10.6.1 Admissions policy which is non-discriminatory
10.6.2 Tracking applications & admissions of underrepresented groups
10.6.3 Programmes to recruit students/staff/faculty from under-represented groups
10.6.4 Anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policies
10.6.5 Diversity and equality committee, office and/or officer
10.6.6 Mentoring/counselling programmes to support students, staff, faculty from underrepresented groups
10.6.7 Accessible facilities for people with disabilities
10.6.8 Support services for people with disabilities
10.6.9 Access schemes for people with disabilities
10.6.10 Reasonable accommodation policy/strategy implemented for persons with disabilities
GUST Student Success Center
The Student Success Center is a University-wide program which provides services and support to all undergraduate students. Its mission is to ensure the success of students attending the Gulf University for Science and Technology. Its services include Tutoring, Learning Assistance, Academic Advising, Social Counseling, Tracking and Monitoring of student academic progress, Study Skills Seminars, Academic Workshops and other related academic enhancements. The SSC achieves its mission through the commitment and dedicated work of a team of Specialists, Counselors, Academic Advisors, and tutors. The Director of the Student Success Center, under the supervision of the VP for Academic Services, with the entire SSC team and the GUST University community work together to ensure that all students are offered the required services needed for a successful university experience at GUST.
Services offered by the Student Success Center at GUST:
Academic Advising
Individual and group Academic Advising is available through the SSC for undergraduate students who have not declared a major. Specialists assist students with educational planning, course selection, and other related academic requirements.
Peer Academic Advising Program
Peer Academic Advisors are honor students who serve as peer advisors under the supervision of specialist academic advisors to provide academic advisement and serve as mentors for freshmen students.
Retention Services
Retention Program
The Retention Program is designed for students at academic risk and in need of individual personalized one-to-one academic guidance. The Retention Specialist and Retention Coordinators work with students who are experiencing difficulty in their classes at GUST. An Early Warning Program is created for Faculty members to refer students to the center for assistance and early intervention. Individual Educational Plans are created for students at risk and specialized support services are provided to students who have been placed on academic probation. The goal of this program is to ensure student success throughout their academic
Learning Services:
Peer Tutoring
Individual and group tutoring is available at the Student Success study center for all undergraduate students in variety of subjects, ranging from Mathematics to English to more Core related subjects. Peer Tutors are honor undergraduate students who are trained to assist their peers in achieving academic success under the supervision and mentorship of the Learning Specialist.
SSC Workshops and Events
Various workshops are offered throughout the year on topics relating to study skills and healthy lifestyles. Each year the Student Success Center also coordinates a Major’s Fair giving students an opportunity to learn about majors offered at GUST, Awareness Campaigns about the centers services and other related academic events which allow students to network with members of the GUST community and gain academic knowledge of the services offered.
Personal Support:
Counseling Services
Personal counseling services are offered to all undergraduate students by professional and certified counselors. Students encounter numerous obstacles during their university lives, such difficulties could be related to academics, domestic concerns and other social factors. The role of the counselor is to provide mentorship and guidance to students in need of social personal counseling. Healthy-living workshops will be offered in topics ranging from Stress Management to Coping Skills and more.
Disability Services
The Disability Services program is conducted by the Retention Specialist and monitored by the Student Success Center Director. This program offers help to students with documented disabilities. Students are evaluated by a specialist and services are provided on the basis of the presented need. The goal for this program is to provide accommodation services to students in need and to encourage their continued growth and progress at GUST.
International Programs
The Office of International Programs (OIP) strives to promote and develop a wide range of educational opportunities for both students and faculty. The OIP works closely with top-ranked academic institutions and organizations around the world to establish formal partnerships and create opportunities for strategic cooperation. These arrangements assist GUST’s community as it continues to integrate into growing networks of global knowledge and continuous learning.
The OIP’s mission is to promote and develop a wide range of international and educational opportunities by establishing strategic partnerships with top-ranked academic institutions and organizations; enabling GUST students and faculty to integrate into the emerging global knowledge and learning network.
GUST students can choose from numerous study abroad programs to gain international and intercultural experiences, and enrich their understanding of different cultures and nations.
