4.3.1 Access to educational resources for those not studying at the university
4.3.2 Hosting events at university that are open to the general public
4.3.3 Hosting events at university that are open to the general public
4.3.4 Educational outreach activities beyond campus
4.3.5 Policy that ensures that access to all activities is accessible to all

Community Outreach

At GUST we strongly believe in the importance of community outreach programs and partnerships. We believe that we have a social responsibility to give back and contribute to the development and improvement of, not only Kuwait, but the entire region as well. Our services include, but are not limited to, the following:

Partnerships with Civil Societies
Lectures, Arts, and Entertainment
Academic Scholarships
Faculty Involvement in the Community

Partnerships with Civil Societies

GUST has partnered with various civil societies to promote and emphasize the importance of community involvement. GUST has made available all its campus resources and facilities so that the civil societies would benefit from them in their campaigns, public lectures, and events.

Lectures, Arts, and Entertainment

The GUST calendar has numerous events and activities that are free and open to the public. Lectures on various topics include, but are not limited to, religion, politics, economics, and language arts. Moreover, the Student Union and our student clubs also organize events, carnivals, and concerts year round which students and the community can take advantage of. You can check for more over here.

Academic Scholarships

Every semester, GUST offers a limited number of internal GUST scholarships. GUST Scholarships cover full payment of tuition fees or a specific percentage of tuition fees. These scholarships are limited and, thus, highly competitive. This encourages and motivates individuals to excel academically and maintain high academic standards. For more information, you may see here.

Faculty Involvement in the Community

Many of our faculty members are involved in projects that aid the development of various sectors such as education and the economy. Moreover, they are conducting research that focuses on issues of great importance to our community and to its stability. GUST is also committed to building research centers so that students, faculty members, and the community will have access to abundant information which they would not have access to otherwise.

The Global Studies Center

The Global Studies Center at the Gulf University for Science and Technology in Kuwait conducts and supports research on cross-national topics. It examines political, economic, social, and cultural matters from a global perspective. We organize seminars, invite researchers, and publish a bi-annual newsletter. The Arabian Gulf region is not the only focus of our research. We are happy to function as partners for any kind of academic event. For all matters contact us at gsc@gust.edu.kw

Research 2023-25

Global Citizenship in Kuwait: Perspectives and Obstacles

Global citizenship is the umbrella term for social, political, environmental, and economic actions of globally minded individuals and communities on a worldwide scale. It has gained popularity as one of the United Nation’s goals for human dignity, empowerment, and for positive change in societies.

Global citizenship attempts to cross over between different groups of people, surpassing separatist categories that continue to exclude people within societies.

Given the necessity of global citizenship today, this GSC research project aims to answer the question:

What does it mean to be a global citizen today in Kuwait and in the Gulf and how can it be achieved?
What are the roots of exclusion and racism, and how are these phenomena manifest in Gulf societies?
How can policy-makers, educators, and researchers contribute to the creation and empowerment of global citizens in Kuwait?

The research project involves specialists in politics, education, culture, and media. Furthermore, researchers, administrators, activists, and non-profit organizations collaborate.

We work on the following topics:

Identity politics and belonging
Racial politics in Kuwait and the GCC
The situation of migrant and domestic workers
Gender inequalities, barriers to women’s inclusion at the workplace, women’s empowerment
‘Wokeism’ in Middle Eastern Cultures. This topic is covered by some contributors to the “Woke Conference,” especially Nesma Elsakaan and Jibril Latif
Inclusion in schools, anti-bullying, and tolerance
Disability and Education
Slavery in the Gulf, research covered by GSC members in cooperation with Dr. Nesma Elsakaan and her research group from the University of Palermo
Attitudes towards minorities in the Gulf covered by Lisa Blaydes (Stanford University)

Objectives

The research is in keeping with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) developed by UNESCO. Within the framework of “SDG4 on Global Citizenship Education” and “UNESCO for the Gulf States and Yemen” the goal is to empower Students through Global Citizenship Education.

Expected Outcomes

The project might reveal some problematic issues concerning Global Citizenship in Kuwait.

It might help in creating and developing strategies to reduce or eliminate issues related to racism that can be dealt with in a white paper to be submitted by GUST to the supreme council of planning.

