King Saud University

Establishing Saudi Arabia’s first university was a response to the educational and professional needs of a young nation. Abdulaziz Al-Saud, proclaimed the King in 1932, and began laying the foundations for modernizing his country and establishing an educational system. In 1953, Saud, the eldest son of Abdulaziz, acceded to the throne upon his father's death. He would soon institute the Council of Ministers and establish the Ministry Education.

Prince Fahd, who would eventually become the Saudi King himself, assumed the office of the first Ministry of Education, and following the first session of the Council of Ministers, he announce, “We will shortly establish the first Saudi University, this is a foregone conclusion. This university will be one of the most prominent houses of culture and sciences and will be worthy of our country where the light of Islamic faith and civilization has emanated.” The Kingdom's first institute of higher education, King Saud University, was subsequently opened in Riyadh in 1957.

Prince Fahd was committed to promoting higher education, and once said, “I am interested, before anything else, in supporting higher and vocational education in this country in order to add a new and illustrious chapter to our glorious history. Establishing a Saudi university with all its colleges, institutes and laboratories, built according to the highest of standards, is my immediate concern.”

In 1957, according to the dictates of the Royal Decree No. 17, Prince Fahd announced the founding of King Saud University, established in order to, “Disseminate and promote knowledge in Our Kingdom for widening the base of scientific and literary study, and for keeping abreast with other nations in the arts and sciences and for contributing with them discovery and invention”, in addition to reviving Islamic civilization and articulate its benefits and glories, along with its ambitions to nurture the young virtuously and to guarantee their healthy minds and ethics.”

Students began studying in the College of Arts in the 1957-58 academic year. Since that time, KSU has gone through many stages of developments, and its administrative organization has developed and adapted according to the diverse needs and expanding role of the nation.

University's Mission

To provide distinctive education, produce creative research, serve society and contribute in building the knowledge economy and community through learning, creative thinking environment, the optimal use of technology and effective international partnership.

University's Vision

To be a world class university and a leader in building the knowledge society

Strategic Objectives

• Strategic objective #1 – Good everywhere; Great in focus areas (Strengthen our comprehensive university with academic areas of research and teaching excellence)
• Strategic objective #2: Distinctive faculty (Attract and develop distinctive faculty)
• Strategic objective #3: Less is more (Reduce KSU’s student volume, increase the share of graduate students and raise entry requirements)
• Strategic objective #4: Stronger graduates (Enable KSU students to learn hard and soft skills throughout their academic life)
• Strategic objective #5: Building bridges (Build bridges among KSU constituencies and externally with local and international groups)
• Strategic objective #6: Supportive learning environment (Create an engaging environment at KSU for faculty, students, and staff)
• Strategic objective #7: Sustainable future (Build KSU’s endowment and diversity sources of funding)
• Strategic objective #8: Flexibility and Accountability (Create a performance contract between KSU and the government)
• Strategic objective #9: Organizing for purpose (Establishing an organization and governance that supports KSU’s goals)