Alfaisal University

Alfaisal University
جامعة الفيصل

Motto	Faith, Knowledge and Performance
Established	2002^[1]
Type	Private
Provost	Faisal Al Mubarak^[2]
Students	1500+
Location	Riyadh, Riyadh Province, Saudi Arabia
Campus	Urban
Colors	Blue and Gray
Website	www.alfaisal.edu

Alfaisal University is a private, non-profit, research university located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It commenced its academic programs in 2007.^[3]

The university was founded by a consortium of King Faisal Foundation, Harvard,^[4]^[5] MIT,^[5]^[6] Cambridge,^[5] ISU,^[5] King Faisal Specialist Hospital,^[5] KACST,^[5] MODON,^[5] Thales,^[5] Saudi Aramco^[7] and Boeing.^[5]

College of Medicine

The College of Medicine is established in partnership with King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center (KFSH&RC) and Security Forces Hospital.^[8]^[9] KFSC is a state-of-the-art 894 bed (inclusive of 170 day beds) Joint Commission International-accredited academic medical facility located in Riyadh. The teaching hospital has collaborations with Johns Hopkins Medicine International,^[9] Mayo Clinic,^[9] Cleveland Clinic,^[9] UCLA,^[9] and M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.^[9]

Partners Harvard Medical International (PHMI), a subsidiary of Harvard University, has collaborated with Alfaisal on the development of the curriculum, design of the facilities, organization of the administrative structure and development of the faculty. PHMI shares in the advisory board and other administrative bodies within the college.

The program

The program encompasses a five-year curriculum with three sequential phases beyond the prep (UPP) year followed by a year of internship:

Phase I: Introduction to the sciences relevant to medicine (man and environment)
Phase II: System-based learning
Phase III: Clinical clerkship

Graduates of this program will be awarded the MBBS degree.

The Alfaisal College of Medicine, SPICES model of teaching

Student-centered vs Teacher-centered
Problem-based vs Subject-based
Integrated vs Discipline-based
Community-based vs Hospital-based
Elective vs Standard program
Systematic vs Opportunistic

College of Engineering

The College of Engineering is designed to have a capacity of 1600 undergraduate and graduate students, making it the largest college at Alfaisal. The curriculum of the college has been crafted with the assistance of MIT and Cambridge University senior faculty members, parallel to the leading programs offered in the United States and the United Kingdom respectively. The engineering program is designed to be qualified for accreditation by the US, UK, EU and Saudi accreditation bodies. Moreover, Alfaisal University is a member of the MIT OCW consortium and makes use of MIT Open Course Ware as a resource. All engineering students undergo rigorous training in mathematics and physical sciences before embarking upon the specialized study of their chosen field.

Departments

The College of Engineering offers undergraduate degrees in the following:

Mechanical Engineering
Industrial Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Software Engineering
Architectural Engineering

College of Business

Curriculum

The College of Business offers a Bachelor of Science degree with concentrations in one or more of the following areas: Finance, Marketing, Accounting, Project Management and General Business. In 2010, the College of Business launched Masters in Business Administration (MBA) program.

Coursework is centered in three areas:

First, in common with other students at Alfaisal University, Business students take a series of general education courses that provide breadth to their overall education. These courses benefit Alfaisal Business students by providing them with a broader perspective on the interaction between business activities and the natural and human environment in which those activities take place. Such education allows Alfaisal students to move quickly beyond entry level managerial and professional positions to higher managerial positions which require a more complete understanding of broader social issues.

Second, all Business students take a set of core business courses that familiarize them with the variety of activities undertaken within most companies. Through this introduction to Marketing, Management, Finance, Accounting, Operations Management, and other aspects of business Alfaisal students learn the language of business in a way that allows them to operate effectively across functional boundaries. This critical skill has become even more important in the current global business environment where cross-functional teams have become the norm. The core business courses prepare students for a wide variety of entry level management and professional positions in any of the core business areas.

Third, Alfaisal Business students select one or more concentrations from Finance, Marketing, Accounting, Project Management and General Business.These five course concentrations provide depth in one or more of the core business functions. While students with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business are well prepared for a wide variety of entry level management and professional positions due to their core business courses, concentration courses prepare them to make a more advanced contribution in a specific functional area.

College of Science & General Studies

College of Science and General Studies offers a four-year Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree program in Life Sciences. The College also provides core courses in the natural sciences, humanities, and social sciences for students majoring in the colleges of Business, Engineering, and Medicine.

The Life Sciences program provides instruction in all aspects of molecular biology, including the structure and function of genes (DNA), transmission of genetic information from the gene to functional RNA and protein molecules, human and population genetics and evolution, as well as ethical and legal aspects of genetics and genetic engineering. The curriculum of the program emphasizes the acquisition of conceptual and laboratory skills in molecular biology and other sciences (chemistry, physics) with attention to biotechnology. Biotechnology is a series of enabling technologies that involve the manipulation of living organisms or their sub-cellular components to provide useful products, processes, or services. Industries are turning to biotechnology to improve their products and make the manufacturing process easier, cleaner, and more cost-effective. This trend has resulted in a large increase in the number of positions available for individuals trained in the life sciences, especially molecular biology and biotechnology.

The Mission of the College of Science and General Studies is to provide an outstanding educational experience through problem-based learning, undergraduate research experience, and excellent faculty as teachers and guides. Through core courses, the College provides a sound scientific and mathematical foundation for graduate or professional study in medicine, biomedical science, public health, science journalism, and science education. The general studies curriculum, which offers core courses in the humanities and social sciences, adds value to students' lives and to society as a whole.