This summer, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)  mentored outstanding Saudi and international high school students, welcoming them into its research environment and cultivating future scientific talent that will contribute to the Kingdom's innovation ecosystem and knowledge economy.  

Across three KAUST Academy initiatives — the Science, Technology, and Engineering Program (STEPs), the Saudi Research Science Institute (SRSI), and the High School Summer Program (HSSP) — the University creates a connected pathway that takes students from high school preparation to research experience and academic opportunities, both in Saudi Arabia and around the world.  

“Opening our research environment to outstanding young people, connecting them with our faculty, researchers, and graduate students, helps students build the knowledge, confidence, and ambition to pursue STEM careers while contributing to the sustainable solutions of tomorrow,” said Professor Arwa Al-Aama, KAUST vice president of education and advancement. “KAUST Academy is proud to support humanity’s future.”  

Through STEPs, a six-week program preparing Grade 10 Saudi high school students for admission to the world’s leading universities, participants build strong academic foundations through instruction from KAUST researchers and Ph.D. and master’s students. STEPs participants typically transition to SRSI the following academic year.  

Over the six weeks of intensive academic and research immersion through SRSI, Grade 11students receive guidance from KAUST faculty while working in state-of-the-art laboratories, culminating in oral presentations and poster sessions highlighting their summer research projects.  

In total, 104 students joined STEPs this year, while 116 students participated in SRSI. KAUST held a combined closing ceremony for both programs on August 12.  

High-achieving students in Grades 9-11 from across Saudi Arabia and around the world participated in HSSP, which is a competitive program that combines intensive STEM learning and research at KAUST with academic placements at the University of Oxford or the University of Cambridge.  

Together, these programs equipped students with the skills, research experience, and academic foundation to pursue STEM education at leading universities while strengthening Saudi Arabia’s long-term pipeline of scientific talent. By investing in students before they reach university, KAUST demonstrates its commitment to developing the next generation of researchers, innovators, and problem-solvers for the Kingdom, the region, and the world.