GUST Signs MOU with National University of Singapore to Launch Center for Global Studies

Kuwait City, 17th September, 2015: Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST) marked an important milestone on Wednesday with the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the National University of Singapore (NUS), one of Asia’s leading universities, to jointly launch the Center for Global Studies (CGS) at GUST.

This collaboration is envisioned to develop CGS into a leading research center on global studies, and a vehicle for engaging both our internal and external communities through stimulating events and lectures about global issues. Its aims to conduct cutting-edge research on cross-national political, economic, social, cultural, and environmental issues of critical importance, and to share research output and information regionally and globally. CGS seeks to foster public understanding of global issues and support the policy-making processes of concerned states.

The event started with the MOU signing ceremony, and was followed by a lecture from Dr. Peter Sluglett, an expert on Middle Eastern history and Director of the Middle East Institute at NUS, entitled: “An Improvement on Colonialism? The ‘A’ Mandates and their Legacy in the Middle East.” Afterwards, a special luncheon was organized for leading academic figures from across Kuwait to network with one another.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Sluglett, Director of the Middle East Institute at NUS, said, “Setting up this Center is a major accomplishment for both of our universities, and will serve as a vital focal point in the study of this dynamic region. Also, delivering a lecture in Kuwait was also a personally enriching experience, as I found it to be a great opportunity to interact with prominent local academics who share perspectives on a number of important issues.”

Dr. Sluggett is a widely published author on Middle Eastern History and holds a BA from Cambridge University and PhD from Oxford University. He taught Middle Eastern History at the University of Durham, UK and at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, where he was also Director of the university’s Middle East Center.

Also commenting on the occasion was Professor Donald Bates, GUST President, “We, as a university, are never satisfied with the status quo. We continually find new ways to enhance the GUST experience by organizing events such as this that bring together great minds and present unique viewpoints to the benefit of our community. CGS will provide GUST with yet another outlet to showcase its prowess in contributions to academic research.”

The lecture is intended to be the first in a series of events and lectures about global issues organized by CGS, as GUST continues to build on its mission to become a knowledge-hub that benefits and engages students, academics, and the wider Kuwait community as a whole.