In Line with the University’s Vision to Establish a Sustainable Administrative and Financial Institutional System
The Center for Gulf and Arabian Peninsula Studies Organizes the Scientific Forum:
“Reimagining Education in the Gulf States: Bridging Gaps, Embracing the Digital Future, and Aligning with Economic Visions”
In Collaboration with the Gulf International Forum
The Center for Gulf and Arabian Peninsula Studies organized the scientific forum titled “Reimagining Education in the Gulf States: Bridging Gaps, Embracing the Digital Future, and Aligning with Economic Visions,” in cooperation with the Gulf International Forum. The event was held under the patronage and in the presence of the Acting Director of the Center, Prof. Yaqoub Al-Kandari, and was attended by a distinguished group of local and Gulf university professors. The forum took place at the Al-Jawhara Building on Sabah Al-Salem University City campus on Thursday, 13 November 2025.
In his opening remarks, Prof. Al-Kandari explained that the forum consisted of three main sessions. The first session was chaired by Prof. Ali Jassim Al-Shehab, Professor in the Department of Foundations of Education at Kuwait University’s College of Education. The second session was chaired by Prof. Ghazi Anizan Al-Rashidi, Editor-in-Chief of The Educational Journal at Kuwait University. The third and final session was chaired by Prof. Abdullah Mohammad Al-Sheikh, former Dean of the College of Education and the College of Graduate Studies.
First Session
At the beginning of the first session, Prof. Al-Shehab welcomed the speakers and highlighted the major themes to be discussed. The session opened with a lecture by Dr. Bader Hamad Al-Essa, Associate Professor of Social Work and former Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education. He addressed the role of sports and arts activities in improving education, emphasizing that this is a societal responsibility that begins within the family and extends to the role of the Minister of Education. He also discussed several factors contributing to the improvement of education in both public and private schools.
Prof. Al-Shehab then introduced Prof. Noha Rashid Al-Ruwaished, Professor of Curriculum and Instruction at Kuwait University, who stressed the importance of curriculum reform in advancing education in the Gulf States. She also discussed the need for digital innovation by future teachers, describing it as a national duty.
Next, Dr. Ibrahim Al-Houti, Assistant Professor of Education, addressed the concept of “addiction to reform,” emphasizing the need to monitor reform processes by moving away from external frameworks and developing solutions tailored specifically to Gulf countries. He highlighted the importance of prioritizing quality over quantity in education.
The session continued with Dr. Asmaa Al-Fadala, Professor at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, who presented solutions addressing the imbalance between the number of learners in some academic specializations and the shortage in others, leading to overcrowding in certain job sectors and shortages in others.
The first session concluded with Dr. Fatima Al-Hashem, Assistant Professor at Gulf University for Science and Technology, who emphasized the important societal role in building a generation aware of the value of education, from the family level to the public and private educational systems.
Second Session
The second session, chaired by Prof. Al-Rashidi, featured presentations by at Dr. Hanaa Al- Almoaibed, Fellow ProLego MENA, the Atlantic Council, and Chatham House; Dr. Ahoud Al-Asfour, Assistant Professor at the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training; and Dr. Salwa Al-Jassar, Professor of Curriculum and Instruction at Kuwait University.
The speakers discussed several key themes, including supporting economic diversification plans and aligning education reforms with them, the role of government in reforming higher education, enhancing partnerships with accredited foreign universities, and strengthening cooperation with local and Gulf educational institutions. The session also included a proposal for developing the education sector.
Third Session
The forum concluded with the third session, chaired by Prof. Al-Sheikh, and featuring the following speakers:
•    Dr. Ali Habib Al-Kandari, Professor of Curriculum and Instruction at Kuwait University
•    Dr. Tariq Al-Duwaisan, former university professor and consultant in quality and development
•    Dr. Salman Zayed, Professor at the University of Bahrain
•    Prof. Mubarak Al-Thurwah, Acting Dean of the College of Basic Education at the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training