As part of ongoing efforts to advance academic, scientific, and research development, Kuwait University, represented by Acting Vice President for Academic Affairs, Prof. Mohammad Ali Al-Mulla, welcomed a delegation from Durham University, UK, led by Prof. Anoush Ehteshami, Director of the Al-Sabah Programme at Durham, and Prof. Karen O’Brien, Vice-Chancellor of Durham University. The meeting was held at Sabah Al-Salem University City to discuss academic collaboration between the two institutions and to enhance their scientific, cultural, and intellectual capabilities.

The meeting was also attended by Prof. Mai Dawoud Al-Bader, Acting Vice President for Research; Dr. Haneen Shafiq Al-Ghabra, Assistant Vice President for Research Funding and Implementation; Dr. Hamed Suleiman Al-Furaih, Assistant Vice President for Academic Support Services for Community Engagement and Libraries; and Ms. Etemad Al-Kandari, Director of the E-Learning Center under the Office of the Vice President for Academic Support Services and Information Technology Sector at Kuwait University.

At the beginning of the meeting, Prof. Al-Mulla welcomed the delegation and reaffirmed Kuwait University’s desire to renew and expand mutual cooperation with Durham University in academic, scientific, and cultural domains. He emphasized the importance of student and faculty exchange programs, collaborative research efforts, and renewing the current agreement between the two universities with the addition of new areas of cooperation.

In turn, Prof. Anoush Ehteshami and Prof. Karen O’Brien expressed their appreciation for the Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah Chair in International Relations—a named professorship at the Institute of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies within Durham’s School of Government and International Affairs. The chair was established in 2011 by former Prime Minister of Kuwait, Sheikh Nasser Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, and has since supported 14 PhD graduates.

The discussion also touched on Durham University’s Space Studies Program and its relevance to the Kuwait National Space Research Center, recently announced and planned to be established at Sabah Al-Salem University City in collaboration with Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS). Prof. Al-Mulla emphasized Kuwait University’s keenness to strengthen cooperation in the field of space studies and benefit from Durham University’s expertise.

Participants from both universities also explored the possibility of faculty exchange through academic sabbaticals or research fellowships. Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to collaborative efforts in areas such as scientific research, peer review, community engagement, and student exchange programs for both undergraduate and graduate levels.

The meeting concluded with Prof. Mohammad Ali Al-Mulla presenting commemorative tokens to the visiting guests in appreciation of their visit and their commitment to deepening cooperation between Kuwait University and Durham University.