@KFUPM
https://www.linkedin.com/school/kfupm/ 
https://www.instagram.com/kfupm/?hl=en Since 2020, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) has undergone a strategic transformation to position itself as a global innovation and engagement leader aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. At the heart of this transformation is a commitment to collaboration across academia, industry, and society to drive research, entrepreneurship, and social impact. KFUPM has established over 70 strategic industry partnerships and more than 50 international strategic academic alliances. These include agreements with top global institutions to support joint research, student exchange, and faculty mobility. The university also actively engages with global networks such as the Global Consortium for Entrepreneurship Centers (GCEC) and the University-Industry Demonstration Partnership (UIDP), proudly sponsoring UIDP’s 2024 Fall Conference as an Innovation Catalyst. With a dynamic community of over 13,000 students and 900 faculty members, KFUPM invests in cutting-edge educational models like HIVE. Its entrepreneurial ecosystem, anchored by Dhahran Techno Valley and a growing portfolio of incubators, continues to launch impactful startups in clean energy, artificial intelligence, and advanced technologies. In 2024 alone, more than 200 students gained international experience through summer research programs, professional internships, and study abroad terms at leading universities and organizations in the U.S., Germany, Canada, South Korea, and the UAE. Locally, student-led initiatives contributed to measurable improvements in energy efficiency and waste management in cities like Al Khobar and Dhahran. KFUPM’s model of engagement integrates innovation, sustainability, and global collaboration. Its strategic efforts are not only advancing national priorities but also positioning the university as a driver of knowledge-based solutions and a hub for impactful, cross-border partnerships.
Finalist
Engaged University of the Year Award
King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
Finalist Engaged University of the Year Award
KFUPM - Saudi Arabia
"Dream Big and Accomplish "
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Summary
Key People
Dr. Muhammad AlSaggaf
President
KFUPM
Dr. Turki Baroud
Dean of Global Engagement
KFUPM
Dr. Nadhir Al-Baghli
Assistant Director
Global Engagement,
KFUPM
Saliha Haider
Associate Director
Global Engagement,
KFUPM
Ibrahim Al-Salem
Assistant Director
Global Engagement,
KFUPM
Josh Ibrahim
Assistant Director
Global Engagement,
KFUPM
Habib Darwish
Management Associate
Global Engagement,
KFUPM
Images
KFUPM's Utopia Mural to Inspire Community
International students at KFUPM
KFUPM and UCL students successfully co-organized the Solution Hackathon.
KFUPM President Signs Strategic MoU with Global Partner
Dhahran Techno Valley (DTV) – a wholly owned subsidiary of KFUPM
KFUPM Green Campus
Interactive Classroom Experience
Modern Student Accommodation
Coastal KFUPM Beach
Engaging session during KFUPM Research Rally
Over 3,500 participants worldwide attended the first Global Students Research (GSR2025) Conference, led by KFUPM students.
Students from KFUPM won 3 medals at a global competition
KFUPM Students Achieve First Place in Global Drone Competition
IMPACT STORY
Impacting lifes
Over the past four years, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals has undertaken a bold, systemic transformation, reshaping its identity from starting as a specialised petroleum college in 1963, into a globally recognized, innovation-driven institution transforming into a future ready institution driving the kingdom's innovation and knowledge economy.
In 2020, KFUPM launched its FAST transformation model, integrating AI+X across all disciplines and revolutionising learning through active, students-centered approaches.
A landmark milestone came in 2021 when the university welcomed undergraduate female students on a merit basis ending a 60-year legacy of male-only admission and achieved the highest global female intake in engineering at 50%. Simultaneously, over 90 cutting-edge programs were introduced, spanning AI, renewable energy, nuclear engineering, smart cities, and bioengineering.
KFUPM ignited an entrepreneurial spirit across campus, launching innovation zones, startup accelerators, and venture-building programs that empower students to turn bold ideas into real impact. The university has incubated over 200 startups, delivered thousands of mentoring sessions, and supported dozens of registered startups. These ventures have generated hundreds of jobs, attracted millions in investments, and achieved annual sales exceeding 15 million US dollars.
Research saw a seismic shift: KFUPM established 20+ interdisciplinary centres and ranks 5th globally in US utility patents, holding 1,500+ patents.
The university rose from 200th to 67th in QS Rankings (2020–2025), enrolling students from 67+ countries and collaborating with 75+ universities. Mandated undergraduate research and international experience ensure global readiness.
KFUPM’s transformation is a nationwide engine reshaping STEM education, innovation, and global engagement, empowering future leaders and positioning itself as a beacon for positive change.
LEARNINGS
Lessons learned
At King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM), our evolving role in global engagement has taught us that impactful collaboration begins with clarity of purpose and strategic alignment.
One of our core learnings is the importance of building diversified partnerships that share a unified vision. At KFUPM, we’ve built strong, strategic collaborations across all sectors: with leading industries, forward-thinking governments, top global universities, and pioneering research institutions. This ecosystem approach has allowed us to co-create meaningful initiatives that advance both our academic mission and the kingdom's long-term national transformation goals.
A key insight: putting students at the centre leads to stronger, more sustainable outcomes. When partnerships are designed with the student experience in mind—whether through exchange, research, or innovation—the results are deeper and more impactful. This student-first model has not only elevated the quality of our programs but also ensured that our graduates are equipped to drive change within the Kingdom and beyond.
For those looking to walk a similar path, our advice is:
- Lead with strategic focus. Start by identifying national priorities and institutional strengths, then align partnerships to amplify mutual impact.
- Move beyond transactional. Favor partnerships that foster long-term, integrated collaboration over one-off agreements.
- Design around student impact. Structure every partnership to create learning, research, or entrepreneurial pathways that equip students with future-ready skills.
- Build with intention and measure with purpose. Track progress through metrics that reflect real transformation investments attracted, research translated, startups launched, and student growth achieved.
FUTURE PLANS
What's coming?
Looking ahead, KFUPM is committed to fostering entrepreneurship and engagement by embedding its FAST principles—Futuristic, Agile, Synergetic, and Transformative—into every facet of the university ecosystem.
KFUPM is reshaping its entrepreneurial landscape to become the Kingdom’s leading hub for nurturing and unleashing entrepreneurial energy, directly contributing to Saudi Arabia’s socioeconomic development. We are cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset through integrated education, hands-on training, and applied research, supported by robust logistical and financial resources. This transformation is aligned with Vision 2030, streamlining the entire entrepreneurial pipeline: from education and intellectual property management to prototyping and venture scaling. New regulatory reforms now grant full ownership rights to faculty and student founders, while KFUPM takes no equity or royalties—fostering a founder-first innovation culture that accelerates new industries and fuels sustainable national growth.
A key milestone in this journey is KFUPM being shortlisted to host the Annual 2026 Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centres (GCEC) Summit, positioning both the university and the Kingdom as global leaders in innovation and entrepreneurship.
Strategic investments in cutting-edge infrastructure such as the Dream Realisation Lab, enhanced on-campus housing, and collaborative innovation spaces are creating a vibrant environment where ideas thrive. With deeper industry linkages, expanding international partnerships, and a strong focus on measurable impact, KFUPM is not just building startups or partnering, it is shaping a diversified, knowledge based economy with global relevance and local impact.
