A new International Advisory Board will help King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) improve its global stature, the university announced recently. A special highlight of the first board meeting was an audience with the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul-Aziz. The King welcomed them warmly and expressed the Kingdom's strong commitment to reaching out to the world and serving humanity through better research, education and cultural openness, according to a report carried by Saudi Aramco web-site. Saudi Aramco president and CEO Abdullah S. Jum'ah accepted a seat on the 14-member board, as did Mohamed H. Al-Mady, CEO of Saudi Arabian Basic Industries Co. The board will meet twice a year to advise on strategic planning and policies to help the university maintain its competitive edge and continue the school's tradition of excellence. "The number of members from leading companies and education institutions who are coming together on this board underscores Saudi Arabia's importance around the world," Jum'ah said. "I am very happy to play a part in this, and I hope it will lead to even better educational opportunities for young Saudi students."
