The 9th KFUPM Design Expo

16 Dec, 2023

The 9th KFUPM Design Expo, organized by King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals on December 16, featured the participation of 131 teams comprising 637 creative students. The exhibition highlighted a significant shift from single-discipline teams to multidisciplinary collaboration, bringing together students from diverse specialties to address substantial challenges through innovative projects. The event was open to public as well as parents, members of the community and industry experts overseeing the projects.

During the expo, the university president, Dr. Mohammed Al-Saqqaf, visited each project booth, where teams had a few seconds to introduce their projects in from of him.

An award ceremony was conducted at the expo, honoring seven teams with awards in different categories, including the Most Humanitarian Project, Most Entrepreneurial Project, Most Innovative Project, Best Elevator Pitch, Best Poster, Best Prototype, and Most Public Voted Project.

Dr. Al-Saqqaf reiterated that the expo aligns with the university's vision of fostering interaction among diverse disciplines and supporting interdisciplinary projects. This strategic approach, part of the university's transformation plan, provides students with valuable opportunities to develop entrepreneurial skills and nurture creative thinking.

He emphasized that the new multidisciplinary structure enhances collaboration among students from various fields, allowing them to leverage each other's knowledge. Examples of this collaboration include a computer science student partnering with a petroleum engineer to address drilling challenges using artificial intelligence and a marketing student contributing to the creation of an effective business model.

Dr. Al-Saqqaf highlighted the importance of direct communication with industry experts, a crucial aspect of the university's transformation strategy. This engagement ensures that students can apply their solutions to real industry problems, interfacing with industry companies and receiving direct feedback from experts. The expo serves as a platform for showcasing innovative solutions, fostering collaboration, and promoting practical engagement with industry professionals.