Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development was established in 31 December 1961. The Fund assists Arab and other developing countries in developing their economies by providing them with loans and/or technical assistance required for the implementation of their development programs and projects.
Support to Higher Education
Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development supports higher education through an established training program given to newly graduating Kuwaiti engineers.
Type of Support
Training
Through the financing of national programs with strategic significance. One leading program in this context is the upgrading of national human resources in response to private sector needs. The Fund has started implementation of the program in the engineering and architecture specializations, with a view of providing newly-graduated Kuwaiti engineers and architects with the skills and knowledge needed for employment in the private sector. Another objective of the program is to create operational links between international and Kuwaiti companies, so as to assist in the technical and managerial development of the latter. The design of the program calls for its implementation in three phases:
● Theoretical Phase: where through an intensive program of classroom lectures and workshop activities, selected engineering and architecture graduates could strengthen their basic knowledge and skills. The period of this phase is 3 months.
● Practical Phase: where the graduates would be assigned to international companies outside of Kuwait, so as to familiarize them with advanced engineering practical methods and allow them to obtain hands-on experience through specific assignments within these companies. The period of this phase is 6 months.
● Field Training Phase: where the graduates would be assigned to national companies to enable them to apply the skills, experience and knowledge acquired in the earlier 2 phases in specific responsibilities assigned to them within these companies. The period of this phase is 3 months.
Duration of Support
The program duration is 13 months divided as follows:
● Theoretical Phase: 3 months.
● Practical Phase: 6 months.
● Field Training Phase: 3 months.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants should:
● Be Kuwaiti nationals.
● Be less than 26 years old from the date of announcement in local newspapers.
● Hold a Bachelor degree in engineering or architecture from an approved university, received not more than two years from the date of announcement in local newspapers.
● Hold a cumulative GPA of 2.97 or higher (very good) or equivalent.
● Hold a minimum TOEFL score of 450, received not more than two years from the date of announcement in local newspapers. In case of unavailability, the Kuwait Fund will provide a specific date for the TOEFL exam.
Application Procedures
● Calls for proposals are announced twice a year in official local media; in March and September.
● Application forms are to be filled and sent with required documents further to application procedures announced in newspapers.
Deadlines
Three weeks after each call for proposal; in March and September.
Contact
Mr. Nedhal A. Al-Olayan, Director of Training Center Department
Tel: + 96522999898
Fax: + 965 22999891
E-mail:
Nedhal@kuwait-fund.org