King Faisal University KFU

The establishment of King Faisal University by Royal Decree No. H/67 on the date of the 28th of Rajab 1395 Hijri was a turning point in the education process in Al-Ahsa in the Eastern Province, as it contributed to achieve the aspirations and hopes of the people in this great country. Since that establishment, the university has received the generous and the unlimited support from our government "may God bless it" which provided for the university many opportunities for growth and development.

The starting point began with the establishment of the Agriculture and Food Sciences College, and Veterinary Medicine and Livestock College.The number of the overall students was (170) at that time and (46) faculty members, consequently nine students who graduated from the university as the first batch of the university, therefore the university believed during that time to establish new colleges that assure continuation of the education process to assure the completion and integration of the existing colleges, so the decision to establish other colleges at the university came to meet the needs of the Kingdom’s growing future, namely the College of Education in the year 1401/02 Hijri, and the College of Administrative Sciences and Planning in the year 1404/1405 Hijri,in the university headquarters in Al-Ahsa.

The development of the university did not stop at that stage. On the date of 1418 Hjjri the prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, "may his soul rest in peace" laid the foundation stone for the first phase of the city of the King Faisal University to assure that our leaders of the renaissance in that time took into account the development of our university to be one of the most prominent university in our country and beyond.
 

Since the establishment of King Faisal University in 1395 H, its successful history has passed for more than four and a half decades, in which it has been blessed with the care and support of the rulers of the kingdom. It was crowned by honoring the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud - may God protect him - by inaugurating its university city which is considered as a city of science in the Al-Ahsa Oasis, including (15) faculties, in which more than (40,000) male and female students are registered in the bachelor programs, and about (3500) male and female postgraduate students, and about (2,200) faculty members. More than (5,000) regular students and (5000) distance education students graduate annually holding degrees of various specializations

King Faisal University has an obvious contribution to developing and enriching graduates and practitioners, where it offers (47) educational programs at the bachelor’s level, and (68) qualitative programs in postgraduate studies for the Diploma, Master Doctorate level with scientific specializations that meet the growing demand from the labor market, and those looking to develop professional expertise. The university comprises (11) supporting deanships, and (26) centers and administrative and research units specializing in various scientific and applied fields. All this diversity in its project makes King Faisal University the largest educational institution in the Eastern Region, and an important center for knowledge, development, and improvement of professional and administrative skills

The University has been given continuous generous support that exceeds tens of billions, which assist in constructing a huge university educational city and starting the construction of a promising integrated medical city. In light of this great support, the university has made steps of research giving, especially with regard to the applied aspect, whether supported research, scientific chairs, or patents, most of them are in the palm and date research in economic or preventive fields, and in the medical research, especially the study of endemic diseases in the region. It also strived to develop and improve its academic programs and obtained institutional academic accreditation from the Education Evaluation Commission, in addition to obtaining a number of its colleges and programs with international recognition and accreditation. The university has also made tangible efforts to institutionalize the university and achieve the greatest amount of justice and transparency with regard to admission, appointment, promotion, and training, and to choose the most qualified people of this country. The university was able to harness its modern technology to achieve its pioneering role in supporting continuous learning, and spreading knowledge outside the university through the programs of advanced education for the distance learners, and the university presented all its advanced technical, communication, and media services to be supportive of all events taking place in the society

Since the advent of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, Saudi universities have witnessed a noteworthy transformation in this prosperous era driving them to take initiatives to redefine their identities to be in line with the changes in the knowledge economy and the fourth industrial revolution. This vision was the sign of the formation of the new university system, the qualitative shift towards improving the efficiency of the educational environment, diversifying financial resources, and granting universities more administrative flexibility in light of their reliance on their own capabilities to achieve their goals and service to the dear society

King Faisal University was ready for the transformation and development after nearly half a century of continuous giving, to get in this prosperous era an institutional, strategic, and structural transformation renaissance to launch a new journey of leadership and excellence in light of a blessed Saudi vision, a comprehensive national transformation, and a university system welcoming trends and prospects. It starts a new journey of work and hope, keeps pace with the effort, though, and farsightedness of this great national movement, and releases its new institutional identity arising from its eternal legacy, and resets its strategic plans towards the quality of performance, the richness of outputs, the diversity of fields, and the achievement of growth and sustainability. Its ambition is to be a pioneering university in creating an inspiring educational environment belonging to the future locally, regionally, and internationally, and it hopes to be a productive and developmental research university that enables it to achieve a number of the national goals, the most important of which are: achieving food security and environmental sustainability for the Kingdom

King Faisal University's research centers specialized in the fields of food security and environmental sustainability shows its capacities for giving, creativity, and innovation in these areas Its strategic partnerships with environmental and food policymakers and the private sector open legitimate channels for a greater positive role through which the size of the impact is enhanced for each resource is positively invested, then its legacy is invested in academic excellence that exceeds five decades. The diversity of the faculties at the university that enables us to achieve its goals, in addition to employing its investment and innovative arms represented by the Al-Ahsa Valley Company, Al-Ahsa Oasis for Innovation and Technology, and the University Business Incubator to serve as active windows for its research work and products, in a way that constitutes a resource to our country by enhancing its food security and preserving its rich environment.As King Faisal University is rich in multiple resources that enable it to excel and lead at the national and regional level appropriate to its long history and long legacy of giving, the King Faisal University Strategy 1441-1445 AH 2020-2024 was approved to be a map of the future of our university for the next five years; looking for a promising future of growth and excellence, in which it will focus, through its ambitious strategy - with the help of Allah - on its main processes by improving teaching and learning, scientific research, and strengthening its community partnerships. It will also establish an integrated system that supports innovation and business development at the university. In the next five years, the university- with the help of Allah - will achieve more achievements, and its impact will double on its internal and external surroundings because it has sufficient flexibility and human capabilities to keep pace with the future changes and developments, and to improve its plans accordingly, with the help and blessing of Allah, and the support of the wise leadership and its wise guidance

The university Higher Administration has approved the university restructuring project, and its associated maps, organizational guides and job descriptions, in order to achieve the maximum levels of integration and mutual coordination to implement its items. This development project helps the university to achieve its objectives and exploit its contributions to the extent that meets the aspirations of the university community and its members, and it adopts an educational system linked to the needs of the labor market, attracts the best talent and partners with the private sector, contributes to building industrialists and small enterprises, develops the investment and economic potential of the universities, and raises the quality of the services and performing efficiency, promoting transparency and responsibility

With the grace of Allah and His blessings, and to enhance the university’s stature, achieve its identity, and develop its performance and its global outreach, the University Affairs Council has approved the establishment of an International Advisory Council at King Faisal University. In addition, a new vital sector for the university has been established and named the Innovation and Business Development Sector, which focuses on diversifying the university’s sources of income, financial sustainability, maximizing the economic value of the university’s assets and capabilities, and optimal investment in knowledge, research, and technology