4.3.1 Public Access to Educational Resources
4.3.2 Hosting Public Events at University
4.3.3 Hosting Vocational Training Events at University
4.3.4 Educational Outreach Activities Beyond Campus
4.3.5 Lifelong Learning Access Policy
Vocational Training and Executive Education Programs
Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST) plays a leading role in advancing lifelong learning and professional development through its commitment to executive education and vocational training. In alignment with SDG 4.3.3, the University provides structured learning opportunities (Ad hoc and on programmed basis) for working professionals, graduates, and members of the community seeking to enhance their skills, advance their careers, or transition into new fields.
Through its Executive Education Center, GUST hosts a variety of short-term training courses, workshops, and certification programs that are open to the general public. These programs are designed to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and industry practice, equipping participants with practical competencies, leadership capabilities, and technical expertise relevant to today’s evolving job market.
Whether delivered as ad hoc training events or as part of a regularly programmed curriculum, these initiatives embody GUST’s mission to promote lifelong learning, employability, and community capacity building. By providing accessible, high-quality vocational education, GUST directly contributes to the objectives of SDG 4: Quality Education and SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, empowering individuals to develop their potential and contribute effectively to society.
GUST Executive Education: Expanding Public Access to Professional and Vocational Learning
Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST), through its Executive Education Center (ExecEd), extends educational opportunities beyond traditional university degree programs by offering a diverse portfolio of public courses, professional certification preparation programs, and practical skills-development training.Designed for working professionals, recent graduates, educators, and individuals seeking to develop new competencies, these programs support continuous learning and professional advancement across a wide range of disciplines.GUST's publicly advertised training schedules demonstrate its commitment to providing structured learning opportunities in business management, accounting, technology, healthcare, language proficiency, leadership, and specialized vocational fields.Through flexible training formats, industry-relevant curricula, and professional education opportunities, GUST contributes to SDG 4 by expanding access to lifelong learning and supporting the development of skills relevant to Kuwait's evolving workforce.
2024 PROGRAMS AND FIELDS OF TRAINING
2025 PROGRAMS AND FIELDS OF TRAINING
Featured course descriptions:
Professional Certification and Career Development Program
GUST Executive Education's 2025 public training portfolio included scheduled professional preparation courses covering internationally recognized professional qualifications and specialized business competencies. The portfolio featured preparation programs for the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Project Management Professional (PMP), and SHRM-CP/SCP certifications. Additional training opportunities included International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, insurance qualifications, and professional auditing and regulatory courses. These programs provide structured opportunities for individuals outside conventional university programs to strengthen industry-related knowledge, develop professional competencies, and prepare for independent certification examinations where applicable. By offering professional learning across different career stages, GUST supports continuing education, employability, and workforce development.
Human Resource Management: SHRM Professional Certification Preparation
GUST Executive Education provides a structured review course supporting preparation for the Society for Human Resource Management Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) and Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) examinations. The program is structured around 24 training sessions, representing 72 hours of professional learning, and is designed for human resource practitioners seeking to update their knowledge, enhance professional competencies, and prepare for advanced certification. The course covers human resource leadership, ethical practice, strategic workforce planning, talent acquisition, employee engagement, organizational development, employment relations, diversity and inclusion, and workplace risk management. Its training materials also include mock examinations, tutoring activities, and structured review resources designed to support professional learning. The program brochure identifies hybrid delivery arrangements, enabling participants to attend sessions at GUST or participate remotely. By providing specialized preparation for professional qualifications, GUST contributes to lifelong learning and continuous professional development within the human resources sector.
Bright Minds Camp: Developing Creative, Digital and Interpersonal Skills
GUST Executive Education has also developed the Bright Minds Camp, a structured ten-day learning programme designed to develop creativity, digital literacy, communication, and collaborative skills among younger learners.The camp curriculum combines technology education with creative and interpersonal development through practical activities addressing:
- Digital character design and visual storytelling.
- Creative thinking and animation.
