SDG1: NO POVERTY
SDG 1 calls for an end to poverty in all its forms, everywhere. In Kuwait, a nation known for its prosperity, addressing this global challenge remains a priority, and institutions like the Gulf University for Science and Technology have a crucial role to play. Kuwait has made significant progress in reducing poverty and improving the living conditions of its citizens. However, addressing income disparities and providing opportunities for all to prosper remains a key focus. The government of Kuwait recognizes that achieving SDG 1 is not just about income, but also about access to quality education and economic opportunities.
GUST's Role in Advancing SDG 1
Scholarship Programs: GUST is committed to providing equitable access to quality education. The university offers a range of scholarship programs that enable talented but financially disadvantaged students to pursue higher education. These scholarships help alleviate the financial burden of tuition fees, textbooks, and living expenses, thereby contributing directly to poverty eradication.
Financial Literacy: GUST incorporates financial literacy into its curriculum to empower students with the knowledge and skills needed to make informed financial decisions. By educating students about budgeting, saving, and investment, the university equips them to better manage their finances and plan for a secure future.
Career Development: GUST focuses on preparing students for the job market through career development initiatives. By providing resources, workshops, and counseling services, the university helps students secure gainful employment, reducing their risk of falling into poverty.
Community Engagement: GUST extends its commitment to SDG 1 beyond the campus. The university participates in community outreach programs, offering educational and vocational training opportunities to underprivileged individuals in Kuwait. By doing so, GUST contributes to skill development and poverty reduction in the wider community.
Financial Aid, Scholarships & Student Employment
GUST supports students from low-income and disadvantaged backgrounds through a range of programmes designed to reduce financial barriers and help them complete their education. These include need-based financial aid, merit scholarships that ease the burden on high-achieving students from lower-income families, and on-campus employment opportunities that allow students to earn income while gaining experience. Together, these initiatives reflect GUST’s commitment to supporting students facing economic challenges and directly align with the goals of SDG 1.3
Low-Income Student Support
GUST provides several forms of support to help students from lower-income families succeed throughout their studies. The university offers financial aid for students who face economic challenges, ensuring that financial barriers do not prevent them from continuing their education. In addition, GUST awards Outstanding Scholarships every semester to high-performing students with a GPA of 3.5 or higher, which often benefits students from lower-income households by reducing their financial burden based on academic achievement.
Beyond financial assistance, GUST also provides free counselling and mental health services to all students, with particular attention to those experiencing personal, social, or economic disadvantages. These services help students overcome stress, emotional difficulties, and external pressures that may interfere with their academic progress. Together, these forms of financial and personal support reflect GUST’s commitment to helping low-income students complete their studies successfully in alignment with SDG 1.3.3.
Kuwait Ministry of Private Education Scholarships
GUST supports access to higher education for students from low-income households through the Kuwait Ministry of Private Education Scholarships, which are available to both Kuwaiti and non-Kuwaiti high school graduates. These fully funded government scholarships cover tuition through graduation and are designed to assist students who meet the eligibility criteria set by the Private University Council (PUC). The scholarship program serves as an essential pathway for students to pursue university studies without the burden of tuition costs. By hosting and supporting students who benefit from these scholarships, GUST contributes to widening access and helping low-income students successfully continue and complete their education in alignment with SDG 1.3.4.
More information regarding scholarship eligibility requirements and application procedures can be found on the PUC website below:
GUST Scholarships
Gulf University for Science and Technology is committed to reducing financial barriers for students from all backgrounds, including those from low-income and lower-middle income countries. In alignment with SDG 1.3.5, the University provides several scholarship and financial aid options designed to support international students who may otherwise be unable to pursue higher education due to economic constraints. These include merit-based and need-based programs, with some scholarships covering up to 70% of tuition each semester, and others offering fully funded tuition for eligible international students.
By offering financial support that directly benefits both Kuwaiti and non-Kuwaiti students facing economic hardship, GUST ensures equitable access to quality education and actively contributes to lifting financial barriers for disadvantaged learners.The University offers three main categories of scholarships:
Shaikh Jaber Scholarship:
Exclusively available to Kuwaiti students, this scholarship provides a partial tuition discount each semester for students who maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 and have completed at least 15 credits.
Outstanding Scholarship:
Awarded to students with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher who have completed at least 45 credits, this scholarship grants a significant percentage discount on tuition fees each semester. Applications are announced at the start of every semester and submitted online through the official GUST portal.
Merit Scholarship:
This full four-year scholarship is granted to newly admitted international students who achieve a high school average of 90% or above and successfully pass the GUST placement test without requiring foundation courses.
GUST Summer Scholarship Program
The GUST Summer Scholarship Program offers outstanding students the chance to study abroad during the summer term at some of the world’s leading universities, including the University of Ottawa (Canada), University of Liverpool (United Kingdom), and University of Leeds (United Kingdom). This fully funded program covers tuition fees for six academic credit hours, round-trip airfare, and a support allowance to assist with living and travel expenses, removing the financial barriers that would normally prevent many students, especially those from lower-income families, from accessing such valuable global experiences.
