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KAUST: Best-in-Class HR

The KAUST Project

The King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (www.kaust.edu.sa), a client some 10,000 miles away, is a brand-new institution of higher learning that opened in September 2009 on the shores of the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia. Saudi King Tries to Grow Modern Ideas in Desert.) In developing the organization structure and HR infrastructure for the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, the PSG team had to address the following issues:

  • The impact of globalization, technology and significant cross-cultural differences on HR policies and practices in the academic workplace;
  • The ability of compensation and benefits packages to attract and retain a multi-national faculty and staff;
  • Introduction of best-practice systems, processes and procedures in recruiting, performance management and communications;
  • The role HR in making a strategic difference, rather than processing transactions from the sidelines.

Performance-Solutions-Group (PSG) benchmarked best practices of leading higher ed institutions in the US and the Middle East, while drawing from the best in the for-profit and not-for-profit worlds.

PSG’s Role

PSG’s recommendations focused on:

  • Organizational structure
  • Compensation structure and pay-for-performance (including incentive plans)
  • Special expatriate benefits
  • Recruiting strategies
  • Related governance issues
  • Other HR policies and procedures, including a code of ethics and job descriptions for multiple positions.
Let PSG Help You

With our extensive experience in the corporate and not-for-profit arenas, and knowledge of best practices in higher education, PSG’s consultants can audit your HR organization and develop the solutions and recommendations that will help you play a strategic leadership role.

Categories : Case Studies

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