10.6 Measures Against Discrimination
10.6.1 Non-Discriminatory Admissions Policy
10.6.2 Track Underrepresented Groups Applications
10.6.3 Recruit Underrepresented Groups
10.6.4 Anti-discrimination Policies
10.6.5 Diversity and Equality Committee
10.6.6 Support for Underrepresented Groups
10.6.7 Accessible Facilities
10.6.8 Disability Support Services
10.6.9 Disability Access Schemes
10.6.10 Disability Accommodation Policy
10.6.11 Anti-Harassment Policy
Disability Access Scheme
Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST) is committed to ensuring equal access, opportunity, and participation for all students, including those with disabilities. In alignment with SDG 10.6.9, the University has developed a structured Disability Access Scheme that provides both mentoring and targeted support services to ensure that every student can achieve academic and personal success in an inclusive environment.
Mentoring and Academic Guidance
Upon admission, every student with a documented disability is assigned an academic advisor who acts as a mentor throughout their time at the University. These advisors provide one-on-one guidance in:
- Course selection and academic planning, ensuring the student’s schedule accommodates their needs.
- Navigating university policies and campus facilities, including accessible classrooms, study spaces, and testing centers.
- Referrals to specialized support units, such as the Disability Services Team and Counseling Services.
This mentoring process ensures that students with disabilities receive individualized attention and continuous guidance, empowering them to make informed decisions about their education and career goals. Academic advisors also help identify any barriers to learning early in the semester and coordinate with faculty and the Disability Services Unit to address them promptly.
Targeted Support and Inclusive Learning
Beyond mentoring, GUST offers a range of targeted support services through the Disability Services Unit, operating within the One Stop Student Services Center (OSC). These services are designed to meet each student’s unique needs and promote equal participation in all aspects of university life.
Targeted supports include:
- Accessible learning materials and assistive technologies such as screen readers, recorders, and adapted furniture.
- Specialized academic advising and modified examination arrangements (e.g., extended time, proctoring, or oral exams).
- Physical accessibility modifications, including ramps, elevators, and accessible parking spaces coordinated with Campus Services. View More
- Confidential faculty notifications, which provide instructors with the names of students requiring additional support — ensuring awareness while maintaining student privacy.
Faculty are encouraged to adopt inclusive teaching methods that foster understanding and accessibility for all learners. By keeping the specific nature of each student’s disability confidential, GUST ensures sensitivity and dignity while maintaining an attentive and accommodating academic environment.
Through this comprehensive Disability Access Scheme, GUST ensures that students with physical, sensory, or learning disabilities have equal opportunities to excel both academically and socially. The combination of structured mentoring, targeted accommodations, and accessible learning resources reinforces GUST’s mission to build an inclusive, equitable, and supportive educational community.
These initiatives demonstrate GUST’s ongoing commitment to SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities and SDG 4: Quality Education, ensuring that all students—regardless of ability—can fully engage, contribute, and succeed within the university community.
Zain Disability Awareness Training
On 11 November 2025, GUST collaborated with Zain Kuwait to deliver a Disability Awareness Training session aimed at strengthening inclusion and understanding within the campus community. During the workshop, students explored how language shapes perceptions of disability and learned practical ways to communicate respectfully and inclusively with individuals who have disabilities. The session helped raise awareness about the challenges disabled people often face and encouraged participants to adopt more supportive behaviors in academic and social settings. By providing this kind of targeted training, GUST enhances the campus’s capacity to support underrepresented groups and reinforces its commitment to fostering an inclusive environment in alignment with SDG 10.6.6.
