Saudi Aramco and King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) have signed an agreement to help develop a new Petroleum Engineering and Geosciences college programme.
As part of the agreement, the existing departments of Petroleum Engineering, Earth Sciences and the Research Institute Centre of Petroleum and Minerals at KFUPM will be consolidated to form one unified college.
Saudi Aramco’s EXPEC ARC (Advanced Research Centre) and KFUPM have been working together to develop the framework for the college, which will be recognised among the top five colleges in Petroleum Engineering and Geosciences worldwide within five to ten years.
At maturity, the college will have about 90 faculty members and research scientists and engineers, including faculty from Saudi Arabia and educational institutions worldwide.
The number of students enrolled on a course is expected to reach about 400, of which 240 will be graduate students.
“The goal is to deliver a world-class educational and research program that strengthens the connection between the university and the petroleum industry,” Saudi Aramco said.
“The new program aims to move beyond simply delivering a university level education in Petroleum Engineering and Geosciences and move toward a new educational model that brings faculty, students and industry closer together to address business and technical solutions to the oil and gas industry, nationally and globally in a collaborative and cross-disciplinary manner,” the company added.
