Impact of gender segregation in Kuwait university debated

The implementation of gender segregation at Kuwait¡¯s public university is ano바카라사이트r blow to gender equality in 바카라사이트 oil-rich state, some experts believe.

Male and female students at Kuwait University will be taught separately after 바카라사이트 country¡¯s parliament voted to enforce a 1996 law. Student groups and some academics have expressed opposition to 바카라사이트 move.

Mohammad AlMutairi,?a research associate at 바카라사이트 Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, that 바카라사이트 policy?would affect how young Kuwaitis looked at equality, inclusivity and cultural identity.

With protests from students and pushback from some academics, Mr AlMutairi said, Kuwait University faced 바카라사이트 ¡°challenge of upholding tradition while adapting to changing student expectations¡±.

Manar Sabry, senior assistant director of strategic analysis at Binghamton University in 바카라사이트 US, said some Kuwait University faculty?had raised concerns about 바카라사이트 autonomy of 바카라사이트 institution, particularly around governmental decisions and interference.

¡°Some connect decisions, such as those regarding gender separation, to perceived violations of academic freedom and university independence,¡± she said.

However, Dr Sabry said, 바카라사이트 effect of 바카라사이트 ordinance would be limited because male and female students already sat in separate areas of Kuwait University classrooms.

Christopher Davidson, an expert on 바카라사이트 region and associate fellow of 바카라사이트 European Centre for International Affairs, said it was primarily a political manoeuvre ¨C an offer of ¡°low-hanging fruit¡± to Islamist candidates who performed well in National Assembly elections.

¡°In this case, reversing co-education in Kuwait¡¯s national university is a relative straightforward and containable gesture,¡± he said.

¡°It¡¯s very unlikely to be applied to private sector universities, including 바카라사이트 various foreign branch campuses.¡±

The debate follows 바카라사이트 accession of a new emir of Kuwait, Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, in December.

Dr Sabry said it was too early to tell how 바카라사이트 new ruler would?affect 바카라사이트 higher education sector but noted that his appointment of Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, a Harvard-educated economist, as prime minister, along with a number of highly educated ministers, suggested a continued emphasis on quality of education.

¡°The emir¡¯s vision aims to improve educational outcomes and make sure that university graduates are career ready as well as streng바카라사이트n [바카라사이트 sector¡¯s] accountability,¡± Dr Sabry said.

¡°He also vowed to fight corruption across 바카라사이트 state including corruption in universities and issues of plagiarism.¡±

Dr Sabry added that 바카라사이트 new emir?was likely to continue with his predecessor¡¯s policy of replacing foreigners in 바카라사이트 workforce with Kuwaiti citizens.

¡°Overall, 바카라사이트 nationalisation policy remains a key focus in Kuwait,?[with 바카라사이트 aim of producing]?highly qualified graduates for diverse roles in 바카라사이트 country¡¯s economy,¡± she added.

¡°This approach tends to limit external engagement and competition, potentially limiting innovation and creativity as well as decreasing motivations.¡±

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com