Moreover, GUST strategic partnerships support collaborative faculty research projects that foster engagement between GUST faculty and their peers at innovative, international academic institutions.
GUST is proud to maintain bilateral agreements with prestigious universities around the world.
GUST as a premier university is committed to enhancing engagement with international educational institutions in the areas of education and research. GUST facilitates an array of international programs, including study abroad opportunities, faculty fellowships, and partnerships with universities around the world.
GUST SUMMER SCHOLARSHIP
GUST SUMMER SCHOLARSHIP (STUDENTS)
Each year, GUST offers its students a limited number of competitive summer scholarships to enrich their academic experience through international study. GUST’s summer scholarships are open to all eligible students from both the College of Arts & Sciences (CAS) and the College of Business Administration (CBA). The summer scholarships are awarded tuition for six academic credit hours, a round trip ticket (economy class) to the United States, and support allowance.
2022 GUST SUMMER SCHOLARSHIPS
We are currently accepting applications for the 2022 GUST Summer Scholarship Program for summer study at:
Eligibility
All interested students must meet the following eligibility requirements:
• Be a full-time GUST student.
• Must have earned and completed 60-90 credit hours by the end of the 2021-22 Spring semester.
• Have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.
• Must be in good standing as per GUST Student Code of Conduct.
• Must not have a financial hold on the account.
• Hold a minimum TOEFL score of 550 (paper-based), 213 (computer-based), or 79-80 (internet-based); if applying for UCSD minimum TOEFL must be 83 (internet-based) or IELTS 7.0
HOW TO APPLY:
Interested candidates must submit the following documents to the Office of International Programs (W1-238) by April 7th, 2022.
☐ Completed application (click here to find all necessary documents)
☐ Personal interest essay
☐ Two letters of recommendation
☐ Official GUST transcript
☐ Copy of a recent TOEFL/IELTS score (valid for 2 years since date test was taken)
NOTE: Previous summer scholarship recipients and GUST alumni are not eligible to apply. Eligible candidates must have the intention to return to GUST as full-time enrolled students following their summer study at any university.
Please click on the “completed application” for the regulations and application forms for more details.
For any other inquiries about the GUST Summer Scholarship Programs, please contact:
Email address: oip@gust.edu.kw
Office: W1-238
The Writing Lab
Mission statement
As part of GUST’s commitment to a holistic learning environment, the English Writing Lab is a dedicated department established and geared towards developing academic capabilities and enhancing writing skills. The English Writing Lab adopts a “We Care” approach to each individual student’s needs. The Writing Lab creates an environment of collaborative inquiry. Students can seek help on a variety of writing and reading needs, concerns, and goals. It aims to help students with any problems they face from grammatical issues up to idea flow and understanding course material; its mission is to help students address, recognize and fix any of their writing concerns depending on each student’s capabilities.
Who are we?
The Writing Lab helps GUST students improve their writing and general language skills with the help of the English department’s Lab Instructor, Ms. Bushra Kalakh is also available to work with students one-on-one to improve their papers, assignments, reports, and projects. Teaching assistants engage the students in discussions about their work in order help them improve their writing techniques and provide them with academic support.
The Writing Lab services:
· Empowering writers to improve their individual writing projects.
· Providing information and resources about specific writing concerns.
· Providing pedagogical support for faculty who use writing in their classrooms.
· Proof- reading and editing which involves: grammar, spelling, punctuation, and sentence structure.
· One on one / group tutoring sessions are offered for English courses.
· Documentation and citation assistance (MLA, APA, etc.).
· Developing students’ understanding of writing purposes, audiences, genres, and styles.
· Upon request, we hold special workshops for students and instructors on essay writing, research papers, business writing, and grammar editorials.
· How to book an appointment?
· The Writing Lab is based on an appointment system. Please book your session with one of our TAs or peer tutors through sending an email or pass by the Writing Lab to choose a suitable time slot.
*Note that walk-ins may be admitted; however, priority goes to those with appointments.
