Aramco chair to boost scientific research

Saudi Aramco and Prince Mohammad bin Fahd University have joined hands to encourage research and development in the field of technology and information management. Academics in the region have described the establishment of Saudi Aramco Chair for Technology and Information Management at PMU as a historic development. “This will boost scientific research and further raise the rising profile of our university,” said PMU Rector Dr. Issa Al-Ansari. “This is the fourth endowed chair at the university,” he pointed out. “The previous three are Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Chair for Energy and Environment Studies, Prince Naif bin Abdul Aziz Chair for Youth Development and Saudi Aramco Chair for Global Supply Chain Management.” The main objective of the endowment is to establish a center of excellence in technology and information management to benefit PMU’s academic programs and to provide a platform for the local business community. In a short span of six years, the university, a brainchild of Eastern Province Gov. Prince Mohammad bin Fahd, has established itself as an authentic institution of higher education in the Kingdom. Al-Ansari and Saudi Aramco’s Executive Director of Information Technology Hany K. Abu Khadra were present at the chair’s launch ceremony. “PMU has always taken a keen interest in the development of research activities by establishing endowed chairs in fields that are of great significance to the development of both our community and our nation,” said Al-Ansari. “To emphasize PMU’s role as a research institution, we recently established a deanship of graduate studies and research.” Al-Ansari praised Saudi Aramco for its stellar support and said: “We always appreciate support from local industries and corporate sectors … and we welcome others to establish similar endowments in different disciplines. This will help meet the needs of the community, the province and the Kingdom,” he said. The main aim of the Saudi Aramco Chair for Technology and Information Management is to “strengthen the role of our university and to enrich the field of technology and information management.” Al-Ansari stressed the new chair will have the freedom to undertake all kinds of research activities apart from encouraging consultancy activities. “PMU encourages sharing of expertise with the business communities through seminars, workshops and scientific newsletters,” said Al-Ansari. As one of the key initiatives of the Eastern Province governor, the primary idea behind creating this excellent and modern seat of learning was to prepare future leaders in various fields of human knowledge and to remove the barrier between the academic and business communities. Abu Khadra of Saudi Aramco said his company has a long history of promoting excellence in scientific research in the Kingdom. “Saudi Aramco has financed many academic chairs in prominent Saudi universities,” he pointed out. “Our partnership with PMU is further strengthened with the establishment of this newest chair, and it reinforces commitment on both sides.” Abu Khadra said: “This chair is going to play an active role in identifying difficulties being faced by business and research communities. Steps will be taken to study them and to come up with appropriate solutions.”