The University of Birmingham will welcome over 1,000 Saudi students from across the UK to an annual conference that will showcase their potential for groundbreaking work and research innovation. As academic host for 2016, the university will welcome undergraduates and postgraduates to the Saudi Student Conference in Birmingham on Saturday-Sunday (Feb. 13-14). The university's staff will maintain academic standards at the prestigious event and judge research papers submitted by the delegates. Organized by the Scientific Society for Saudi Students in the UK together with the Saudi Arabian Cultural Bureau, the conference is hosted by a different UK university each year for students funded under the King Abdullah Foreign Scholarship Program. Vice Chancellor Sir David Eastwood, who will welcome Saudi students to the conference, said: "The University of Birmingham is delighted to be hosting this prestigious event to celebrate the accomplishments of Saudi scholars who are studying at UK universities. The UK is home to one of the highest-performing university systems in the world. "At Birmingham, we have been educating students from across the globe for more than 100 years in a wide range of disciplines. We are proud to say that this has included a large number of Saudi Arabian scholars – we currently have more than 180 Saudis studying at Birmingham. "It is fitting, therefore, that the Saudi Student Conference will be convened here and will showcase innovation in subjects as diverse as medical sciences, engineering, law, humanities, social sciences and the arts, inspiring the next generation of thinkers, creators and leaders." The event is designed to provide a platform upon which to highlight the groundbreaking work and accomplishments of Saudi students at all levels of study at universities throughout the UK. It brings together students to stimulate discussion and interest in the arts and sciences. Conference organizers aim to provide an environment for talented Saudi student participants who may go on to become future thinkers, leaders and innovators for Saudi Arabia and the world. The event is supported by Saudi Ambassador in the UK Prince Muhammad Bin Nawwaf and the country's minister of education. It allows students to showcase their creativity and publish their research, promote scientific research standards and contribute to research and academia locally and globally. It also encourages communication, scientific cooperation, and partnership amongst students, as well as raising awareness of best practices in various fields and disciplines. The University of Birmingham is ranked amongst the world's top 100 institutions. Its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham, including researchers and teachers and more than 4,000 international students from nearly 150 countries.
