Finance Track Certificates
Congratulations to all students who have been awarded the Finance Track Certificates and wish them a successful educational journey.
GUST is the first Kuwaiti university accredited by CII, one of the most prestigious, globally recognized standard designations 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 the Middle East.
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.
GUST Holds Association of Chartered Certified Accountants Seminar with Field Experts
GUST's Accounting and MIS Department held an Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) seminar on its campus this week with expert Alexander Leach, Senior Education Manager at ACCA Middle East. The main aim of the seminar was to introduce students to potential career opportunities in the field and what developments to look forward to in 2020s.
Like many professions, the accounting industry is changing at a rapid pace, where global trends are reshaping its existence. The seminar highlighted ACCA’s Future of Careers Report which considers the trends impacting professional accounting careers and their future, as well as helps identify potential broader areas of career opportunities.
Mr. Leach covered various areas of the subject matter and was able to help students, staff and faculty members better understand the drivers of change impactingaccounting careers, locate emerging areas of career opportunity, and how they can navigate their careers in an evolving landscape.
The university is continuously collaborating with field experts in the community and the profession to exchange knowledge and experience with our students. This is to be able to provide a well-rounded educational experience that brings together theoretical knowledge and practical application.
GUST Teams Wins First Place at Warba Bank’s Rowad Innovation Program
GUST students were awarded First Place at the closing ceremony of the Warba Bank Rowad Innovation Program. The four students competed against three other local university teams for the prize after a 10-week program of customized workshops and lectures led by Warba Bank coordinated through our Office of Student Life, which kicked off in September 2019. The goal of the program is to support the innovation of banking services and come up with creative solutions in the Islamic banking sector.
The participating GUST students were: Nouf Alghannam, Reem Mohamed, Sarah Alalban, Sundos Al Ashqar. The students were selected in September 2019 from the university by a Warba Bank Committee to enter the program. Over the 10 weeks, they completed workshops and lectures to learn all the information they need to know in the banking field, such as the different services and products currently available in order to successfully complete the assignment. The other participating universities wereKuwait University, Australian College of Kuwait, and the American University of Kuwait.
During the closing ceremony, the students had to pitch their idea to a panel of industry experts, and were evaluated based on their final presentation, innovative & fresh thinking, the practicality of implementing their ideas, and team effort in meeting all delivery requirements. The GUST team was awarded the first place prize for their innovative ideas and stellar presentation. The grand prize was KD5,000 and KD2,500 for the runners-up.
GUST President, Professor Walid Bouhamra, Vice President for Professional Development and Community Services, Dr. Ahmad Al-Darbas, Senior Manager of the Community Engagement and Communications Division, Anwar Al-Sabah, and Head of the Office of Student Life, Aseel Abounemah, subsequently met with the students following their win to congratulate them on this outstanding achievement.
GUST President, Professor Walid Bouhamra, said, “The creativity and determination of our students, armed with the knowledge they receive at GUST, is a powerful equation as demonstrated by their outstanding performance. I am confident that their success in the future is assured, and I wish them the very best of success.”
GUST continuously encourages and supports its students in all extracurricular activities that can develop and shape their character and their development for after they graduate. It prizes a both academic performance and community driven activities for a well-rounded educational experience.
GUST Hosts Sheikh Salem Al-Ali Informatics Award 2019 Closing Ceremony
GUST hosted the closing ceremony of the Sheikh Salem Al-Ali Informatics Award, under the patronage and attendance of Sheikha Aida Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah, on its campus last week. The event was led by Himma Tech and the Kuwait Innovation Center. The event was also attended by GUST Board of Trustees Chairman, Mr. Mohammad Al-Bahar, alongside management representatives from local universities, and all the students who participated in the qualifying hackathons.
The event started with a showcase of the top three projects from each participating university, including: GUST, Australian College of Kuwait, Algonquin College, Arab Open University, Kuwait University, Kuwait College of Science & Technology, and the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training. The projects were all viewed by Sheikha Aida Salem Al-Ali as well as all the representatives from the local universities.