Student Code of Conduct

GUST is committed to providing a positive work and learning environment where all individuals are treated fairly and with respect. Intimidation and harassment have no place in a university community.

It is the responsibility of the University to utilize its resources toward the creation of quality academic programs and to provide a friendly campus environment, which is conducive to learning and personal development. Interactions among GUST students, faculty, and staff should reflect mutual respect and professionalism.

A student enrolled at GUST assumes an obligation to behave in a manner compatible with the University’s function as an educational institution. The GUST Code of Student Conduct generally shall be limited to conduct which occurs on the University premises, at University-sponsored, or University-supervised functions. However, GUST administration may take appropriate action against students for conduct on or off University premises in order to protect the physical safety of students, faculty, staff, and visitors. Conduct, for which students are subject to sanctions, is described in detail in the University Code of Student Conduct.

University Campus Access

Registration of Visitors

Visitors are provided with special ID cards and allowed to access University premises during hours mentioned above
The Security must be informed of the name(s) of all campus visitors in order to facilitate their access to University premises
Visitors, whose names have not been provided to gate security, will be required to wait at the gate until the purpose of their visit has been verified and access to the University has been approved

Learn more

Organizing Events

GUST University's commitment to inclusivity is embodied in its open-door policy. This policy ensures that the institution's facilities are accessible to anyone who wishes to benefit from them, be it for academic, corporate, or community purposes. The idea is simple yet profound: everyone is invited to share in the wealth of knowledge, culture, and resources that GUST has to offer.

Students, faculty, and visitors from all corners of the globe come together to learn, teach, and collaborate. This cultural diversity enriches the academic and social fabric of the university, fostering a spirit of understanding and cooperation that extends far beyond its gates.

GUST's open-campus policy extends far beyond national borders. The university actively engages in partnerships and collaborations with institutions, companies, and organizations from around the world.

GUST's willingness to rent its facilities to external entities has made it a hub for conferences, seminars, workshops, and cultural events. Organizations and individuals find the university's state-of-the-art facilities and accommodating staff to be invaluable assets in bringing their visions to life. This open-door approach contributes not only to the university's sustainability but also to the broader community's enrichment.

1. Policy

1) "Facility Request Form " should be completed with all setup details - attached, signed, and submitted at least one week before the event day.

2) No" Facility Request Form" will be acceptable by mail, it should be submitted as hard copy for approval.

3) Deposit in the amount of KD300- KD750 shall be finalized by Facilities Department and shall be deposited in cash to the Finance Department at least one day before any installation for the event is conducted. The total/partial deposit amount (if applicable) shall be returned back after the event with the approval of Facilities Management Department.

4) No installation shall be allowed without the coordination and supervision of Facilities and IT Departments.

5) Some tools/items such as forklift, tables, chairs, additional power extension source will not be provided by the University.

6) Keeping the area clean is the responsibility of the Event Organizer(s) and each booth vendor is responsible for cleaning his/her own area.

7) GUST will keep a Common trash can in each corner of the building and will take the responsibility of removal of this waste. Each booth should have its own trash can; the booth vendor will be responsible for cleaning, emptying, removing that trash.

8) No booth/item/tool should block any Emergency Fire Exit.

9) All booth vendors should follow the security car parking rules and regulations.

10) No food booths shall be allowed inside any building.

11) No kitchen machines allowed to be used inside the campus, all items should be ready-made

12) No nailing or sticking on walls, poles, pillars, glasses of the University.

13) An electrician will be provided by Facilities Management Department during the event to support technical needs; organizers shall provide total Electric loads for all activities before the event.

14) Facilities Management has the right to cancel any event at any time depends on climate condition.

15) No steel banners are allowed inside the university.

16) If there is any special need for cleaners and security, electricians and consumables for the event, those can be provided upon request and availability at extra charges.

17) Deposit amount shall be deducted in the following cases; deduction amount to be determined by the Facilities Management Department:

a. Any damages to the assets of the University (e.g. floors, walls, plants, stages, glasses, pillars, roads, mechanical system, etc.).

b. Any additional requirement with short notice that has not been discussed or officially requested at least two (2) weeks before the event.

c. Not cleaning the whole area and / or not removing all event related material immediately after the event outside the campus. There will be one (1) day allowance for doing so.

