Kuwait Education and Training Services Industry Snapshot
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Capital:  Kuwait City
Population:  3.1 million (2022 est.)
GDP (Purchasing Power Parity): $209.7 billion (2019 est., in 2017 dollars)

Currency:  Kuwaiti dinars (KD)
Language:  Arabic (official), English widely spoken

 

UNESCO Student Mobility Number
Kuwait has 24,390 students studying abroad according to UNESCO.

CIA World Factbook
39.25% of the population in Kuwait is under 25 years of age.

 

OVERVIEW

Kuwait spends heavily to improve its educational system, to rebuild old schools and create new facilities. The budget allocated for the fiscal year 2022/2023 is $7.36 billion.

Scholarships and Study Abroad

Kuwaiti students who have a high school diploma or equivalent are eligible to apply for the Ministry of Higher Education Scholarship Program to undergraduate studies. There is no limit on the number of scholarships. In July 2022, the Kuwaiti government provided 3,454 external scholarships, 1,234 for the United States .

The overall number of university scholarship recipients abroad decreased in Academic Year 22-23. However, the percentage of recipients of scholarships to the U.S. increased from 31% to 36%, while the UK, our main competitor, maintained its percentage at 42% compared to last year. 

In 2018, the Ministry of Higher Education has adopted a new regulation stating that Kuwaiti students seeking to obtain a scholarship to study in the United States are required to obtain a score of 5 in IELTS ( an equivalent of TOEFL) to be accepted in the program which may impact the number of new students awarded Government of Kuwait scholarships. This is a contributing factor  in why the number of scholarships has been decreasing over the past two years. The Ministry of Higher Education hopes to increase the number of scholarships available to its students to address the volume of high school graduates seeking higher education abroad.

As of 2019, and before the pandemic period, approximately 13,000 students were studying in the United States. Due to several reasons (including the uncertain global coronavirus situation, the Health Ministry’s recent recommendation to postpone travel plans, the Education Ministry’s unclear position on resuming public sector education) the percentage of U.S. scholarship recipients has decreased compared to prior years but is going up again comprising 36% of the total scholarships in 2022 (31.5% in 2021).

Schools and Universities in Kuwait

In total, there are approximately 1,300 public and private elementary and secondary schools in Kuwait. The Ministry of Education (MOE) has begun to revamp its entire curriculum, starting at the primary school level. The project is to be phased in over a period of five years and will cover all subjects, from social sciences to mathematics and science. Industry experts expect the demand for training programs in a variety of fields will increase due to Kuwait’s multi-billion dollar national development plan. Of the 30 international schools, eight are American and the rest follow Canadian, British, French, or Indian curricula, with English-language programs.

There are fifteen private universities in Kuwait. Kuwait University, the only public university, graduates 4,000 students each year. Students earn degrees from a variety of programs. On May 4, 2004, the government issued a decree establishing a new Kuwait University City in the Shedadiya area, with a campus including various colleges, scientific centers, and other facilities, allowing an increase in the university’s student body. The University has opened the doors to students in September 2019. Another public university “Sabah Al Salem University City” will open in September 2023 in the Sabah Al Salem Area. The facility is under construction and will integrate facilities and six colleges within one campus. The private universities are: the American University of Kuwait, American University of the Middle East, The Arab Open University, Australian College of Kuwait, Kuwait International Law School, Kuwait Maastricht Business School, Algonquin College, Kuwait Technical College, Box Hill College, American International University, Gulf University of Science and Technology, Kuwait College of Science & Technology, College of Aviation Technology, American College of the Middle East and International University of Science and Technology in Kuwait.

Training

There is also high demand for vocational and non-degree training.

Approximately 21.5% of the population of the country is within the age group of 15-29 years. Much of this group will enter the workfroce in the next few years and thus will drive the demand for vocational and professional training in the country.

The country’s demography is very young, and the coming generation will lead the diversification and development of Kuwait. Hence, the government is keen to enhance the skills of the population so that they can meet the challenges of the work environment. The government of Kuwait caters to the training needs of the Kuwaitis population through the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET). As per the budget for the year 2022-2023, the government has allocated funds to the extent of USD $1.15m towards the needs of the PAAET.

PAAET is also the governing authority that issues licenses to the private companies for training activities in the country.  PAAET provides trainings in a number of fields: Telecommunication & Air Navigation, Electricity & Water Training, Industrial Training, Establishment Training, Nursing, Vocational Training, and Administrative Office Training.

SUB-SECTORS

Best Prospect Services

  • ESL and TOEFL
  • Certified Programs: executive training, management training, IT training, security training, and ongoing professional development
  • Undergraduate degrees in pharmacy, engineering, and dentistry and graduate business degrees
  • Exam review courses for U.S. medical board exams

DIGITAL MARKETING STRATEGIES

In Kuwait, the digital marketing strategies used by students are the following: For most educational webinars and online sessions, students use Microsoft Teams and Zoom, as well as WebEx in rare cases.

Social media use is nearly universal among Kuwaiti. Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube (for streaming videos), and Facebook are the most popular social media sites for Kuwaiti students, although Facebook is less popular among the younger generation. The most popular information search site for students is Google. Therefore, it is important to make sure content on educational opportunities is up-to-date and your institution’s search engine optimization (SEO) strategy is strong.

Some of the popular online platforms for students seeking job opportunities are Gulf Talent, Bayt.com, and LinkedIn. However, not all students have a LinkedIn account. Students and parents are generally kept informed via email marketing, online, through counselors and local schools and educational events. These events allow students the opportunity to meet the universities directly or through virtual channels.

OPPORTUNITIES

The Government is encouraging studies  in certain disciplines, including dentistry, nursing, and pharmacy, due to the high  demand for workers in these sectors, as well as science, technology and engineering (STEM) programs. The U.S. universities targeting Kuwaiti students should approach the Cultural Office of the Embassy of the State of Kuwait in Washington, D.C. and request inclusion on its list of pre-approved universities. Universities must meet the specific criteria of the Kuwaiti Embassy’s Cultural Office in order to be included on this list. To confirm if your university is already on the list, visit: https://kuwaitculturedc.org/university_listing/ext_mcpf_list.php.

The Ministry of Higher Education had added in 2019 some majors to their approved list: cybersecurity and meteorology.

EVENTS

The U.S. Embassy in Kuwait places significant emphasis on the promotion of American education and training institutions. The Embassy regularly promotes various education fairs, including the USEG Expo, EduEx Expo, International Student Network (ISN) Expo, and Linden Tours. The Embassy also provides advice and counseling to students on applying to accredited U.S. education institutions.

Another effective way to promote your university to Kuwaiti high schools is via the U.S. Commercial Service Gold Key Service. We can arrange 1-2 days of appointments with high school counselors and principals. Universities that have utilized this service in the past have found it to be very effective in establishing business relationships with local international and bilingual schools.

RESOURCES

U.S. COMMERCIAL SERVICE CONTACT

Rasha Al-Muhtaseb, Commercial Specialist
U.S. Commercial Service – Kuwait City, Kuwait
Email:  Rasha.Al-Muhtaseb@trade.gov

Phone:  +965 2259 1449

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