Citizenship well deserved for King Fahd University faculty members

The latest batch of distinguished personalities who were granted Saudi citizenship includes 12 faculty members of King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals.
It is recognition of their years-long research and teaching in different scientific fields. Each one is a specialist in his own area and in interdepartmental collaboration.
Their efforts have undoubtedly propelled King Fahd University into the league of the world’s top universities. Their areas of expertise cover an astonishing array of science and engineering, including the engineering of materials, thermodynamics, industrial equipment corrosion, laser application, water desalination, power generation, polymer compounds, catalysts, signal propagation, digital signal analysis, artificial intelligence, mechatronics, precision machine design, smart materials, highly integrated electronic circuits, and industrial chemistry to name but a few.
All these areas have assumed huge importance in view of the ongoing socioeconomic transformation taking place in Saudi Arabia as a result of the Vision 2030 program. Each of these research areas is enough on its own to make any university proud to specialize in, but the breadth and depth of these professors’ specializations speak volumes about King Fahd University’s vision and mission to be a leading science university. The Dhahran-based institution has now also expanded into business and management, as applying science in a practical business environment creates a virtuous circle of development.
The above did not come overnight, but over many years of often lonely and frustrating but dedicated and professional application to their chosen lifelong careers and in service to the Kingdom’s scientific advancement.
While many other leading universities worldwide and in the Kingdom such as King Saud University and King Abdulaziz University, also have their own distinguished faculties and researchers, King Fahd University has always played a leading role in the Kingdom’s scientific and engineering development. It is no coincidence that many of the senior and middle managers of Saudi Aramco are proud alumni of the university, including Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih and Saudi Aramco CEO Amin Nasser.
The distinguished King Fahd University science and engineering faculty members who were granted their well-deserved Saudi citizenship not only contributed to the advancement of their field of specialization, but also passed on human capital endowment skills to many generations of grateful Saudi students and future leaders. While this element cannot be easily quantified, like the number of published peer-reviewed papers or patent applications that have now been successfully and commercially applied, the outcome is more powerful as these graduates assume more responsibilities and contribute to all aspects of Saudi Arabia’s economic and social renaissance. Although this is not to underestimate the practical application of their patents, which are contributing to Vision 2030’s knowledge-based economy and which refute those who look down on academics as rose-tinted wishful thinkers.
Once again, heartiest and well-deserved congratulations to these new citizens, who committed themselves to their profession with no thought that they were doing this with such an accolade in mind. The fact they have been nominated for citizenship by others speaks for itself. One looks forward to hearing of more well-deserved Saudi citizenship awards to many other current and former colleagues.
• Dr. Mohamed Ramady is a former senior banker and professor of finance and economics, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran.