Stanford University and UC Berkley have joined forces to help bring back science and technology to Saudi Arabia through one of its universities, both schools announced on Tuesday. They chose King Abdullah University of Science and Technology or KAUST to be the starting point of what both sides wish to be the re-birth of a modern system of education in Saudi Arabia.

The purpose of these international collaborations is to rebuilt KAUST’s math and technology departments, which have fallen behind standards in terms of modern education. A total of five universities in the United States have agreed to help build a curriculum and establish a graduate-university that is said to open up in September 2009, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

"KAUST’s decision to enter into an academic alliance with the applied mathematics and computational science department at Stanford is based on its preeminent global reputation, built on the longtime scientific achievements of its faculty," said Nadhmi Al-Nasr, KAUST’s Interim President.

At the same time, Stanford engineering professor Jean-Claude Latombe said in his statement: “We have a chance to make a big impact in this country and, since Saudi Arabia has become the most important Arab country, we can also have a major impact on the region.”

Saudi King Abdullah agreed to sponsor the university with a $10 billion personal contribution, while the Stanford and Berkley universities will receive each $25 million on a five year period. At the same time, the universities will receive $3-4 million for administrative costs.

KAUST is expected to offer its graduates international standards of education and at the same time align the Saudi Arabian technology and mathematics departments to what they once were: a scientific center with worldwide reconnaissance.