Il. Application

This policy shall apply to all individuals, clubs, organizations, and companies organizing events regardless of ethnicity, religion, disability, or gender.

Event Organizing Form

GUST Global Studies Center Discusses Lineages of Nationalism, Sectarianism, and Absolutism in Bahrain and the Gulf

Gulf University for Science and Technology’s (GUST) Global Studies Center (GSC) held its second lecture of the semester with one titled “Contested Modernity: Lineages of Nationalism, Sectarianism, and Absolutism in Bahrain and the Gulf”. The event was led by Dr. Omar Alshehabi, GUST Associate Professor in the Humanities & Social Sciences Department. He obtained a BA in PPE and an M.Phil and D.Phil. in Economics at Pembroke College, Oxford. The lecture was part of the GSC’s ongoing effort to bring outstanding speakers and stimulating topics to GUST and the wider community.

The lecture began with a discussion on Dr. Al-Shehabi’s newest book, Contested Modernity; Sectarianism, Nationalism, and Colonialism in Bahrain, and then delved into the topic by drawing on a previously unexamined Arabic literature, as well as British archives. Dr. Al-Shehabi argues that sectarianism emerged as a modern phenomenon in Bahrain during this period. It also heralded the birth of absolutist rule in the Gulf, under the tutelage of the British Raj, to counter nationalist and anti-colonial movements tied to the al-Nahda renaissance in the wider Arab world.

Guest Lecturer, Dr. Omar Al-Shehabi, said, “To the causes of some of today’s problems, it is imperative that we look more closely at our past. Having published my book, I hope that the truth about specific geopolitical maneuvers finally sees the light of day.”

Dr. Al-Shebabi has previously worked at the IMF, the World Bank, McKinsey, and taught at University College, Oxford. He is the Director of the Gulf Centre for Development Policies.

Director of the Global Studies Center, Dr. Shahd Al-Shammari said, “The GSC is an active center and holds public lectures. We welcome everyone to attend. Our lectures are a chance to network with people with similar interests. Our faculty regularly connects with the community.”

The GSC is a leading research center on global studies, and a vehicle for engaging both internal and external communities through stimulating events and lectures on global issues. The center aims to conduct cutting-edge research on cross-national political, economic, social, cultural, and environmental issues of critical importance, and share research output and information regionally and globally. The GSC seeks to foster public understanding of global issues with local significance.

GUST continues to build on its mission to become a knowledge-hub that benefits and engages students, academics, and the wider Kuwait community as a whole. For more information on upcoming events, visit https://gsc.gust.edu.kw/.

Maintaining a Positive Work and Learning Environment

Gulf University for Science and Technology is committed to providing a positive work and learning environment where all individuals are treated fairly and with respect, regardless of their status. Intimidation and harassment have no place in a university community.

To honor the dignity and inherent worth of every individual member of the GUST community is a goal to which every member of the University should aspire and to which officials of the University should direct attention and resources. With respect to students, it is the University’s special responsibility to provide a positive climate in which students can learn. The Board of Trustees and all of GUST’s staff and faculty are expected to provide educational programs and otherwise direct resources to creative and serious measures designed to improve interpersonal relationships, to help develop healthy attitudes towards people, and to foster a climate in which students are treated as individuals rather than as members of a particular category of people and where learning is strongly valued.

Girls for Girls Workshop talking about the “Gathering Years at Work”

An interactive workshop that aims to introduce the Girls for Girls initiative and discuss the differing timeline perspective upon joining the workplace. Hosted by Nabila Abu Hantash a finance professional with 30 years of experience in commercial and investment banking whose education is Master in Public Admin and MBA – Finance, as well as Dr. Emily Goshy postdoctoral researcher specializing in Middle Eastern and Islamic studies

GIRLS 4 GIRLS (www.projectg4g.org) is a nonprofit initiative founded in May 2017 by a group of Women Harvard Alumni, as they felt that women remain underrepresented in leadership positions in public, private, and civil society. In 2021, Nabila Abu-Hantash, Harvard alumni and a colleague of the Co-founders, introduce this project to Kuwait as a civic initiative in partnership with the Women Cultural and Social Society. G4G-Kuwait is the first to run the program in Arabic and is doing so under the Umbrella of the Women Cultural and Social Society, established in 1963 as the First women-centric NGO. G4G runs the module at their premises with their moral and financial oversight. Its operation is within the mission, principles, and framework of G4G International i.e., towards ending economic and social discrimination against women with the aim of political, social, and economic justice.