This initiative directly supports SDG 1 indicators focused on reducing financial barriers in higher education, particularly 1.3.3 (Low-income student support) and 1.3.5 (Support for low- or lower-middle income country students). By fully funding all essential academic and travel costs, the program ensures that talented students can participate equally.
Through this scholarship, GUST enables students to strengthen their academic knowledge, develop global awareness, and gain exposure to new cultures and learning environments. These experiences help build confidence, independence, and career readiness, offering long-term social and economic mobility for students who may face financial challenges. By expanding access to international study and removing economic limitations, GUST continues to empower disadvantaged students and uphold its commitment to inclusive and equitable education in alignment with SDG 1.
Student Employment
At Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST), students are offered meaningful on-campus employment opportunities that allow them to earn an income while gaining real-world experience. Programs such as Peer Tutoring and Note-Taking provide paid hourly roles where students can support their classmates academically—either by helping others understand course material or by assisting students with documented disabilities. These flexible positions help students develop communication skills, responsibility, and confidence while contributing to an inclusive and supportive learning environment.
These employment opportunities play an important role in supporting students who may face financial challenges. By allowing students to earn income directly on campus, GUST helps reduce personal financial pressure and provides accessible work options that can be balanced alongside academic schedules. This effort directly aligns with SDG 1.3.3, as it offers practical financial assistance through subsidized paid roles, and SDG 1.3.4 by ensuring that students from lower-income families have equitable access to opportunities that help them stay enrolled and succeed.
AI Is Your Cofounder – Entrepreneurship Workshop
In November 2025, GUST hosted the “AI Is Your Cofounder” workshop led by entrepreneurship expert Khalid Al-Zanki, offering students and aspiring founders practical training on how artificial intelligence can accelerate the development of new business ideas. The session introduced participants to emerging AI tools, startup strategies, and modern approaches to building lean, scalable ventures. By providing hands-on guidance and direct mentorship from a leading figure in Kuwait’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, the workshop equipped attendees with knowledge and resources that support sustainable business creation. This initiative aligns with SDG 1.4.1, as it represents GUST’s ongoing efforts to assist the local community through accessible education, skill-building, and support for early-stage innovators.
GUST Startup Lab Mentorship Program
In 2025, GUST strengthened its support for local entrepreneurship through the GUST Startup Lab Industry-Specific Mentorship Program, an initiative designed to help aspiring founders develop financially and socially sustainable business ideas. Running from April to June, the program connected participants with experienced mentors across multiple industries, offering weekly workshops on key startup topics along with tailored one-on-one mentorship sessions. These learning opportunities helped participants refine their business models, validate their ideas, and gain practical insights from industry professionals.
The program concluded with a Final Presentation and Demo Day, where participants pitched their startups and competed for top placement. In addition to mentorship and training, GUST also provided direct financial assistance to help promising ideas grow. Cash prizes were awarded to the top three teams, offering real support to early-stage entrepreneurs. For example, the second-place team, AgriScan, received KWD 1,000 to further develop their agricultural sustainability solution. These financial awards enable participants to invest in product development, prototyping, or market testing—critical steps for young entrepreneurs.
Through this combination of free mentorship, structured entrepreneurial training, and financial support, GUST directly contributes to both SDG 1.4.1 and SDG 1.4.2, empowering community members to launch and expand sustainable, socially beneficial businesses.
Pop Culture Club Charity Fundraiser
The Pop Culture Club at Gulf University for Science and Technology organized a successful charity fundraiser that saw participation from over 200 students, all coming together to raise money for children in need. The event focused on spreading awareness and encouraging small acts of generosity within the GUST community, showing how collective effort can create meaningful social impact. The funds collected were donated to local organizations that support underprivileged children, helping provide essential resources such as food, clothing, and educational supplies.
This initiative reflects GUST’s ongoing commitment to SDG 1, by empowering students to take part in community-driven efforts that address social and economic challenges. It also reinforces the University’s goal of cultivating empathy and social responsibility among its students, fostering a campus culture grounded in care, awareness, and active citizenship.
Charity Week – Supporting Orphans and Families in Need
Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST) hosted a Charity Week dedicated to supporting orphans and families in need through student-led fundraising and donation efforts. Throughout the week, students, faculty, and staff came together to contribute money, food, and essential supplies to help improve the lives of those facing hardship in the community. The initiative encouraged compassion, generosity, and social awareness among students while strengthening the university’s connection to local charitable organizations.
This event aligns with SDG 1, as it reflects GUST’s commitment to addressing social inequalities and supporting vulnerable groups through collective action. By engaging the entire campus community in giving back, Charity Week helped raise awareness about poverty and inspired students to play an active role in creating a more caring and inclusive society.
