262 Program to Earn MA, PhD Degrees:  Vice-Rector

Scholarships beef the march of academic  development up and contributes to sharpening expertise of students, said Dr. Mansur Al-Saeed, vice-rector for higher studies and academic research in an interview with Resalah newspaper.

Resalah: How do King Saud University (KSU) and community benefit from sabbatical leaves?

Al-Saeed:  Most of sabbatical leaves are given to faculty members who contribute to community service, conducting applied studies.

Resalah: Is there any plan to beef up college research centers having low academic research budget?

Al-Saeed: Appropriations have been earmarked for academic research centers by KSU.  Additional appropriations were earmarked for active research centers, using up their appropriations. Thus, an appropriation is available every year for the research center. If needs more, additional appropriation is there.

Resalah: How many professors were promoted?

Al-Saeed: 598 faculty members were promoted to associate professors and 402 faculty members were full professors throughout the past 10 years by the academic council.

Resalah: The figure of lecturers upped this year, comment!

Al-Saeed: Many lecturers were recruited during the past two years. This would create a second generation of faculty members and would help recruit Saudi nationals.

Resalah: What is the figure of postgraduates with scholarships abroad?

Al-Saeed: We have 428 students on scholarships to 16 states: 152 in Britain; 111 in the USA; 87 in Canada; 48 in Australia. Figures increase a week.

Resalah: How does you assess the role played by academic associations?

Al-Saeed: KSU hosts 50 associations which play an important role in serving majors, specialists, and the community. It functions as a liaison between specialists in various spheres of knowledge. They meet in conferences and the like; exchange data; and discuss the recent developments. They publish research studies and offer scientific consultations.

Resalah: How do you assess the higher studies programs?

Al-Saeed: KSU has various programs to which about 6000 postgraduates join a year. It offers 262 program to postgraduates to earn MA and PhD degrees. The programs are conducted by 65 academic units in 15 colleges. These programs are managed by higher studies deanships.

Resalah: Do you have a trend to develop higher studies programs, making postgraduates get their dissertations supervised by foreign professors?