The Team:

Nabila Abu-Hantash, G4G Country Lead

In 2020, Nabila Abu-Hantash, Harvard alumni and a colleague of the Co-founders, took it upon herself to introduce this project to Kuwait as a civic initiative and chose to partner with the Women Cultural and Social Society. The Society gave the program space and resources while Nabila ran the program and hosted the sessions. On the public service front, Nabila worked with women-centric NGOs aiding in raising funds diverted to women welfare and education of children. Currently, she is the Kuwait rep for Birzeit University providing communication strategies aiding in outreach, and logistical support, as well as being the country lead for initiative Girls for Girls, a program aiming to introduce leadership skills to girls at a young age. She is also closed to obtaining her certificate in Rapid Transformational Therapy within a never-ending journey of learning.

Dr. Emily Goshey Senior Mentor - G4G

Is a postdoctoral researcher specializing in Middle Eastern and Islamic studies. She completed her Ph.D. at Princeton University in 2019, where she received the Department of Religion’s award for excellence in undergraduate teaching. Her dissertation work on the Ibadi Muslims of Oman formed the basis of several fellowships and a postdoctoral position. She recently completed a postdoctoral fellowship on social action and global r

eligious movements. She was jointly affiliated with the Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST) and the Institute for Studies in Global Prosperity based in New York. A recent addition to the G4G Kuwait team, Dr. Goshey is passionate about gender equality in the Middle East, which has been the subject of some of her academic work. A member of the Women’s Cultural and Social Society (WCSS) and a mother of three girls, she believes that Kuwait as a whole will advance when women and men are equally empowered to contribute to society

CTLR Collaborates with Microsoft on DigiGirlz Program

GUST’s Center for Teaching, Learning, and Research, collaborated with the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS), Microsoft, and the Kuwait Ministry of Education, to host over 15 girls’ high schools on campus for the Microsoft DigiGirlz Program. The program is a digital skills program, aiming to inspire young women to pursue a career in technology.

The event was attended by senior officials including GUST President, Professor Walid Bouhamra, Microsoft General Manager, Charles Nahas, and Dr. Salam Al-Ablani, KFAS Scientific Culture Director.

The event welcomed a panel comprised of leading women in technology, including: Haya Al-Mana, Zain Kuwait’s Sustainability Manager, Noora Al-Askar, Founder of MyNutriBox App, and Arwa Al-Jaser, Founder of Mukkancom IT solutions company. The women all spoke about their journey in the field from how they started to how they succeeded. Students were then able to ask them questions about different aspects of z their experience.

The program then gave students the opportunity to learn about careers in technology, connect with Microsoft employees, and participate in hands-on computer and technology workshops.

Arnaud Lacheret: Woman is the Future of the Gulf

GSC Talk Series

Woman is the future of the Gulf: What Arabian modernity tells us

Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/94165538787

“Woman is the future of the Gulf” is the result of a long-range study based on recorded interviews with young female managers from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Kuwait. The study aims to address the concept of modernization in the Arabian Gulf.

The set of cultural, religious, and social values extant in those countries produced an original approach towards social change. By giving new rights to women, Gulf Governments have launched an impetus in their societies that is feelable inside Arabian families. Daughters and wives can now negotiate with family members (most of times males) advantages like the permission to study and then to work. Once this most symbolic step is accomplished, they introduce new values that they have acquired in their companies into their households; they thus initiate social change starting with the basic cell of society: the family.

The critical point is reached when the father becomes proud of his daughter and changes from an attitude of reluctance to the championing of women empowerment. This is the definition of a social non-movement: when a set of actors adopt the same behavior without any concertation. The “empowered” daughters and wives become micro models for the rest of the family, for friends and neighborhood thus creating a kind of a virtuous circle. This appears to be a most acceptable way to run social change into Gulf societies.