GUST Launches “GUST_Cares” Initiative
Kuwait City, 28 April 2021: GUST launched an initiative
titled “GUST_Cares” which entailed distributing food boxes for those in need
during the holy month of Ramadan. The campaign was launched at the start of the
holy month and allowed for wider community participation, with staff members of
OSL organized full day trips to certain areas of the country, carrying out the
donations to the recipients. The overall goal is to distribute and donate 1000
boxes during the holy month of Ramadan.
Students, faculty, and staff were encouraged to either bring in supplies and food which will be put into boxes, or to take a box home and donate it to their liking. The Office of Student Life, OSL, who took charge of this drive, provided a list of necessities and food items families might require as appropriate options to donate and place within the boxes. Student clubs also participated as they took a sizeable portion of the boxes and donated them, clubs involved included: The Technology Club, the Bayan Cultural Club, the Music Club, the Islamic Finance Club, and the Human Rights Club.
Head of the Office of Student Life, Aseel Abou Nemah said “An initiative such as GUST_Cares is a social responsibility from us as a university and reinforces community solidarity. Despite these difficult times this campaign also showcases our student body’s strong sense of responsibility and their passion towards volunteer work and community service. Showing compassion and lending a helping hand to those in need during the holy month of Ramadan is what matters and we hope this encourages others to do the same.”
GUST Partners with Khibra to Benefit its Students
Kuwait City, 18 February 2021: Gulf University of Science and Technology officially announced the partnership with Khibra, a Kuwait-based platform that offers employment services for university graduates in the Middle East. This partnership comes as an effort to help connect graduates with employers, creating better opportunities and connections.
GUST’s Alumni Office continuously seeks to strengthen their relationship between its alumni and the university by providing them with a platform of diverse organizations that showcase potential employment opportunities. By joining forces with Khibra, the Office helps alumni access job opportunities and start their professional journey. The Alumni Office takes pride in GUST's alumni accomplishments and supports them in their employment journey with Khibra.
Head of the Alumni Office, Hebah Al-Roumi, said "This partnership demonstrates GUST's commitment in providing not only the highest levels of education but also the support its students deserve post-graduation to ensure a successful career launch. Our students can be confident that they will have the best opportunities as GUST alumni."
Partnering with Khibra will provide students with an efficient and streamlined experience in finding the right job opportunity using detailed analytics. This advanced system will also better understand the Alumni Office of the local job market, employer needs, and GUST alumni's career status. This partnership will also provide GUST with an event hosting platform that will bridge employers and alumni.
GUST Receives Contribution from the Project Management Institute
Gulf University for Science & Technology welcomed Project Management Institute’s (PMI) Gulf Chapter Head, Mr. Hashem Al-Refai for a meeting with GUST President, Professor Walid Bouhamra, and GUST Board of Trustees Chairman, Mr. Mohammad Al-Bahar. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss several initiatives and receive support from PMI in the form of student funds and activities.
Project Management Institute (PMI) is a global, non-profit organization with its Gulf headquarters in the Kingdom of Bahrain. PMI focuses on project management and developing project management skills globally, by providing services for project management, such as setting standards, research, education and publishing, and hosting conferences and training seminars.
PMI has contributed a total of 48,000 Bahraini Dinars (KD38,000) to help students who may need extra assistance financially, or to cater to university initiatives that would be beneficial towards the development of academic research and the community.
GUST President and BOT Chairman thanked Engineer Al-Refai and PMI for their generosity and their continuous efforts in supporting GUST and its initiatives, as well as the educational sector as a whole. The university is always in search of meaningful and productive collaborations with local and international institutions to benefit its students, faculty research, and the development of Kuwait and its community.
GUST opens up with Layan and iGive
GUST student-run club iGive, collaborated with Layan, a media volunteer team from around the Gulf, who are specialized in covering the tragedy of Syrian refugees in Lebanon. Both groups are working together to raise awareness and collect donations in attempts to provide aid for the Syrian refugees and so they got together to tell their stories of what they saw, what they did and how it is important to reach out.
The main purpose is to educate individuals about the conditions in Syria, spread awareness about what is happening and encourage people to participate in whatever means they can whether it be engaging in the act of volunteering, helping spread awareness or even donating.
First, iGive shared the story of Lulu Al-Shaheen, GUST Student and iGive Member who was nominated to join the Layan team on their trip to Lebanon. Other members of the trip were there to share their stories, including Abdulkareem Al-Shatti, Fahad Al-Rahmani, Talal Al-Mattar and Wasan Al-Budaiyeh. All normal Kuwaiti citizens, living ordinary lives here in Kuwait, but all who were determined to go lending a helping hand and ended up being helped themselves, as they said. The team took turns speaking about their journey, the families they met, their need for someone to hear them out. They all mentioned how they were there to help, but from the hope they felt from the people there, it gave them hope in themselves.
The team members shared stories of the strength and hope of the refugees and urged the audience to help in any way they can, and that doesn’t necessarily mean money or to go there, but even a word – spreading awareness – is of utmost importance.