GUST Establishes First Ever Translation Internship Program
Kuwait City, 29 June 2021: Gulf University for Science and Technology launched the Translation Internship Program, which is the first program in Kuwait that provides translation students with a chance to boost their professional careers in the field of translation. The internship program is organized by the English department’s Post-Doctoral Researcher, Dr. Asmaa Alduhaim, and was in a collaboration with Kuwait State Television - Channel 2 (KTV2) and Ahli United Bank (AUB). The program was held over a two-month period at both institutions starting in April and ending in June.
Five students enrolled in the program this year, including Mariam Safar and Hessa Al-Toum who were placed as translators at KTV2. Their training included translating Kuwaiti songs, Kuwaiti TV shows, and world news. They also developed their skills in creating subtitles as well as learning the difference between audiovisual translation and other types of translation. Students Nabaa Alhaddad, Mohammed Al-baba, and Shahad Alzaid were placed as translators at Ahli United Bank in Kuwait where they attended several training sessions that instructed them on how to translate technically demanding texts related to banking procedures, documents and letters.
Post-doctoral Researcher at the English Department, Dr. Asmaa Alduhaim, said “This program is a practical introduction to the field of Translation Studies, and an amazing insight into a translators’ career. The internship program is an excellent opportunity to develop your translation skills, congratulations on the five students who completed the internship, a job well done.”
The Translation Internship Program introduces the students to the real-world experience and further gained a better understanding of their potential career and its challenges. The internship further provided students with the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills learned in the classroom in a work setting.
Computer Science Capstone Project Among Top 25 Finalists in Middle East
Kuwait City, 9 May 2021: GUST Computer Science senior students, Ayah Beidas, Fatme Ghaddar, Kousar Mohi and Haya Al Tunaib participated by presenting their capstone project at the 6th annual Dell Technologies Graduation Project Competition for the Middle East, which was elected among the top 25 projects. Projects were submitted online, then blindly reviewed and evaluated through a multi-stage evaluation process by international professors and senior Dell Technologies experts from around the world.
Led by the Head of the Computer Science Department, Associate Professor, Dr. Mahmoud Elish, GUST students developed and presented “Autemo”, a cross-platform mobile application (iOS/Android) intended to improve the quality of life of children suffering from autism by alleviating and enhancing their social skills. It targets autistic children’s inability to express emotions, by training the facial, verbal and cognitive skills of the child. “Autemo” was among the top 25 projects out of 235 projects that were submitted. At the event, more than 100 universities participated, representing 19 countries from region with a total participation number of 1,060 students. Top 25 teams/finalists will be offered technical mentorship from Dell Technologies and will qualify to the final round of the competition.
The competition is open to senior undergraduate students from universities in the Middle East, Russia, Africa and Turkey. Students are invited to submit their project abstracts in areas related to the advancement of technology and applications related to the following focus areas: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and Multi-Cloud.
Head of the Computer Science Department, Associate Professor, Dr. Mahmoud Elish said “This outstanding achievement is a testament to our Computer Science students’ talent and skillsets. It is also an indication of the quality curriculum offered by the Computer Science major at GUST. Congratulations!”
This year students from GUSTs Computer Science Department have participated and excelled at several regional and local competitions, such as the 8th KCPC Tournament held in February. This is a testament to the regular practice teams get with in house tournaments such as the Annual Programming Competition, breeding an environment of competitive academic excellence.
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.
GUST Faculty and Alumni Publish Paper in an International Journal
Kuwait City, 12 September 2021: Gulf University for Science and Technology's (GUST) Alumna Yasmeen Al-Askari and Assistant Professor of English Literature at GUST, Dr. Shahd Al-Shammari, co-authored a paper titled Exile and the Disabled Body in Randa Jarrar's "The Life, Loves, and Adventures of Zelwa the Halfie", which has been published in the International Academic Forum: Journal for Arts and Humanities (IAFOR). IAFOR Journal of Arts & Humanities is an internationally reviewed and editorially independent interdisciplinary journal associated with IAFOR's international conferences on the arts and humanities.
The paper dissected the themes of exile, diaspora, disability, identity, and language using Edward Said's work as a platform for their argument and research. Dr. Al-Shammari and Ms. Al-Askari used Said's suggestion of a mind/body split, giving room to consider the sense of self as already in-between, as the exiled 'I' attempts to find a home within a new land and a new body. The authors conclude with how Arabic literature considers notions of exile and disability in various ways and how contemporary Anglophone literature deals with concepts of diaspora and exile, similar to trends in Disability Studies as a field.
