candidates Weekend to be held in Abu Dhabi on October 21-25. This might be especially helpful for students who are interested in learning more about NYU Abu Dhabi before making their final decision to apply. Only nominations received prior to September 25 will be considered for this trip. Please note that parents are welcome to participate in the Candidate Weekend, though they will be responsible for their own expenses.</p>

<p>During the trip, applicants will learn more about academic and extracurricular options available at NYU ABU Dhabi, meet faculty members and advisors, and begin to explore the local culture of the region. The trip will include an evaluative dimension. Schedules, program details, and travel information for the weekends will be posted on the NYU Abu Dhabi website [NYU</a> Abu Dhabi New York University](<a href=“http://nyuad.nyu.edu%5DNYU”>http://nyuad.nyu.edu) beginning 9/1/2009.</p>

<p>NYU realizes that it may be difficult for some nominees to get passports and visas squared away in time for the October visit. If a qualified nominee cannot come in October for this reason, they will receive a guaranteed spot for the November visit if they submit the full NYU Abu Dhabi application by the November 1 early decision deadline.</p>

<p>Please note that the early decision at NYU Abu Dhabi will be considered non-binding.</p>

<p>If you are the caliber of student NYU Abu Dhabi is looking for and you are interested in studying abroad, please stop by the career center and pick up a self-nomination form. Please return the completed form along with a one-age essay stating why you should be one of our nominees to Ms. XXX in the career center by Tuesday, September 8, 2009.</p>

<p>For more information on NYU Abu Dhabi, please visit [NYU</a> Abu Dhabi New York University](<a href=“http://nyuad.nyu.edu%5DNYU”>http://nyuad.nyu.edu) and to view the Abu Dhabi video, please visit <a href=“http://nyuad.nyu.edu/admissions/admission.video.html[/url]”>http://nyuad.nyu.edu/admissions/admission.video.html&lt;/a&gt; and for more information on the UAE please visit [UAE</a> News and information - UAEinteract](<a href=“http://www.uaeinteract.com%5DUAE”>http://www.uaeinteract.com)</p>