17.4 Education for the SDGs
17.4.1 Commitment to Meaningful Education
17.4.2 Specific Courses on Sustainability
17.4.3 Education for SDGs in the Wider Community
17.4.4 Sustainable Literacy
17.2 Relationships to Support the Goals
17.3 SDG Reports
Commitment to Meaningful SDG Education Across the University
Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST) is deeply committed to advancing education for sustainable development by embedding the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across its academic programs, campus activities, and community initiatives. In alignment with SDG 17.4.1, the University ensures that sustainability concepts and global citizenship values are integrated throughout the curriculum, making SDG education relevant and applicable to all students, regardless of their field of study.
Through a combination of mandatory coursework, integrated learning outcomes, and optional programs, GUST equips students with the knowledge, skills, and ethical understanding necessary to address today’s social, environmental, and economic challenges. Each academic department actively links its courses to one or more SDGs, ensuring that all students engage with sustainability topics in meaningful and discipline-specific ways.
In addition, the University promotes experiential and applied learning opportunities—such as workshops, interdisciplinary projects, and research initiatives—that allow students to connect theoretical knowledge with real-world sustainability issues. This holistic approach reflects GUST’s enduring commitment to nurturing future leaders who are not only academically competent but also socially responsible and globally aware.
Embedding the SDGs in Every College Curriculum
Gulf University for Science and Technology demonstrates a strong commitment to meaningful education around the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across all its colleges and programs. In alignment with SDG 17.4.1, the University ensures that sustainability principles and global awareness are integrated throughout the full curriculum, making education for the SDGs relevant and mandatory to all students.
Each of the 3 colleges at GUST embeds SDG-related content into its courses, linking learning outcomes with real-world global challenges. This approach allows students to understand how their fields contribute to advancing sustainability—from environmental protection and gender equality to innovation, responsible consumption, and ethical governance.
- College of Arts and Sciences: Courses in English, Computer Science, Humanities, and Math connect classroom learning to SDGs such as Quality Education (SDG 4), Gender Equality (SDG 5), and Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10).
- College of Business Administration: Programs highlight SDGs like Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8) and Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12) through projects, case studies, and ethics-based coursework.
- College of Engineering and Architecture: Courses integrate SDGs including Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure (SDG 9) and Climate Action (SDG 13) by linking technological solutions with sustainable development.
This integration of SDG education across the curriculum ensures that every GUST student, regardless of major, encounters sustainability learning outcomes that build critical thinking, ethical awareness, and global citizenship. Some courses offer mandatory SDG-linked modules, while others provide optional opportunities for deeper exploration, encouraging lifelong engagement with sustainable development.
Applying Academic Learning to the SDGs
In addition to SDG learning integrated throughout the core curriculum, GUST offers an optional university-wide initiative called “Live Your Major (LYM)”, designed to help students apply their classroom knowledge to real-world, sustainability-driven projects. These elective courses are optional for students to take, but aim to invite students from various disciplines to collaborate with external organizations and interpret their academic major through the lens of the SDGs.
Each LYM course links academic theory with hands-on community engagement and practical problem-solving. For example, courses in Computer Science, Education, Linguistics, Literature, and Media & Communication address SDGs ranging from Quality Education (SDG 4) and Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8) to Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (SDG 9) and Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10).
A notable example includes the Modern Poetry LYM course led by Dr. Shahd Alshammari, in collaboration with the GUST Library. Students explored how literature and emotional intelligence contribute to the SDGs, particularly in nurturing empathy, creativity, and global citizenship. The Library supported the project through an interactive discussion and a newly created Reflection Zone, featuring curated books and resources to aid students’ sustainability-related research.
GUST Insurance Track Gains First CII Accreditation in Kuwait
GUST's Insurance track has been accredited by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII), making GUST the first university in Kuwait to be accredited by CII. Established in 1912, the CII is a professional body dedicated to building public trust in the insurance and financial planning profession by 'Securing and justifying the confidence of the public' in its members and the insurance sector as a whole, through setting standards of integrity, technical competence, and business capability.
Dr. Khaled Elmawazini, Head of Economics and Finance Department said, “GUST is the first Kuwaiti university accredited by CII, one of the most prestigious, globally recognized standard designation in the field of Insurance, founded in 1917. This accreditation allows our students to get exemptions for relevant exams and qualifications that can help them achieve CII qualifications faster than other students in Kuwait and Middle East.”
