| | NOVEMBER 2023MANAGEHRMAGAZINE.COM8In MyOpinionBEYOND BRICKS AND MORTARS ­ THE HUMAN RESOURCES STORYThe 1000-Day JourneyDecember 11, 2006 marked a historical day in the world of academia when the late King, Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, issued a Royal Decree establishing "King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)". A world-class, graduate-level research university created to inspire a new age of scientific achievements in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the world.Built on the shores of the Red Sea, KAUST is the hub for the worldwide exchange of ideas that will stimulate scientific advancements aimed to benefit the economic and social development of the country as well as the region and the world. KAUST, a dream for King Abdullah, wanted it to be a unique learning place where passionate people can transcend the boundaries of their fields to transform their own lives--and the lives of others through knowledge and innovation. In less than six months of the Royal Order, this extremely exciting and challenging project was assigned by the late King to the Saudi Arabia Oil Company (Saudi Aramco) to build a greenfield university from the ground in 1000 days! Wok began immediately with the strategies and planning for the Facilities/campus, Academic and Research Programs, Information Technology and Finance. Nine months later, the need to form the Human By Moutaz M Mashhour, Executive Vice President, Corporate Services, TAQAMoutaz M Mashhour
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