"Higher Education in the GCC: Emerging Trends and Models"

AUK's Fourth Annual Liberal Arts Conference

The American University of Kuwait held its Fourth Annual Liberal Arts Conference on 26 and 27 April, 2009. The topic of the conference was "Higher Education in the GCC: Emerging Trends and Models".

Introductory remarks were made by AUK President Dr. Marina Tolmacheva who set the tone by highlighting the aspirations of universities in the GCC saying "While AUK may be unique in its commitment to liberal arts education, we find that colleagues at other Kuwaiti and GCC institutions have similar concerns and aspirations and strive to better define and support the learning outcomes that best fit both the academic environment and employment needs and expectations of the region." The conference coordinator was Dr. Shoma Munshi, Division Head of Social Sciences at AUK.

Dartmouth College President James Wright also addressed the audience via video message supporting and encouraging the progress AUK has made so far and specifically with regards to this annual conference. AUK Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Dr. Nizar Hamzeh said the theme of the conference is now a focal point for political leaders interested in reforming educational policies.

The keynote speaker was Prof. Dale Eickelman, Ralph and Richard Lazarus Professor of Anthropology and Human Relations, Dartmouth College, who set the tone of the conference by giving the audience a general look at the history of higher education in the region and the range of models being utilized. He point out that "there has been a shift to mass higher education throughout the Arabian Peninsula, a phenomenon basic to reshaping notions of self and society in the 21st century... We need to know more about how the shift to mass higher education changes how people think about themselves and their society." In subsequent presentations panelists echoed this them elaborating on the effects that higher education and society have on one another.

The conference was divided into three panels. In the first panel on "Case Studies of Accreditation and Curriculum", practitioners from universities in the region shared their experiences. The second panel on "Technology, Curricula and Research" highlighted how learning outcomes are delivered in classroom settings. The third panel on "Emerging Trends" discussed the new direction private higher education is now taking in the GCC.

In addition to AUK faculty and students, the conference also had participants from other institutions including Kuwait University; Gulf University of Science and Technology; Arab Open University; Zayed University, Qatar University; American University of Cairo; Carnegie Mellon, Qatar Foundation; and California State University.

The American University of Kuwait (AUK) is an independent, private, equal opportunity, and co-educational liberal arts institution of higher education. The educational, cultural and administrative structure, methods and standards of AUK are based on the American model of higher learning. The lanuage of instruction is English. AUK and Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire (USA) have worked closley together since 2003, when the two institutions signed a Memorandum of Understanding. More information on Dartmouth College can be found at www.dartmouth.edu

Higher education in the gcc emerging trends and models

Dr. Shoma Munshi, Conference Coordinator and
Division Head - Social Sciences at AUK welcomes the attending audience

Higher education in the gcc emerging trends and models