KAUST may indirectly challenge conservatism that critics say has stifled progress in Muslim World.

Saudi Arabia has established a multibillion dollar,research university built with the intention of promoting scientific freedom.

The King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST),one of the biggest endowments worldwide with state-of-the-art laboratories and the world’s 14th fastest supercomputer,  has been named after King Abdullah

The inauguration of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) has been officially scheduled on Wednesday.This was headed by King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, as well as several world leaders, dignitaries and officials.

This campus has been constructed about 80km north of the commercial centre of Jeddah, along the Red Sea coast

As a crucial part of the kingdom’s plans to transform itself into a global scientific hub – the latest effort in the Gulf region to diversify its economic base, Saudi officials have ideated this postgraduate institution.

President of KAUST, Choon Fong Shih said ,”We do not restrict how they wish to work among themselves … It’s a research environment driven by scientific agenda”

“At King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, we have no quota for men or for women. We are out to attract the best minds in the world,” said Al-Naimi, chairman of the new university’s board of trustees and the minister of petroleum and mineral resources

The university’s president, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that , “we see the beginning of a community that is unique” in Saudi Arabia

“We recruit the very best in the world … and we give them the freedom to pursue their scientific interests.”

KAUST has enrolled 817 students representing 61 different countries, of whom 314 begin classes this month while the rest are scheduled to enroll in the beginning of 2010.

Within eight to 10 years, they aim at expanding two-thousand students, 15 per cent of them being Saudi, say university officials.

‘Scientific Freedom’

KAUST aims to attract world’s best minds, says Al-Naimi.

The 71 member faculty at KAUST would include 14 members from the US, six from Canada , seven from Germany and many more.

With an aim of boosting economic growth at such a time when oil producing countries have been increasing their push to focus on education and development programmes, this University has been set up.

‘We are committed to spend $400bn over the next five years on various development and infrastructure projects’said Saudi officials.

The kingdom set a The 2009 budget set by the Kingdom fell short for the first time in years specifically to nurture spending on such ventures.

KAUST may indirectly challenge the brand of conservatism that critics say has suppressed progress in Saudi Arabia, more than a projected research force

KAUST’s idea of scientific freedom marks Saudi Arabia’s determination to progress and compete others in global development in the world wherein technology is rapidly increasing, Officials say.