Saudi linguistics expert shortlisted for top UK education award

An Essex graduate turned linguistics expert in Saudi Arabia is in the running to win a Study UK Alumni Award.

Dr Muhammad Alzaidi has been shortlisted for the Culture and Creativity Award in the Middle East and North Africa, Saudi Arabia region.

It is the second year in a row that Dr Alzaidi has made it onto the shortlist for the category.

He has been recognised for his research into word order and prosody, and work in providing educational linguistic tools.

One of his biggest projects has seen him set up the Saudi Society of Linguistics, which has been formerly recognised by the Government.

He said: “This society helps not only those who major in Linguistics, but also the community in general.

“It has provided a scientific platform in which the people from different countries around the world see, for example, how Arabic as a language is structured.

“It is also there to help parents whose children have speech disorders.”

Dr Alzaidi graduated from Essex with a Masters in Linguistics in 2010 and a PhD in Linguistics in 2014.

He is now an assistant professor at King Saud University, teaching MA and PhD students, while also running a YouTube channel where he teaches and inspires more than 2,000 followers.

Dr Alzaidi has recently become part of a specialized team who are working on Saudi dialects for AI.

Reflecting on his time at Essex, Dr Alzaidi said: “When I started studying at the University of Essex, I received loads of help including social and academic help.

“The University welcomes all people from all countries regardless of nationality, race or anything. “It opens all the chances to its students.

“At Essex we learnt new skills that not only help us in the academic world, but also help us improve our lives.”

The Alumni Awards celebrate the outstanding achievements of alumni and showcase the impact and value of a UK higher education.

Award winners and finalists are leaders in their fields who have used their experience of studying at a UK university to make a positive contribution to their communities, professions and countries.

The Study UK Alumni Awards 2021-22 finalists will be announced later this month.