Alfaisal University
| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Established | 2007 |
| Location | , , |
| Campus | Urban |
| Website | www.alfaisal.edu |
Alfaisal University is a private, non-profit, co-educational research university in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The university comprises the Colleges of Engineering, Science and General Studies, Medicine and Business. The university commenced its academic programs in fall 2007 on their new campus in Riyadh.
The university was founded by The King Faisal Foundation with the support of leading industry and research organizations such as Boeing, BAE Systems, United Technologies and King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, whose executives all serve on its Board of Trustees.
College of Engineering
The College of Engineering is the largest college at Alfaisal University. It is designed to have a capacity of 1,600 undergraduate and graduate students, a 10:1 student faculty ratio, and state-of-the-art facilities. The College faculty is chosen through a rigorous selection process and consists of highly qualified international scholars who are leading researchers and educators. College of Engineering is in partnership with Massachusetts Institute Of Technology (MIT) and Cambridge University.
The College of Engineering not only confines its efforts to teaching students curricular content but also seeks to expand students’ competencies, knowledge, learning and experience through an environment that facilitates interaction with highly qualified faculty, intelligent laboratories and open curricula which are adopted by international universities of the highest standards. Research focus at the College is in areas that are strategically important to the Kingdom such as water and waste-water treatment, production and use of oil and petrochemicals and renewable energy. These research efforts aim at proving beneficial to the Kingdom, the Region and the World.
Vision
The vision of the College of Engineering is “to be a leader in creation, integration, application and transmission of applied science and engineering knowledge, through high-quality research, technology development, innovation, and entrepreneurship. This occurs through undergraduate and graduate education of scholars and professionals, who are distinguished in conception, design, analysis, and building.”
Mission
The mission of the College of Engineering is “to rapidly achieve the international status as a university for teaching and research in a limited number of disciplines. This will be achieved through scholarship of the highest standard from both students and faculty.”
Engineering curriculum
The Engineering curriculum has been crafted with the assistance of MIT and Cambridge University senior faculty members, after the leading engineering programs offered in the United States and the United Kingdom, keeping in mind the demands of the industry and future trends in the job market in the Kingdom and the region. The unique Alfaisal Engineering curriculum is focused on engineering science and is intended to produce graduates who are highly qualified decision-makers, entrepreneurs, researchers, academicians, inventors and professionals. The engineering program is designed to be qualified for accreditation by the US, UK, EU and Saudi Arabian accreditation bodies. Moreover, Alfaisal University is a member of the MIT OCW consortium and makes use of ]]MIT OpenCourseWare]]. All engineering students undergo rigorous training in mathematics and physical sciences before embarking on the specialized study of their chosen field. This ensures that graduates are at par with those of any other world-class institution.
Departments
Mechanical Engineering offers the following undergraduate degrees:
- Mechanical Engineering*
- Aerospace Engineering
- Industrial Engineering
Electrical Engineering offers the following undergraduate degrees:
- Electrical Engineering
- Computer Engineering*
Chemical Engineering offers the following undergraduate degrees:
- Chemical Engineering
- Materials Engineering*
Civil Engineering offers the undergraduate Civil Engineering* degree.
College of Medicine
The College of Medicine is being established in partnership with the King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center (www.kfshrc.edu.sa), a tertiary care hospital that is highly respected worldwide. The second partnership is with Security Forces Hospital (www.sfh.med.sa). These partnerships will involve recruitment of faculty members and will provide opportunities for student internships.
Partners Harvard Medical International (PHMI), a subsidiary of Harvard University, has collaborated with Alfaisal on the development of the curriculum, design of the facilities, organization of the administrative structure and development of the faculty. PHMI shares in the advisory board and other administrative bodies within the college.
The program
The program encompasses a five-year curriculum with three sequential phases beyond the prep (UPP) year followed by a year of internship:
- Phase I: Introduction to the sciences relevant to medicine (man and environment)
- Phase II: System-based learning
- Phase III: Clinical clerkship
Graduates of this program will be awarded the MBBS degree.
The Alfaisal College of Medicine, SPICES model of teaching
- Student-centered vs Teacher-centered
- Problem-based vs Subject-based
- Integrated vs Discipline-based
- Community-based vs Hospital-based
- Elective vs Standard program
- Systematic vs Opportunistic
College of Buissness
At the Alfaisal University College of Business located in Riyadh, students hone the skills necessary to confront the challenges of modern, international business. Business students begin their training with in-depth preparation in quantitative skills through coursework in Micro-Economics, Statistics, Accounting, Finance, Mathematics, and Operations Management. As top-managers are even more likely to derail through a lack of soft skills rather than quantitative skills, you will receive cutting edge training in Management, Leadership, and the competitive skills of Marketing and Strategy.
Finally, in an effort to prepare our students to move beyond mid-level management positions into the executive suite, you will engage in course work that helps you understand the broader social and natural environment in which business operates. Through such a well rounded education, Alfaisal business students become not only leaders of profitable family enterprises and public corporations but, also, capable societal leaders contributing to the growth and development of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the region.