Dr. Arnaud Lacheret is director of the French-Arabian Business School of the Arabian Gulf University in Bahrain.

The event will be moderated by Dr. Fatima Al-Hashem, Assistant Professor of English at GUST.

People of Disabilities

GUST takes its commitment to inclusivity further by ensuring that its facilities are accessible to individuals with disabilities. Wheelchair ramps, accessible restrooms, and other accommodations are readily available, ensuring that everyone can navigate the campus with ease and dignity.

GUST & AFAQ hold 3rd lecture in ‘Gad’ha W’Gdoud’ Series

Under the patronage of the Public Authority of the Disabled, the Gulf University for Science and Technology and AFAQ Educational Company launched the third lecture in its ‘Gadha W’Gdoud’ series in collaboration with the Kuwaiti Association for Learning Differences. The lecture was led by Dr. Hoda Shaaban, Educational Consultant specializing in educational and pedagogicalmatters, and covered educational merging as a solution to those who require a special needs education, how to harness the positives of its outputs, and how to face its challenges.

Dr. Hoda Shaaban explained that the first step of any decision begins with a diagnosis brought by a specialist, followed by registering students at local merging programs suitable for their needs, and that provides a comprehensive educational style to build students’ skills, enhances their capabilities, and turns fosters their strengths and creativity.

Educational Director, Amani Al-Amad, said: “Inclusion is an "inclusive" method not only for the integration of students and their teachers, but a comprehensive educational, administrative and societal integration approach to ensure a smooth transition from the beginning of their educational journey until they graduate.”

This was the third lecture in the “Gad’ha W’Gdoud” series, the first was with Dr. Suad Al-Thuwaikh, CEO of That Center for Social and Education Consultations, and focused on solving the different obstacles that come with ADHD. And the second,led by renowned Psychologist and Educational Counselor, Dr. Mustafa Abo Saad, who discussed how to strengthen relationships between parents and their special needs children.

Since its establishment in 2002, GUST has supported all its students with special needs by providing customized and free educational services and tools through the One Stop Student Services Center. All of which contribute to smooth educational experience for them, and ensuring that they receive the same well-rounded, quality education as their peers.

GUST & AFAQ Launch Talk Show Series Focusing on Special Needs Students

Under the patronage of Dr. Shafiqa Al-Awadhi, Director General of the Public Authority of the Disabled, GUST organized in collaboration with AFAQ Educational Co. a lecture in the newly launched series “Gad’ha W’Gdoud” (More than Capable) on its Mishref campus this week. The lecture, led by renowned Psychologist and Educational Counselor, Dr. Mustafa Abo Saad, who discussed how to strengthen relationships between parents and their special needs children. The series, targeted especially for parents and educators, is due to host more lectures under the same umbrella in the next year.

The series aims to spread the ideal of community service, to align with Kuwait’s Vision for 2035, strengthen the bonds between different groups of society, establish common value, and develop skills that help to encourage & support people with special needs.

The lecture touched on a variety of topics including how to understand the psychological and educational needs of our children with differences, how we interpret these needs as only a reflection of the caregivers’ characteristics and competencies, the different obstacles both the children and caregivers face, and how we can use them to develop capabilities, how to motivate them to learn & enrich their skills, as well as how to prepare those responsible to deal with them and accept them as productive and effective members of society.

AFAQ Educational Director, Amani Al-Amad, said “The development of any society begins with our understanding of the individuals’ needs within it. We have to invest our time and energy and care into everyone that is a part of our society. At the end, we all have roles to play in its growth.”

The lecture was attended by AFAQ’s executive leadership, including Mr. Anas Al-Asousi, Dean of Student Affairs at GUST, Dr. Raghad Al-Kazemi, leaders and educators from the Public Authority of the Disabled, representatives from the Department of Special Education of the Ministry of Education, local educators, parents, and students.

This was the second lecture in the “Gad’ha W’Gdoud” series, the first was held last month, led by Dr. Suad Al-Thuwaikh, CEO of That Center for Social and Education Consultations, and focused on solving the different obstacles that come with ADHD. The lecture was geared towards parents and educators with children dealing from learning mental or learning disabilities.