- Stop-motion production.
- Introduction to artificial intelligence and ethical reasoning.
- Excel and PowerPoint literacy.
- Public speaking and presentation skills.
- Time management, teamwork, and leadership.
The program concludes with a screening and graduation activity recognizing participants' development throughout the learning experience.By designing multidisciplinary educational experiences beyond conventional university courses, GUST broadens the scope of its lifelong learning initiatives and supports the development of foundational digital, creative, and interpersonal competencies.
Training Events
Arabic Teachers Professional Development Program: Advancing Innovative Language Teaching
December 4, 2024 | Humanities and Social Sciences Department and Center for Teaching, Learning & Research (CTLR)
Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST), through its Humanities and Social Sciences Department in collaboration with the Center for Teaching, Learning & Research (CTLR), organized a professional development workshop for Arabic language teachers from high schools across Kuwait on December 4, 2024. Held for the second consecutive year, the workshop brought together 150 teachers to strengthen their instructional competencies and explore innovative approaches to teaching Arabic language and literature. Under the theme "Teaching Classical Arabic Poetry Differently," the training introduced contemporary pedagogical approaches designed to enrich classroom instruction and enhance students' engagement with classical Arabic poetry. The workshop provided participating educators with opportunities to engage with subject-matter experts, exchange teaching experiences, and explore instructional practices applicable to their professional work. By extending specialized educational training to teachers beyond GUST, the university demonstrated its commitment to lifelong learning, teacher professional development, and the improvement of educational practices across Kuwait. The initiative directly contributes to SDG 4 by supporting the continuous professional development of educators and strengthening the quality of teaching and learning within the wider educational community.
Microsoft Office Specialist Championship
In July 2025, GUST proudly hosted the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) Championship for the first time in Kuwait, marking a major step toward promoting digital literacy and professional skill development. It was open to the public and participants underwent training sessions in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel, where they learned to create professional documents, data reports, and presentations that reflect real-world workplace standards. These training workshops were designed to enhance participants’ technical proficiency, creativity, and confidence in using Microsoft Office tools.
Following the training phase, participants competed in the official MOS Championship, where they were tasked with completing a series of projects under time constraints to demonstrate their mastery of the software. The winners were then selected to represent Kuwait in the International MOS Championship, standing as a testament to their dedication and excellence. This event reflects GUST’s ongoing commitment to lifelong learning and vocational training, equipping individuals with essential digital skills for success in their future careers.
French Teacher Training Program
In February 2025, the Humanities and Social Sciences Department (H&SS), in collaboration with the French Embassy in Kuwait and the Ministry of Education, hosted the second edition of the French Teacher Training Program at GUST. Building on the success of the inaugural workshop, this year’s training expanded to include new sessions designed to strengthen the teaching of French language and culture in Kuwait’s schools. The program welcomed French language educators from various institutions, providing them with open access to high-quality professional development delivered by experts in the field.
The two-day training featured interactive workshops organized in partnership with the Center for Teaching, Learning & Research (CTLR), focusing on innovative instructional methods, classroom engagement strategies, and modern language pedagogy. Through this initiative, GUST continues to play a pivotal role in enhancing language education nationwide, supporting teachers in improving student outcomes, and fostering cultural exchange within the wider community—fully aligning with the goals of lifelong learning and SDG 4.3.
Interpreting & Translation Center (ITC) Training Workshops
The Interpreting and Translation Center (ITC) at GUST actively contributes to lifelong learning by offering a wide range of specialized vocational training workshops that are open to the public and not limited to university students. These training sessions aim to enhance professional skills in the field of translation and interpreting, equipping participants with industry-relevant competencies. Among the workshops hosted are Arabic Sign Language Training, Technical Translation, Comedy Translation, and courses on Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) tools, each designed and delivered by experienced faculty and professional translators. Through these programs, ITC plays a vital role in strengthening language accessibility, promoting cultural understanding, and supporting career development within Kuwait’s expanding translation and interpretation sector.