Mission
We prepare the next generation of technically skilled and socially conscious business professionals empowered to increase company profits as well as contribute to the broader development of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Approach
The College of Business at Alfaisal University fulfills its mission by:
1.Maintaining a small class size in order to maximize student participation inside the classroom and faculty/student interaction. 2.Using problem-based pedagogy including case studies and experiential learning activities. 3.Encouraging student participation in service learning outside the classroom through Business Club activities, internships, research projects, and so on. 4.Helping students to develop quantitative, technological, and leadership competencies. 5. Working closely with the local business community to ensure the relevance of student learning opportunities. 6.Conducting high quality research with applicability to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the global business community. 7.Engaging in selective consulting projects to increase faculty and student exposure to significant business and development issues inside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Curriculum
The College of Business offers a Bachelor of Science degree with concentrations in one or more of the following areas: Finance, Marketing, and Management.
Coursework is centered in three areas:
First, in common with other students at Alfaisal University, Business students take a series of general education courses that provide breadth to their overall education. These courses benefit Alfaisal Business students by providing them with a broader perspective on the interaction between business activities and the natural and human environment in which those activities take place. Such education allows Alfaisal students to move quickly beyond entry level managerial and professional positions to higher managerial positions which require a more complete understanding of broader social issues.
Second, all Business students take a set of core business courses that familiarize them with the variety of activities undertaken within most companies. Through this introduction to Marketing, Management, Finance, Accounting, Operations Management, and other aspects of business Alfaisal students learn the language of business in a way that allows them to operate effectively across functional boundaries. This critical skill has become even more important in the current global business environment where cross-functional teams have become the norm. The core business courses prepare students for a wide variety of entry level management and professional positions in any of the core business areas.
Third, Alfaisal Business students select one or more concentrations from Finance, Marketing, and Management. Additional concentrations will be added as the student body grows and may include such areas as Accounting, Human Resource Management, and Supply Chain Management. These five course concentrations provide depth in one or more of the core business functions. While students with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business are well prepared for a wide variety of entry level management and professional positions due to their core business courses, concentration courses prepare them to make a more advanced contribution in a specific functional area.
Alfaisal University MBA Program
The Alfaisal University MBA is an exciting 43 credit hour program that focuses on developing professionals who can add value to the organizations they serve through collaborative leadership. Alfaisal University recognizes that many managers currently have in-depth knowledge of a single area of business but find themselves requiring a greater breadth and depth of skills and knowledge as they enter into higher levels of responsibilities. The Alfaisal MBA helps professionals to develop the skills and knowledge necessary to lead cross-functional teams in today’s highly competitive organizational environment. The program is open for male and female students.
The Alfaisal MBA program is a 22 month, 43 credit hour program delivered in the evenings and on selected weekends to meet the needs of working professionals. Participants meet two evenings per week from 6-9 as well as two Thursdays in each 12 week trimester. As part of a program-long cohort, students gather for a 3 day orientation course at the beginning of each academic year. The cohorts take all classes together, thus creating a learning team that can teach, support, and encourage each other throughout the program. Given a series of three, twelve week trimesters over a period of twelve months with a break in between each academic year, participants complete the program in 22 months. Cohorts are formed at various times during the year.
College of Science & General Studies
College of Science and General Studies offers a four-year Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree program in Life Sciences. The College also provides core courses in the natural sciences, humanities, and social sciences for students majoring in the colleges of Business, Engineering, and Medicine.
The curriculum of the College is developed by faculty having teaching and research experience at western research universities in the USA and Europe. Students are taught and guided by distinguished research-active faculty from western universities. Instruction involves problem-based and technologically-enhanced learning. The goal of the undergraduate program is to train students to be critical thinkers, problem-solvers, and team players. Our programs are designed to meet high international standards. Participation in faculty research projects will be a featured activity for undergraduate students in the College programs.
The Life Sciences program provides instruction in all aspects of molecular biology, including the structure and function of genes (DNA), transmission of genetic information from the gene to functional RNA and protein molecules, human and population genetics and evolution, as well as ethical and legal aspects of genetics and genetic engineering. The curriculum of the program emphasizes the acquisition of conceptual and laboratory skills in molecular biology and other sciences (chemistry, physics) with attention to biotechnology. Biotechnology is a series of enabling technologies that involve the manipulation of living organisms or their sub-cellular components to provide useful products, processes, or services. Industries are turning to biotechnology to improve their products and make the manufacturing process easier, cleaner, and more cost-effective. This trend has resulted in a large increase in the number of positions available for individuals trained in the life sciences, especially molecular biology and biotechnology.
The Mission of the College of Science and General Studies is to provide an outstanding educational experience through problem-based learning, undergraduate research experience, and excellent faculty as teachers and guides. Through core courses, the College provides a sound scientific and mathematical foundation for graduate or professional study in medicine, biomedical science, public health, science journalism, and science education. The general studies curriculum, which offers core courses in the humanities and social sciences, adds value to students' lives and to society as a whole.
For More Information
Visit the Alfaisal University website www.alfaisal.edu.
See also
External links
References