THUWAL, Jeddah: In his address during the inauguration ceremony on Wednesday, KAUST President Professor Choon Fong Shih said the university would realize Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah’s dream and become a center of science and research and a lighthouse of knowledge for generations. Saying that KAUST “was a gift from King Abdullah to Saudi Arabia and the whole world,” he added: “I am very happy to be part of a big team that has worked together to make this great day happen.”

Shih, who was selected from among 110 candidates, has indeed played a critical role in shaping this new “House of Wisdom.” The daunting task of building a university and giving it direction is not new to Shih. After all, that is exactly what he did in his 11 years at National University of Singapore (NUS), the last eight as president.

He played a key role in not only building the university’s capacity but also Singapore’s reputation as a global research leader, in large part through a strategy of international linkages. His philosophy and record as the president of NUS dovetailed with KAUST’s, as he has tried simultaneously to deepen the capacity of NUS by reaching out around the globe to nurture partnerships.

As someone who King Abdullah shared his KAUST dream with, Shih has a deep understanding of what the king holds close to his heart. And it is out of such insight that he has developed a unique concept called “heartware” through which he views KAUST’s great potential and mission.

“In my meetings with King Abdullah, he shared that KAUST was a dream he held in his heart for 25 years,” Shih said prior to the inauguration ceremony. “His dream for KAUST is to be a wellspring of knowledge, serving as a bridge between peoples and cultures. A ‘House of Wisdom’ for the 21st century, KAUST should offer an open, enabling environment for science and research to flourish. King Abdullah has high aspirations for KAUST — to stand among the world’s great universities, bringing knowledge and science in fruitful service to the people of Saudi Arabia and all peoples of the world.”

So how did the king’s dream speak to Shih, particularly in today’s globalized world? “The king’s dream for KAUST spoke to me, particularly in today’s globalized world, of KAUST as a knowledge port,” he explained. “What comes to mind when we think of a port? Open and free movement of goods and people; a lively, cosmopolitan place, bringing great benefits to its hinterland. Such a description is true of port cities we are familiar with, like Singapore and Jeddah.

“Jeddah has been a port for over a millennium and known to be Saudi Arabia’s most cosmopolitan city. Now add ‘knowledge’ to such a port: Beyond trading of goods, there is trading of knowledge and unfettered exchange of ideas facilitated by creative minds. This port is built around people and knowledge. We not only have a lively and culturally cosmopolitan place. We also have open and free movement of people and knowledge, bringing great benefits to the hinterland.

“I have just drawn you a picture of KAUST. We are builders of this university and city of the 21st century on the shores of the Red Sea. We now have the opportunity of a lifetime to live this big dream for KAUST.”

Shih said that the task ahead of him is to guide the creation and set the directions for an institution whose mission is to solve important challenges of science and technology and benefit the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the region and the world.

In the days to come, the KAUST president will inspire and motivate some of the best minds in the world, steer KAUST to great heights and give shape to the king’s vision.