This is King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. It is a new university in Saudi Arabia whose construction was made possible by the money and the vision of the current monarch, King Abdullah. It is the host of over 600 masters and doctoral students, as well as a sum of administrators, faculty, and miscellaneous staff that number in the thousands. Together, these facilities and people comprise an institution, one which cannot function appropriately without either component. And as Kaust has set forth very lofty goals for its stature and accomplishment, these components must be expected to do far more than just function appropriately. They must be excellent.
Kaust has many proud supporters. Its framers are like beaming parents, extolling the university's worth with the abandon of endless optimism for its potential. They point to the buildings, complimenting the speed of their formation and the beauty of their design. They speak of the faculty and students, highlighting their immaculate pedigree. They remark that the resources of the university are absolutely unparalleled in terms of finance, recreation, and opportunity. Indeed, they paint a very pretty picture of our little school in the desert.
As one of the 600 current students and a member of Kaust's founding class, I have seen this painting many times. I have heard all the speeches and I have seen all the sights. But more importantly, I have lived in the buildings and worked with the people. It is with this experience that I tell you that this painting is a mirage. That is not to say that it is entirely without substance or merit. My time here has had its compensations. But because of the excess of attention paid to these positive points, I do not feel compelled to advertise them further. Instead I seek to illuminate the aspects of the university that are hidden, to systematically dismantle the illusion of Kaust and to replace it with an image tempered with realism.
That is the purpose of this blog.
