The King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Dhahran has joined hands with Intel to offer its best students special placements at Intel facilities as part of the Intel Engineering Excellence Program. This program will enable Intel and KFUPM to address the needs of skills development and knowledge transfer, which will in turn contribute towards enhancing the overall professional standing of the KFUPM graduates.

Gordon G. Graylish, Vice President of Intel's Sales & Marketing Group and General Manager, EMEA addressed faculty members of KFUPM and Intel's senior regional management at the University to mark the launch of the program in the Kingdom. The Intel Engineering Excellence Program will later roll out in Jordan, Turkey, and Egypt.

Graylish said: "The Intel Engineering Excellence Program is part of our Digital Transformation Initiative, and we are pleased to launch the first chapter of this initiative in the Gulf's largest economy."

"Working with KFUPM, we are offering gifted students in ICT-related fields the opportunity to gain unparalleled work experience and training. This program also addresses some of the more pressing needs of regional governments, helping to provide the building blocks for information-based economies, creating job opportunities, and improving competitiveness in the global digital marketplace. It also underscores Intel's long-term commitment to promote technology skills, knowledge transfer, and economic development in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the rest of the region," he added.

Running for three to six months, the internships are only open to Saudi Nationals. Intel will offer handpicked students internships at its sites around the world.

Announcing the launch of the Intel Engineering Excellence Program, H.E Dr. Khaled S. Al-Sultan, Rector of KFUPM, said: "This program is an example of public-private collaboration at its best. It will contribute to the personal and career development of our students and work for the greater good of the Saudi economy and society. The program meets the specific scientific, technical and management challenges facing the Kingdom today and helps put our knowledge workers on the world map."

The internships will be implemented through the KFUPM's Cooperative (COOP) Program, which aims to bolster the practical experience of students prior to graduation and equip them with the necessary vocational skills to excel in the workplace.

The Intel Engineering Excellence Program seeks top science and engineering undergraduates, post-graduate, and doctoral students whose studies encompass relevant subjects in the Information Communication Technology sphere, such as computer science and engineering, wireless communications, and electrical engineering.

The joint exercise with KFUPM will satisfy the practical training requirements of its colleges in Applied Engineering, Industrial Management, Computer Sciences and Engineering, and Environmental Design.

A managing committee will review applications, and a policy specialist will monitor the program to ensure internships match the evolving ICT objectives of the Kingdom. This committee will specify technical areas of interest to guide the selection of students, and the most promising candidates will be picked through a series of interviews. A sophisticated reporting and evaluation structure for the internships will also be put in place.

In October 2005, Intel announced its Digital Transformation Initiative for the Middle East, which encompasses programs tailored to improve digital accessibility, education, entrepreneurship, and specialized competencies.