The ceremony was opened with a few speeches from the Awards Organizing Committee Chair, Engineer Bassam Al-Shammari, as well as the Founder of Himma Tech, Jassem Al-Mutawa, and the CEO of Kuwait Innovation Center, Engineer Mohammad Al-Rifae. The audience also to view a behind the scenes video that showcased all the students hardwork over the last few weeks to reach this stage.
The first-place winners from all universities got the chance to present their projects to the audience live as well, all of which were designed and implemented physical and digital products that promote positive social impact. GUST’s winning, Lulwah AlDyouly, Dalal AlMaghrabi, Zahraa Mahdi, Omar Tawfik and Ahmad AlDabak, presented their project the ‘Heat Glove’ which is tech glove that can sense the temperature of various objects, intended for the use in the industrial sector. The team has qualified to compete with the rest of the winners to compete in the regional competition as one team representing Kuwait.
The competition launched in 2001 in Kuwait and has since expanded into include competitors from around the world. The main aim of the prize is to encourage and promote the creation of digital solutions and innovation. GUST is always encouraging and supporting its students to take advantage of such opportunities and push their own boundaries, in order to develop and grow not only academically, but individually as well.
GUST Represented in First Place Winning Team at the NASA International Space Apps Challenge
GUST members were part of the team that won first place in the local NASA International Space Apps Challenge. The winning team was led by GUST Computer Science Teaching Assistant, Ali Kelkawi, and included GUST CS student, Abdulwahab Al-Saleh, as well as other students and alumni from the American University of Kuwait. The competition, held in the form of a hackathon, was organized by the Center for Research in Informatics, Sciences, and Engineering (RISE) at the American University of Kuwait (AUK) in collaboration with Kuwait Projects Company (KIPCO) earlier this month, and saw a total of 12 teams participating.
The winning team’s project was a multi-tier application called Oxylus, which allows communities at risk of a wildfire to support and help each other, as well as to coordinate more smoothly with rescue services. The mobile application is also able to safely direct and navigate users away from danger zones to safe areas. A prediction model was also developed to predict fires based on a location’s given features, to be able to better allocate resources to areas at risk.
Dr. Mahmoud Elish, Head of the Computer Science Department, said, “This achievement makes me proud, and justifies the challenges and tests we set in our syllabi. It is also a testament to the calibre of students we have, and to the high level of dedication, quick thinking, and creativity they harness to solve actual real-world problems. I congratulate them on such a great achievement, and wish them the best of luck in 2020!”
Kelkawi and Al-Saleh were recognized by the GUST management, led by Dr. Fahed Al-Sumait, Vice President of Academic Affairs.
The NASA International Space Apps Challenge is one of the world’s largest global hackathons, held locally in separate locations. On one weekend each year, a 48-hour sprint is held in which participants hack solutions to challenges that NASA proposes, creating games, smartphone and computer apps, videos, teaching tools and much more within the theme of Earth and space. Each local competition nominates two teams to compete in the global finals, where NASA experts choose the global challenge winners. With this win, the team will be submitting their project to the global finals, the results of which will be released in January 2020.
GUST has continued to excel in Computer Science, with its students claiming 3rdplace at the 2019 Kuwait Collegiate Programming Competition last month, a competition in which GUST has always ranked among the top 3 positions over the last few years. Our teams have also won the Gulf Region Champions Award at Arab Collegiate Programming Contest in 2017, ranked first place at the Gulf Programming Contest 2017, and fifth place at the Annual Carnegie Melon University Hackathon in Qatar in 2017. Moreover, two GUST teams won the Best Project Award and the Most Creative Project Idea Award at the 2nd GCC Students & Young Professionals Congress in 2019, which was part of the 10th IEEE-GCC Conference & Exhibition. In light of all these achievements, the university launched a scholarship specifically for the Computer Science program to encourage high school graduates to enter this ever more important field.
