AUK Professor's Research on Kuwait's Digital Landscape Pioneers in the Middle East

Dr. Fahed Al-Sumait, associate professor of communication at AUK, collaborated with researchers at the London School of Economics and the Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST) to publish a report that stands as the first of its kind in the Middle East. The 'Kuwait’s Digital Inequalities Report 2022,' featured in the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) 'Al-Taqaddum Al-Ilmi’ magazine, offers essential insights into Kuwait’s current digital landscape.  

Dr. Al-Sumait and his coresearchers Ellen J. Helsper, Cristina Navarro, Nouf Al-Saif, and Nilesh Rau, carried out a national survey that shed light on the factors affecting digital skills and access. This survey was part of a global project known as 'From Digital Skills to Tangible Outcomes' (DiSTO).  

The survey, conducted between October 2020 and January 2021 with over 700 adults in Kuwait, unveiled that respondents aged 18-25 demonstrated more than twice the digital skills compared to those over 40; however, these skills are not fully harnessed in professional or educational settings. The survey also indicated a deficiency in navigation skills as the lowest among those recorded, while online social skills dominated, emphasizing the necessity for more accessible ICT skills and media literacy training. Importantly, the report highlighted that the country does not have a significant gender gap, which is present in many countries across the Middle East and worldwide. Instead, women on average demonstrated higher levels of personal uses, access to more internet devices, and achievement of more work-related outcomes than men.  

The 'Kuwait’s Digital Inequalities Report 2022' serves as a compass for navigating Kuwait's path into a highly digitized and globally interconnected future. Dr. Al-Sumait emphasized the importance of the gathered data in informing policymakers and businesses. In particular, more can be done to reduce barriers and add incentives that address current limitations in access, skills, and uses, especially for older populations, those with limited formal education, and the high number of expatriates living in the country. Doing so will foster greater equity, promote higher participation, and contribute to society-wide benefits in both productivity and well-being.  

By consistently publishing their findings, AUK professors play a vital role in advancing their fields, shaping the academic community, and actively engaging in groundbreaking research that changes and influences scientific discourse.   
  
  
  

Dr. Fahed Al-Sumait