Assistant Professor of English Literature, Dr. Shahd Al-Shammari said, "Co-authoring a paper with a GUST alumna has been a great learning experience for me and has offered a great experience in the academic field for Yasmine Al-Askari, one of our top literature graduates from the English Department. I am happy to co-author this paper with her and hope she continues her graduate studies. Furthermore, at GUST, we will continue to show our constant support and celebrate her future achievements as a product of this prestigious institution."
Yasmeen Al-Askari has graduated from GUST's English Department and is now working as a full-time teacher. She wishes to earn her Master's degree in English Literature, publishing papers to strengthen her application. Dr. Shahd Al-Shammari is an Assistant Professor in the English Department and has been vital in helping students develop their skills by organizing key events such as "Poetry in the Time of COVID." She has published several peer reviewed articles and has also written two chapters for two separate books that have been published and has also appeared at several conferences such as TESOL and Film and Visual Media in the Gulf. Dr. Al-Shammari’s upcoming memoir is set to appear in 2021, titled Head Above Water in which she highlights the role of education and mentors.
GUST Faculty Member Appointed to Editorial Board of the International Journal ‘Disability & Society’
Dr. Shahd Al Shammari, Assistant Professor of English at Gulf University for Science and Technology, has been elected to the Editorial Board of the international academic journal, Disability & Society. As an editor on the editorial board of the journal, Dr. Al Shammari will be reviewing articles submitted by academics worldwide, while ensuring the tone and direction of the editorial publishing policy.
Disability & Society is an international disability studies journal that provides a focus for debate about issues such as human rights, discrimination, definitions, policies and practices. It appears against a backdrop of constant change in the ways in which disability is viewed and responded to.
Assistant Professor at the English Dept., Dr. Shahd Al Shammari said, "It is an honor to be involved with such a prestigious academic journal. I look forward to more rigorous research to shed more light on these important topics, and to raise GUST and Kuwait’s academic and professional standing."
Dr. Al Shammari is a widely published scholar whose articles appear in internationally renowned peer-reviewed academic journals, and is also an accomplished creative writer. Her work has been featured at numerous events, including the Emirates Literature Festival, and the Malta Book Festival. Dr. Al Shammari’s focus on women and disability studies solidifies her among the best young early-career researchers in the Gulf region.
The peer-reviewed top-tier Q2 journal was established in 1986 and is published by the international publisher Taylor & Francis Group in the UK. It is considered one of the leading contributors to the field of Disability Studies and has been cited to have a 2017 1.212 impact factor.
This is a prestigious nomination that will enhance GUST's exposure to the international and regional level of research collaboration and reputation, and will enhance the place and influence GUST maintains amongst the top universities that can contribute in economic research on the Middle East and North African region.
GUST Recognizes Computer Science Students for Academic Excellence
Kuwait City, 28 June 2021: Gulf University for Science and Technology’s (GUST) Computer Science Department held a ceremony recognizing student’s achievements in research collaboration and competition participation. The ceremony was held on June 9 via Microsoft Teams where the Dean of the College of Arts and Science, Professor Bashar Ibrahim and Head of the Computer Science Department, Associate Professor Mahmoud Elish praised the students for their immense efforts throughout the academic year.
The Computer Science department recognized 20 outstanding students for their contribution to collaborative research projects and their achievements in local and regional programming competition. Four students were also recognized for becoming the top 25 finalists in the MENA region plus Russia and Turkey for the Dell Technologies Graduation Project. The team of four students were Led Dr. Mahmoud Elish, and developed “Autemo”, a cross-platform mobile application (iOS/Android) intended to improve the quality of life of children suffering from autism by alleviating and enhancing their social skills. It targets autistic children’s inability to express emotions, by training the facial, verbal and cognitive skills of the child.
Dean of the College of Arts and Science, Professor Mohammed Ibrahim, said “We are very proud of our student's achievements within the field of Computer Science. They have shown a hunger for academic excellence and believe they have the right attitude to succeed in their future careers. We applaud you for all your hard work!”
