The UK honours alumnus Dr Wail Mousa at the Study UK Alumni Awards

Alumnus Dr Wail Mousa recognised for his outstanding achievement in business innovation at the Study UK Alumni Awards.

The British Embassy and British Council announced the recipients of the Study UK Alumni Awards 2020-21 in Saudi Arabia at the recent awards ceremony, hosted by the British Ambassador in Riyadh. UK alumni from Jeddah, Riyadh, Dhahran, Qassim and Thuwal were recognised for their outstanding achievements as business professionals, entrepreneurs and community leaders, and for their important contributions in strengthening collaborative ties between the UK and Saudi Arabia.

Photo credit: Arab News.

British Ambassador to Saudi Arabia HMA Neil Crompton said, “I am delighted to host the 7th Study UK Alumni Award ceremony in person this year, and have the chance to meet many of bright Saudi women and men who are driving economic success and social impact through their work, in their professions, and in their communities to achieve the Vision set out by their  leadership. This prestigious international award celebrates UK higher education and the achievements of outstanding Saudis who studied in the UK and are using their education to make a positive impact. My congratulations to all our finalists and winners. I encourage many more Saudis who have studied in the UK to apply to the Awards so that more of these amazing stories can be shared, not only to celebrate their success but also to inspire others.”

This prestigious international award celebrates UK higher education and the achievements of outstanding Saudis who studied in the UK and are using their education to make a positive impact. My congratulations to all our finalists and winners.

Eilidh Kennedy McLean, British Council Country Director said, “The remarkable individuals we celebrated today at the Study UK Alumni Awards in Riyadh have all taken their UK education as a starting point to excel in their chosen careers and shape the world around them. This year’s awards ceremony is testimony not only to the diversity of UK alumni and their endeavours, but also to the transformative impact of a UK education. With more than 100,000 alumni of a UK education, there is much to celebrate.”

This year’s awards ceremony is testimony not only to the diversity of UK alumni and their endeavours, but also to the transformative impact of a UK education. With more than 100,000 alumni of a UK education, there is much to celebrate

The Entrepreneurial Award, which highlights alumni who have played a leading role in business innovation, was presented to alumnus Dr Wail Mousa. Dr Mousa is the founding Dean of the Entrepreneurship Institute and Professor of Electrical Engineering at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM). He was the first Saudi to be sponsored by Dhahran Techno Valley for a PhD in Electronics and Electrical Engineering at the University of Leeds.

His achievements include publishing over 50 publications, authoring 3 best-selling books and designing 6 patents. In addition, through the Entrepreneurship Institute, he has supported over 30 successful start-ups, which have generated over 25 million Saudi riyal (SR) in cumulative revenue and created more than 100 jobs in the last five years.

The award received around 1,300 applications from international UK alumni in more than 100 countries, representing more than 120 UK higher education institutions across the UK. Following in-depth interviews with a judging panel, recipients were selected for the three award categories: Professional Achievement, Entrepreneurial, and Social Impact. The Professional Achievement was awarded to Dr Roua Alsubki and the Social Impact award went to Dr Bandar Alosaimi.

The Alumni Awards were developed by the British Council and UK universities, and are open to alumni currently residing in any country outside the UK, who have studied in the UK, at an officially recognised provider of UK university degree level study for a minimum of a term or semester, or who have been awarded a full UK degree level qualification (or higher), by a UK university, within the last 15 years. You can read more about this year’s inspirational winners here.