Applied Linguistics PhD Student Wins Second Place at Saudi Arabia’s Inaugural National 3MT
National Recognition for CLT Student
King Khalid University's College of Languages and Translation is celebrating a significant achievement as Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics student Reem Amer Al-Amer secured second place in Saudi Arabia's first national Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition organized by the College of Human Sciences and Design at King Abdulaziz University on May 7, 2025.
This remarkable accomplishment brings prestigious recognition to the College of Languages and Translation at King Khalid University, highlighting the exceptional quality of both its Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics program and its commitment to developing students with outstanding research communication skills.
Research Excellence
Al-Amer, under the expert supervision of Dr. Mazeegha Al-Tale from the Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics program at the College of Languages and Translation and Prof. Sultan Almujaiwel, impressed judges with her presentation titled "The Role of Lexical Choices in the Construction of Saudi Cultural Identity in the Writings of Saudi Novelists: A Cross-Generational Corpus-based Analysis."
Her ability to articulate years of sophisticated corpus-based linguistic research within the competition's strict three-minute format demonstrated exceptional mastery of both her subject matter and science communication skills.
The Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics program at the College of Languages and Translation has established itself as a leader in developing researchers who not only conduct innovative linguistic analysis but also excel at making their work accessible and relevant to non-specialist audiences.
Al-Amer's research represents a significant contribution to understanding the evolution of Saudi cultural identity through linguistic analysis. By examining corpus data from multiple generations of Saudi novelists, her work provides insights into how language choices reflect changing cultural perspectives over time.
The methodology employed in her research combines traditional corpus linguistics with innovative computational approaches, allowing for both quantitative and qualitative analysis of lexical patterns across a substantial body of literary works.
Student Reflections
The Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics program at the College of Languages and Translation has provided Al-Amer with both the research foundation and academic discourse abilities needed to succeed in this prestigious competition.
Media Coverage
The achievement has garnered significant media attention across Saudi Arabia, with prominent coverage highlighting the significance of this accomplishment for both the student and the university's growing reputation in applied linguistics research.
Makkah Electronic Newspaper
Comprehensive coverage of Saudi Arabia's first national Three Minute Thesis competition, featuring Reem Amer Al-Amer's achievement among other participants and highlighting the significance of this academic event.
Read Full ArticleEvent Timeline
First Saudi 3MT
King Abdulaziz University becomes the first Saudi university to join the international 3MT competition, originally founded by the University of Queensland in Australia.
National Competition
Saudi Arabia hosts its first national Three Minute Thesis competition with participation from 18 Saudi universities.
Competition Day
The competition takes place at King Abdulaziz University, organized by the College of Human Sciences and Design.
Second Place Win
Reem Amer Al-Amer secures second place with her presentation on lexical choices in Saudi novels.
Media Coverage
The achievement is featured in Makkah Electronic Newspaper, highlighting the significance for KKU.
Program Expansion
The College of Languages and Translation plans to encourage more Ph.D. students to participate in future 3MT competitions, building on this success.
About Three Minute Thesis (3MT)
The Three Minute Thesis competition, now held at over 900 universities across more than 85 countries worldwide, challenges doctoral candidates to present their research within exactly three minutes using just one static slide and language appropriate for a non-specialist audience.
Origins
The competition was originally founded by the University of Queensland in Australia in 2008. It was designed to develop students' academic, presentation, and research communication skills by challenging them to explain years of complex research in just three minutes.
King Abdulaziz University was the first Saudi university to join the international 3MT network, becoming a member in 2016, bringing this innovative format to the Kingdom.
Saudi Arabia's First 3MT National Competition
In 2025, Saudi Arabia organized its first national Three Minute Thesis competition, marking a significant milestone in academic research communication within the Kingdom.
The competition saw impressive participation from 18 Saudi universities, reflecting the growing emphasis on research communication skills in Saudi higher education institutions.
The national competition was organized by King Abdulaziz University's College of Human Sciences and Design, serving as a platform to showcase doctoral research from across the country.
Skills Development
The 3MT competition helps doctoral students develop crucial skills in research communication, presentation, and the ability to explain complex topics to general audiences—all valuable abilities for academic and professional success.
Participants learn to distill years of research into a concise, engaging narrative that connects with both specialist and non-specialist audiences.
The strict time limit forces researchers to identify the core significance of their work and communicate it with precision and clarity.
Judging Criteria
At every level of the competition each competitor is assessed on equally weighted criteria with an emphasis on audience:
Comprehension and Content
- Presentation provided clear motivation, background and significance to the research question
- Presentation clearly described the research strategy/design and the results/findings of the research
- Presentation clearly described the conclusions, outcomes and impact of the research
Engagement and Communication
- The oration was delivered clearly, and the language was appropriate for a non-specialist audience
- The PowerPoint slide was well-defined and enhanced the presentation
- The presenter conveyed enthusiasm for their research and captured and maintained the audience's attention
The competition emphasizes the importance of making complex research accessible without sacrificing academic rigor.
Global Recognition
Success in 3MT competitions provides international visibility for both the individual researchers and their institutions, highlighting excellence in research and communication.
Winners of institutional competitions often advance to regional, national, and even international competitions, gaining exposure to broader academic and professional networks.
Many universities record and share 3MT presentations online, further expanding the reach and impact of the research being presented.
Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics Program
Program Mission
The PhD program in Applied Linguistics fosters a dynamic academic and research environment that advances linguistic knowledge, innovation, and community engagement. Committed to excellence in teaching and learning, research, and community service, the program equips scholars with advanced theoretical and methodological expertise to address contemporary linguistic challenges, contribute to global and local discourse, and develop research-driven solutions for language education and policy.