This year students from GUSTs Computer Science Department have participated and excelled at several regional and local competitions, such as the 8th KCPC Tournament held in February and the Dell Technologies Graduation Project. They are also given great insight from professionals in the fields provided by the research webinars hosted by the Computer Science department, instilling GUSTs goal of becoming a hybrid teaching and research institute.
The following students have been recognized for their achievements:
Valuable contribution to collaborative research projects
· Osama Kassem
· Abdulwahab Alsaleh
· Fatme Ghaddar
· Ayah Beidas
· Kousar Mohi
· Mostafa Shirin Bab
· Ghada Raee
· Sara AlNakhal
· Sana Kojan
· Nasser Akreem
Achievements in local and regional programming competitions
· Abdulwahab Alsaleh
· Mohammad Bouland
· Osama Kassem
· Mohammad Alaskandarani
· Mostafa Bab
· Ali Jassim
Capstone project among the top 25 finalists in Dell Technologies Graduation Project Competition for Middle East, Russia, Africa and Turkey
· Ayah Beidas
· Fatme Ghaddar
· Kousar Mohi
· Haya Al Tunaib
GUST Faculty Member Noor Hamadah 8th to Attain Full Graduate Scholarship
GUST has awarded English Foundation Teaching Assistant, Ms. Noor Hamadah, its fully sponsored Graduate Scholarship to enable her to complete her higher studies abroad. Ms. Hamadah has officially been accepted at the University of Leeds to pursue a master’s degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. She is the 8th GUST member to receive this scholarship.
GUST offers this scholarship to a selective number of alumni each year to encourage them to pursue their graduate degrees, in one of the top 100 ranked universities worldwide. The university has already funded seven of its students to pursue their graduate studies, among which are five recipients currently pursuing their degrees:
· Hala Al Mutawa, PhD in Curriculum and Instructions, Pennsylvania State University, US.
· Maryam Al Kandari, PhD in Computer Science, University of Manchester, UK.
· Maryam Al Muhanna, PhD in Linguistics and Applied Linguistics, Arizona State University, US.
· Fatma Al Bader, PhD in Accounting, University of Edinburgh, UK.
· Mohammed AL Muraikhi, PhD in Finance, University of Leeds, UK.
Upon the completion of their degrees they will return to GUST as faculty members. This effort comes as part of GUST’s faculty hiring strategy to integrate its graduates as future faculty members.
The eligibility requirements for the scholarship include Kuwaiti citizenship, be at least 28 years of age, hold an undergraduate degree from GUST, and at least a B+ or a 3.30 GPA score. Applicants should also be able to demonstrate a strong command of the English language, and meet all academic requirements of the concerned universities.
International study has proven its benefits to the growth and development of individuals. GUST prides itself in its growing portfolio of international courses and programs, and strives to connect with renowned universities worldwide to deliver a well-rounded experience to its students and faculty.
GUST Sponsors Summer Scholarships to UMSL and GW for the 11th Time
GUST awarded today a group of its students with summer scholarships abroad for the 11th time since 2006. Six GUST students will be attending summer classes at the University of Missouri - St. Louis (UMSL) and four at George Washington University (GW) in the USA, bringing the total to 10 students. The aim of the program is to enrich students’ academic experience and personal development through international study.
A combination of factors are taken into consideration when choosing the candidates: the completion of at least 60 credit hours, a CGPA of 3.0 and above, a written personal statement, and a recent TOEFL score. After carefully assessing all the material and conducting one-on-one interviews with each candidate, the GUST Summer Scholarship Committee recommended 11 students to be awarded summer scholarships for the 2015/2016 academic year, recognizing their high academic achievements and personal merits.
GUST Vice President for Academic Services, Dr. Sabah Al-Quaddoomi, said, “This highly competitive scholarship is intended to recognize and reward outstanding academic accomplishments by our students. We are so proud of our 2016 scholarship recipients. Without a doubt, these students will be worthy ambassadors of GUST during their summer studies in the United States.”
After their nominations, Dr. Raghad Al-Kazemi, Dean of Student Affairs, and Mrs. Maria Fedorova, International Program Coordinator, met with the students to discuss different aspects of the scholarship procedures and details to prepare them for their trip.