Prof. Jean-Paul Arnaout, Dean of the College of Business Administration, offered his warmest congratulations and expressed his sincere gratitude to Dr. Khaled Elmawazini and the Economics & Finance Department for this achievement. Prof. Jean-Paul noted, “At the CBA, we are always in a continuous improvement process, revising our curriculum when needed to equip our students with the skills needed by the industry. The CII accreditation is yet another recognition of our unceasing commitment to top-quality education.”
Other top universities accreditted by CII include University College London and University of Nottingham, while GUST and King Abdulaziz University are the only two universities in the GCC accredited by CII.
GUST Sponsors 11th QS Maple Conference
Kuwait City, 28 March 2021: Gulf University of Science and Technology sponsored the 11th QS Maple conference. The conference spanned three days between the 23rd and 25th of March, and it was also the second edition to be held virtually since its inception. QS Maple’s organizing partner for 2021 was Prince Mohammed Bin Fahad University, based in Khobar, Saudi Arabia. The theme for this year’s edition was “The Future Today: Sustainable growth towards 2030”.
The goals of the conference included networking both professionally and on behalf of the institution, the opportunity to meet decision-makers and experts relevant to the Middle East and Africa in one place. Professional development by sharing best practices by a diverse set of institutions. As well as trend watching and research by engaging first-hand with knowledgeable participants from the region and beyond. Lastly, promotion of one’s institution to global peers for potential collaboration and all-round branding. The attendants included public officials and policymakers, senior or rising education administrators, professors, Ph.D. students, international quality assurance agencies, and various NGO’s.
Among the key guest speakers were Dr. Issaa H. AlAnsari, President of Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University; Haifa Al Kaylani, Founder & Chairman, Arab International Women’s Forum and Commissioner; Ashwin Fernandes, Regional Director – Middle East, North Africa & South Asia, QS Quacquarelli Symonds; and Andrew MacFarlane, Rankings Manager, QS Quacquarelli Symonds.
GUST’s Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dr. Bassam Alameddine said, “The conference is amongst the most adequate regional platforms that allows us to show fellow institutions of higher education the mission and values that GUST represents in the community. Strategically, it was important to disclose how far GUST has come since its inception and the ambitious future plans that we have as a leading institute in the GCC.”
QS MAPLE is designed for senior and rising higher education leaders, as well as academics, who are interested in the advancement of higher education in the Middle East and Africa in an international context. GUST’s sponsorship demonstrates its commitment to engaging with brilliant minds from around the world to exchange ideas and find innovative solutions to new-world problems.
AACSB Accreditation Extended
Kuwait City, 17 February 2021: The Gulf University for Science and Technology’s College of Business Administration’s AACSB accreditation has been extended for an additional five years. The extension further solidifies the university’s local and global position in providing premium education.
AACSB is a global non-profit association that has 1700 member organizations worldwide, as well as 840 accredited business schools worldwide. Its main mission is to set the standard for business education globally. Along with accreditations, AACSB holds numerous seminars for individuals and for its member organizations, as well as conferences, publications which include insight into business school data and current trends in business.
The Dean of the College of Business Administration, Dr. Jean-Paul Arnaout said, “The College of Business Administration (CBA) is delighted to announce the successful extension of AACSB accreditation of all the business degree programs offered by the school. Being AACSB-accredited is an achievement in that only 5% of the Business schools worldwide have earned this distinction, and a testament of the years of work by our faculty and staff, along with the success of our current students and alumni. Congratulations to the faculty, students, staff, and all supporters of the school!”
This accreditation is just one of many that GUST holds. In addition to the AACSB Business accreditation, GUST also holds accreditations from the Commission on English Language Program Accreditation (CEA) for its English Foundation Program, the College Reading & Learning Association (CRLA) for its One Stop Student Advising Center, the National Association for Developmental Education(NADE) for its Math Foundation Unit, ABET Computing Accreditation Commission for its Computer Science Program, and the American Communications Association (ACA) for its Mass Communication and Media Department.
GUST breaks into QS International Rankings
Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST) announced that it has been inducted into the global rankings by one of the most influential international university rankings firms, Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Limited. With this new milestone, GUST is the only private university in Kuwait to make the list, making it the top-ranked private educational institution in Kuwait.
