King Abdulaziz University Earns Two Times Higher Education Shortlists
The university was recognised for initiatives in AI education and data-driven enrolment planning.
King Abdulaziz University (KAU) has been shortlisted in two categories at the Times Higher Education (THE) Awards Arab World, recognising its work in artificial intelligence education and data-driven university planning.
The university is a finalist for both Teaching and Learning Strategy of the Year and Technological or Digital Innovation of the Year. This year's awards attracted more than 400 entries across 10 categories, with 80 submissions from 36 higher education institutions in 13 Arab countries and territories making the final shortlist.
KAU's 'AI Education for Non-Specialists: A National Model for Inclusive AI Literacy' initiative was shortlisted in the teaching and learning category. The programme offers accredited AI courses to students from a range of academic disciplines, including those with no prior programming experience, with the aim of broadening AI literacy and preparing graduates for a workforce increasingly shaped by emerging technologies.
The project is led by Iyad Katib, Fahad Al-Qurashi and Nouf Al-Ghanmi.
In the technological innovation category, the university's University Enrolment Planning Platform was recognised for replacing manual spreadsheets and fragmented processes with an integrated system that supports admissions, capacity planning and workforce forecasting. The platform links enrolment targets with admissions data, graduation forecasts, institutional capacity and teaching resources to support planning decisions.
The project team includes Ala'a Omar Kadidos, Fatimah Omar Kamel, Mohammed Reda Kabli, Jamaan Salem Alghamdi, the Data Team at the Deanship of Admission and Registration, and Ali Hassan Sharif.
The winners of the Times Higher Education Awards Arab World will be announced during the Arab Universities Summit in Morocco this November.
