The eighth meeting of the International Advisory Board (IAB) of King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) meets in Boston, Massachusetts on June 6 and 7 to deliberate on the expansion of Saudi students' visitation abroad as part of their educational development programs. The annual meeting of the IAB will also discuss collaboration initiatives of KFUPM with foreign research institutions, such as the KFUPM-MIT Research Collaboration and the KAUST-KFUPM-Saudi Aramco partnership. The student visitation program was introduced last year. So far, groups of 20 KFUPM students accompanied by the university faculty members have visited educational institutions, cultural sights, and manufacturing facilities in different countries. Upon their return, the students shared their experiences with the university. The IAB considers such program very effective and informative in enhancing students' education and experiences. The IAB has recommended the development of a strategy for expansion of the visitation study/work abroad, and to consider the possibility of making a significant period of study abroad or an internship an essential element of a KFUPM education. The meeting will also review the progress of the KFUPM-MIT Research Collaboration Program. More than 150 individuals from KFUPM and MIT are now involved, and there is a good evidence of progress in terms of the expected matrices. The board will likewise review the KAUST-KFUPM-Saudi Aramco partnership, which IAB views as having bright prospects between KFUPM and Saudi Aramco in petroleum upstream and downstream collaboration.