Hasnaa Mokhtar: Narrative Power and the Invisible Trauma of Gendered Violence in Kuwait

In the past few years, the lobbying and activism of Khaleeji feminists and civil society organizations have sparked a public discussion of gender-based violence in the Arabian Gulf, demanding accountability for the aggressors and seeking support for survivors. However, the narrative as to why the problem occurs remains trapped within selective, racist, and oversimplified analyses of blaming traditions and honor. This talk asks: how might a decolonial conceptualization of gendered violence inform research and knowledge production, as well as anti-violence policy making and intervention efforts? Utilizing autoethnography and decolonial feminism, I investigate structural violence in Kuwait beyond the culture narrative. Using analysis of primary data collected between 2018-2019 in Kuwait, the study draws attention to the importance of theorizing from within the region, and that scholarship and policies addressing gender-based violence require us to complicate and nuance the analysis and pay attention to people’s worldviews with the aim of diversifying knowledge and policy making and intervention.

Room N4-002 GUST

Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87004107210?pwd=ZU5hRnliVTVobEJsNDZkMEhnV3JSQT09

Dr. Hasnaa Mokhtar is the Director of Global at Douglass College, Rutgers University. She is a scholar, researcher, and activist, with expertise in the Arabian Gulf, focusing on narratives of Muslim survivors of gender-based violence. Dr. Hasnaa’s writings have been published in mainstream media such as Fortune and Yahoo and in academic journals such as Feminist Review and Feminist Anthropology. Previously, Hasnaa served as the executive director of the Center for Nonviolent Solutions in Worcester, MA, and more recently as the special program director at Peaceful Families Project.

The discussant of Dr. Mokhtar will be Dr. Shahd Al Shammari, Assistant Professor of English at GUST.

2nd year success of Africa Day at GUST

GUST hosted the Africa Day for the second year in a row, with a greater success than last year’s popular event. Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Muhailan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees at GUST opened the event expressing his enthusiasm for this celebration at the university and the positive atmosphere of learning and culture that fills the campus halls, saying: “It was in Africa that life started to take a different meaning under the umbrella of intellectual and theological advancement. The entire world owes this great continent a deep debt of gratitude for learning the alphabet of modern civilization.”

Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs who’s Undersecretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr. Khaled Al-Jarallah said during the ceremony: “We will never forget the history behind the relationship of Kuwait and Africa and hope for its continued developed for the future,” welcoming all the ambassadors and dignitaries and guests that graced the event.

Ambassador of Senegal Abdul-Ahad Ombaki, the Dean of the African Group in Kuwait, addressed the attentive audience stating: “We celebrate this precious occasion for every African. […] Our sincere appreciation goes to the government and people of the State of Kuwait for the support they extended to Africa and our diplomatic missions.” The Ambassador also thanked each of the contributing corporations present at the event, GUST Chairman of BOT and staff “for all the facilities they provided in such a manner that illustrates their high sense of responsibility.”

There were several important companies that do a lot of work in Africa who came to support the Union and the University by giving presentations showcasing their various roles in the aid and development work in progress in Africa, such as the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry represented by its Chairman Mr. Ali Mohammad Al-Ghanim, the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development represented by its Deputy Director General Mr. Hisham Al-Waqayan, Kuwait Investment Authority, International Islamic Charitable Organization and the Kuwait Red Crescent.

After the distribution of gifts to honored guests, the ambassadors and representatives headed to the main campus hall for their tour of the 23 country booths that showcased unique cultural artifacts and a myriad of information about each country and what it has to offer in beauty, culture and resources. The center of the campus was decorated in each country’s national dress with mannequins highlighting the vibrant colors, textures and fabrics.

The buffet that was set up highlighted the favorite dishes of each country and was open to all for taste testing!

A photo booth was setup on campus for all embassies to take photos of their representatives and ambassadors as well as for students, staff, faculty and university guests to take pictures with a themed background.

The day all came together with a live music show and bird zoo which featured African beats and a beautiful collection of birds from the African region.

The event was organized by GUST. Days like this allow everyone to enjoy and cherish all the beauty that you can find in the world. The 2nd African Day at GUST was another hit success.

SDGs