5.3.1 Track Women’s Application Rate, Acceptance/Entry Rate
5.3.2 Policy for Women’s Applications, Acceptance/Entry
5.3.3 Women’s Access Schemes
5.3.4 Women's Applications in Underrepresented Subjects
Women's Applications in Underrepresented Subjects
Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST) is committed to encouraging women's participation in fields where they have traditionally been underrepresented, particularly technology, artificial intelligence (AI), engineering, and competitive athletics.In alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5 (Gender Equality), GUST promotes greater female engagement in these disciplines through university-led outreach, specialized training opportunities, professional certifications, industry partnerships, and athletic development programs. By increasing women's exposure to technical education, providing access to accomplished female role models, and collaborating with leading organizations, GUST seeks to challenge gender stereotypes and encourage more women to pursue educational and professional pathways in traditionally male-dominated fields.
Encouraging Women's Participation in Technology and Engineering
Role of Women in Tech – Promoting Female Representation in Technology
On March 10, 2025, GUST's Computer Science Department organized the Role of Women in Tech seminar in celebration of International Women's Day as a collaboration with other university, community groups and governmental institution. The event brought together accomplished female professionals from academia, research, and industry to highlight women's contributions to computer science, artificial intelligence, technological innovation, and related disciplines. Speakers included Dr. Hana Alostad from the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), Dr. Rita W. El-Haddad from the American University of Kuwait, and Ms. Abeer AlFarhan from Huawei. Through professional discussions and personal experiences, the event provided participants with opportunities to learn about career pathways in technology, the challenges women face in technical professions, and the importance of increasing female representation in STEM. By showcasing successful women working in technology-related fields, GUST encourages female students to explore academic programs and professional opportunities in computer science, artificial intelligence, and emerging technologies.
Developing Female Expertise Through International Industry Certifications
Huawei ICT Academy – Supporting Female Trainers in Artificial Intelligence
GUST's collaboration with Huawei demonstrates the University's commitment to strengthening technical education while supporting women's professional development in fields where female representation remains limited. Through its partnership with Huawei, GUST has invested in specialized training and internationally recognized professional certifications for its academic and technical personnel. As part of this initiative, GUST supported the professional training and certification of a female instructor through Huawei's Train-the-Trainer program and HCIA–Artificial Intelligence certification, enabling her to become an authorized Huawei AI trainer. This investment demonstrates GUST's commitment to creating opportunities for women to acquire advanced technical qualifications and assume instructional and leadership responsibilities within specialized technology fields.
From Trainer Certification to Student Learning Opportunities
GUST extends the benefits of its Huawei partnership to students by utilizing its certified female AI trainer to deliver official Huawei-certified artificial intelligence courses and training programs on campus. Through these programs, students gain access to industry-oriented technical knowledge, practical AI skills, and internationally recognized certification pathways. GUST's delivery of Huawei-certified training represents a distinctive educational opportunity in Kuwait, positioning the University as the country's sole provider of this particular program. The initiative also establishes a direct connection between female professional development and student access to specialized technological education: GUST invests in qualifying a female trainer, who subsequently transfers her expertise to students through certified technical training. By providing female students with opportunities to learn from a certified female AI specialist, the University also strengthens the visibility of women as technical educators and role models in artificial intelligence. This integrated approach demonstrates how institutional partnerships can simultaneously support women's professional advancement, strengthen educational capacity, and encourage greater participation in technology-related disciplines.
Collaboration with Industry to Promote Women in Engineering and Technology
Women Leading Engineering and Tech – Zain Kuwait Collaboration
GUST's College of Engineering and Architecture collaborated with Zain Kuwait's Women in Tech initiative to organize Women Leading Engineering and Tech. The seminar highlighted the achievements and professional experiences of successful women working in engineering, digital technologies, and innovation-related fields.Through engagement with female industry professionals, students gained insight into technical career pathways, leadership opportunities, and the importance of women's contributions to engineering and technological development. This collaboration demonstrates GUST's commitment to connecting academic education with industry expertise while encouraging women to consider engineering and technology as viable educational and professional pathways.
Women Empowerment and Equality Seminar Series
As part of GUST’s ongoing commitment to advancing gender equality and empowering women, the university hosted the Women Empowerment and Equality Seminar Series, featuring inspiring talks by accomplished women from various professional sectors and community groups. The sessions explored key themes such as leadership impact on building inclusive workplaces, the roles and responsibilities of different types of managers, and the importance of self-awareness and self-belief in professional growth.
Through these discussions, students and staff gained valuable insights into fostering equitable environments, developing leadership confidence, and driving positive change within their organizations.
Women’s Access and Empowerment in Athletics
At GUST, equal opportunity extends beyond academics to all aspects of university life, including sports and physical development. The university ensures that both male and female students have equal access to athletic programs, training, and facilities.
All athletes, regardless of gender, train under the same coaching staff to guarantee equal access to expertise and professional guidance. Participation rates are closely monitored through end-of-season surveys to track progress and identify areas for improvement in encouraging more female involvement in athletics.
Female athletes receive dedicated weekly training sessions to enhance their skills (SDG 5.3.3), and scouts from national teams are regularly invited to identify talented players who may advance to professional levels. Exceptional female athletes who demonstrate both athletic talent and strong academic performance are also eligible for scholarship opportunities.
To further promote inclusivity and growth, the university continues to introduce women’s teams in national athletic tournaments and expand the number of competitions available. Female graduates are also granted continued access to university athletic facilities, reinforcing GUST’s commitment to supporting women’s health, empowerment, and success beyond their academic years.
Empowering Female Student-Athletes through International Sports Development
GUST supports women’s participation, development, and equal opportunities in sport by providing female student-athletes with access to advanced training and international development experiences. As part of this commitment, GUST female athletes were selected to participate in specialized sports training camps in Spain in Academic years 2024-2025 and 2025-2026, where they gained exposure to professional coaching environments, advanced training methods, and international sporting practices. These opportunities strengthen athletic skills, confidence, leadership, and competitive experience, while reinforcing GUST’s commitment to promoting gender equality, women’s empowerment, and equitable participation in university sport.
Female Role Models and Institutional Support
GUST recognizes that increasing women's participation in underrepresented fields requires more than access to academic programs. It also involves providing visible role models, qualified instructors, professional networks, and opportunities for skill development. Through female technology professionals, certified trainers, academic speakers, industry partners, and student-athletes, GUST promotes an environment in which women can explore interests and develop competencies in traditionally male-dominated disciplines. The University's support for female professional certification, particularly through Huawei, demonstrates how investing in women's technical qualifications can create wider educational opportunities for students. Similarly, its engineering partnerships and athletics initiatives provide additional platforms for encouraging women's participation and development.