The students who will be attending UMSL are: Razan Sifan, Mariam Alghanim, Mohammad Charrwi, Mustapha Bin Khadra, Raghd Al-Zagezoug, and Zahraa Al Ali.
Finance major and scholarship recipient to UMSL, Mustapha Bin Khadra, said, “I hope to share my personal academic skills that I’ve learned here with UMSL students. I want to leave a good impression of a successful GUST student who represented the university well.”
The students who will be attending GW are: Alia Attia, Nazeema Derbas, Sahar Ghobar, and Danah Alsabt.
Finance major and scholarship recipient to GW, Nazeema Derbas, said, “For GUST to give us an opportunity to have the experience of studying abroad is a chance that I wouldn’t miss. I am looking forward to having this experience and discovering how it feels like to study abroad, even if it is only for a short period of time.”
GUST summer scholarships are open to all eligible students from its College of Arts & Sciences and the College of Business Administration. The scholarships cover tuition for up to 6 academic credit hours, a round trip ticket to the United States, accommodation, and a support allowance.
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.
DISABILITY SERVICES
The Disability Services Program is conducted by the Disability Services Coordinator with the cooperation of GUST faculty.
The Disability Services Program has been developed to provide accommodations to students with documented medical reports. The goal of providing accommodation to students is to encourage their continued growth, progress, and academic performance at GUST.
Accommodations for students with disabilities include, but are not limited to: note-taking assistance, tutoring, extra time for exams, as well as the possibility to receive proctoring services at the One Stop Student Services Center.
Students are responsible for requesting the needed accommodations through the OSC during the admissions process.
OSC LOGISTIC MANUAL 2019/2020 DISABILITY SERVICES AREA
DISABILITY ACCOMMODATION GUIDELINES
GUST empowers students with disabilities to realize their academic and personal potential through offering equal access to university programs. Services include coordinating reasonable accommodations and other support services for eligible students.
Reasonable accommodations are adjusted for students with disabilities which will provide equal access to GUST programs. Accommodation plans and services are customized to match the disability-related needs of each student and are determined according to documentation and the student’s program requirements.
Registration for these accommodations includes submission of the Disclosure Form, which should be given with their application to the university, as well as appropriate disability documentation. Also, students need to complete the Disability Accommodation Request Form for use in the One Stop Student Services Center.
DISABILITY DOCUMENTATION
· Students requesting reasonable accommodations must submit documentation no older than 5 years.
· Documentation must be issued by a medical or other qualified, licensed professional.
· Documents must be printed on official letterhead, dated, and signed by the licensed professional. GUST reserves the right to require that a certified copy of the report be transmitted directly from the licensed professional to the university.
· Comprehensive documentations include a psycho-educational evaluation, diagnostic interview, and clinical summary.
ACCOMMODATIONS
· Proctoring exams: This is usually arranged by faculty and done at the One Stop Student Services Center. The exam/quiz is proctored at the OSC in the presence of one of the Disability Service Coordinators.
· Extended time during exams and/or quizzes: This is usually arranged by faculty and done at the One Stop Student Services Center. An alternative is to have the student take the exam/quiz in the faculty member’s office.
· Orally administered exams: The student has the option of hearing the questions spoken and to orally provide his responses or to record their answers via a tape recorder. If the student would like to use a tape recorder, this specific accommodation needs to be confirmed, and the student must provide the tape recorder to use during the test.
· Note-taking services: If this is requested by the student, a note taker will be hired to assist student in class.
· Use of a tape recorder during class: The student should confirm this specific accommodation, and provide a tape recorder for class use.
How to Teach Students with Learning Disabilities' Lecture at GUST
Dr. Badria Al Haji was on campus today to give a lecture titled ‘How to Teach Students with Learning Disabilities’. The lecture provided new scopes on understanding students with learning disabilities and looked into different ways of helping them with their academic journey. It also helped faculty attending members better understand the disabilities of the students in their classes.
Dr. Badria Al Haji is an Associate Professor at College of Basic Education, and member of the Kuwaiti Association for Learning Disabilities (KALD), a non-profit organization that supports students in private schools and special education in Kuwait, who have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Learning Difficulties.
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.
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 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.
