Awadh Alotaibi

Profile

My name is Awadh Alotaibi. I am originally from Saudi Arabia, where I am a faculty member in the Department of Sociological Studies at King Saud University, Riyadh. The institution granted me a scholarship to pursue doctoral study at the School of Sociology and Social Policy here at the University of Leeds. I am grateful for these opportunities in both countries, which have had a profound impact on me. 

My teaching experience at King Saud University and being a student abroad has given me a better understanding of my career and how to seize opportunities for both my own and future generations. This is especially important to me since during my time here, I have also become a father to a beautiful two-year-old son, Mansour.

What motivated me to undertake PhD study?

I have always been ambitious and interested in developing myself and changing my standards of living. This stems from my deep belief that through education, we can change everything. 

What are my plans once I have completed my PhD?

When I complete my PhD, I wish to continue in academia and work in research centres and organisations to make change and help to empower young Saudis. I also hope to concentrate further on developing research and publications on Saudi societal transformations. 

Research interests

My interdisciplinary research focuses on national identity, economic empowerment and political engagement and participation among young Saudis (under the age of 30), who comprise almost 65% of the entire country’s population.

My interests especially focus on Saudi youth issues concerning demographics, socioeconomic transformations, and political awareness. My research has shown that young Saudis have adopted social media in a particularly consequential way, as it enables them to enact their agency for change, provides them with a virtual space where they construct new narratives and discourses, and helps them engage in national development in all walks of life.

My other research interests include:

• Youth empowerment and development 
• Political and economic participation 
• Political sociology
• Societal transformation  
• Qualitative methodology

Conference Papers

Alotaibi, A. 2019. Leeds Doctoral College: Showcase Poster Conference. 14^th May, University of Leeds. 

Alotaibi, A. 2019. Young Lives in Contemporary Times: Transitions, Challenges, and Opportunities. 29^th  April, BSA Annual Conference. University of Stirling, Scotland. 

Alotaibi, A. 2021. What’s the Story? Narrative in Youth Work and Youth Studies. 4^th Maynooth International Youth Studies Conference, 24–25 June, Online. Maynooth University, Ireland. 

Alotaibi, A. 2021. The Time is Now? Youth Cultures, Generations and Future. 15^th ESA Conference, 31 August–3 September, Online. Barcelona, Spain. 

Alotaibi, A. 2022. The past, the present and the future of Nordic Youth Research. NYRIS Conference, 13th - 15th June. Oslo Metropolitan University, Norway.

Teaching

I have taught several modules in the School of Sociology and Social Policy at Leeds including:

• Politics and Social Transformation 
• Crime, Race and Ethnicity 

Qualifications

• B.A., Sociology and Social Work (Imam University, Saudi Arabia)
• M.A., Sociology (Western Illinois University, USA)
• PhD, Sociology (University of Leeds, in progress)