This comes as a major achievement, as the university was previously only ranked among universities in the Arab region. Only two universities from Kuwait featured in the international ranking, with the other being Kuwait University. As a new entrant to this list, GUST is joined by only 46 other universities, which makes this achievement even more exceptional.
University President, Professor Walid Bouhamra said, “This is a remarkable achievement for our young university, especially as we try to navigate such unprecedented circumstances. Our focus from the very beginning has been on providing our students with a high-quality institution that is recognized as a pillar and hub of knowledge. This new accolade reflects the level of education GUST provides. Furthermore, being the only private university from Kuwait is a major triumph for us. This is a testimony to the success of our policies towards diversification, academic excellence, and focus on quality”.
GUST has featured in the QS University Rankings for the Arab Region since 2016, when the university was ranked as 73rd, and 49th the following year. This year, the university has improved to the extent that it is now featured in rankings that evaluate the strengths of all of the world’s higher education institutions. To feature on this list, the university is ranked according to specific measurements, namely, academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty student ratio, citations per faculty, international faculty index, and the number of international students.
With this, GUST remains the only private university in Kuwait to be internationally recognized in this manner for its academic prowess, and further highlights the dedication and calibre of its faculty, students, and staff. The QS ranking shows that GUST continues to maintain its leadership among private universities in Kuwait in key areas covered by the assessment.
Since 2016, GUSTs strategic goal is to enhance its position in the coming couple of years and to be listed in higher positions in the international rankings. QS World University Rankings, Times Higher Education World University Rankings, and US News Best Global Universities provide one of the few external measures of university strength and can be a factor in how prospective students choose the right school.
GUST and KPC Announce Recipients for Sustainable Development Scholarship
Gulf University for Science and Technology announced last week that GUST alumni have been awarded the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) Sustainable Development Scholarship to the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom. The scholarship is the first of its kind for both institutions and is set to take place from November 23 to December 7. The scholarship covers all tuition fees as well as travel and subsistence costs and educational materials during the two-week training course.
The alumni were selected based on criteria set by the university and KPC. Notably, applicants had to have a GPA of 3.3 or above, graduated within the last two years, be Kuwaiti citizens, and be unemploymed throughout the duration of the program. The selected alumni are: Lojain AlOmani, Sara AlMusallam, Samaa AlSaif, Ghadna AlKhamees, Munirah AlMailam, Shaikha AlMatouq, Budoor AlKhaledi, Bodoor AlZanki, and Yousef AlMunayes.
GUST President, Professor Walid Bouhamra, and KPC PR Manager, Jamal Al-Sanoosi met with the recipients to congratulate them and express their excitement for the program. Also present at the meeting were Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Fahed Al-Sumait, Vice President for Professional Development and Community Services, Dr. Ahmed Al-Darbas, Dean of the College of Business Administration, Prof. Antonis Simintiras, Head of the Business Administration Department, Dr. Ahmed El-Melegy, Initiative Members, Dr. Osama Al-Falah and Dr. Garvan Whelan, as well as International Program Coordinator, Nabae Asfar.
The students will be attending daily courses on Sustainable Development which crystallizes key concepts and provides the alumni with the opportunity to apply them to their geographical context of Kuwait and across various sectors, in particular, energy. All classes will be held at the Science Policy Research Unit at the University of Sussex.
The sessions have been assembled into an intensive course with a distinct and cumulative set of learning outcomes, and will be delivered through purpose-designed teaching and learning activities. The first week will include an introduction of the historical and contemporary debates on sustainable development as a whole, help the students understand the origin of sustainable development and its current manifestations in business, policy and politics; as well as apply a selection of economic and non-economic frameworks to understand and analyze sustainable development issues, in particular around the energy policy. The second week will focus on transformations to sustainable development where students will get to understand the systemic changes required to deliver the 17 sustainable development goals as set by the United Nations, the role of power and politics in their realization, and to develop an appreciation of the economic, social, and historical roots of social and environmental injustice.
By the end of the course students will be able to demonstrate a working knowledge and understanding of sustainable development concepts and frameworks, and have the ability to apply them at different levels and in different contexts.
Although this is the first scholarship for alumni, it is a valuable addition to GUST’s multiple study abroad programs available to its students. Other similar opportunities include the Summer Scholarship Program to the University of Missouri – St. Louis and George Washington University in the USA, and the MBA study abroad course which most recently took place at the Freie University in Berlin, Germany.
