IN FOCUS: KUWAIT AND QATAR

Introduction to Session

Professor Abid Khan Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Global Engagement)

5th October, 2015 2Prof. Abid Khan In Focus: Qatar and Kuwait

The ME seeks a stronger role in the global innovation system

� The need to reduce dependence on hydrocarbons;

– Oil price volatility and long term ‘low cost’ availability

– Increasing domestic use of oil resources

– Need to add-value to hydrocarbons via new technology

� Various waves of diversification require innovation and networks;

– Wave 1: real estate and construction

– Wave 2: services; tourism, financial, education and health

– Wave 3: knowledge and innovation

5th October, 2015 3Prof. Abid Khan In Focus: Qatar and Kuwait

Innovation will come from various providers and networks

Source: Next Reality Group

5th October, 2015 4Prof. Abid Khan In Focus: Qatar and Kuwait

Governments in the region are investing on average over 19% of their budgets on education

0.0% 5.0% 10.0% 15.0% 20.0% 25.0%

13.8%

22.5%

25.0%

20.5%

12.3%

12.9%

18.7%

19.3%

MENA

Iran (2011)

Kuwait (2006)

Oman (2010)

Qatar (2010)

Saudi Arabia (2010)

UAE (2010)

Australia (2008)

% of gov’t budget expenditure on education

Important factors within the Middle East

Source: World Bankhttp://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTEDUCATION/0,,contentMDK:20754713~menuPK:2448306~pagePK:210058~piPK:210062~theSitePK:282386,00.html

Increased education spend:

Education reforms are fuelling growth in private school and higher education markets. The region also attracts foreign branch campuses.

Regulatory reforms:

5th October, 2015 5Prof. Abid Khan In Focus: Qatar and Kuwait

Average GDP Per Capita (PPP) of the GCC (2006-2016)

Average GDP Per Capita (PPP) (2011)

English is becoming more prominent as the medium of instruction for Maths and Science. In the UAE, it is increasingly the language of instruction in primary and secondary schools.

English language:

Average GDP per capita increased from US$39k in 2006 to US$45k in 2011, expected to reach US$51k by 2016 (IMF). Individual wealth levels are significantly higher than economies of China, Brazil, and India.

Relative wealth:

Important factors within the Middle East

5th October, 2015 6Prof. Abid Khan In Focus: Qatar and Kuwait

The young population is driving demand for education. It is the youngest population region in the world with 66.8% of the population aged below 30 in 2012 compared to Latin America (52.9%) and Asia (48.8%).

Figure 1: Population Aged Below 30 and Median Age by Region: 2011

Source: Euromonitor International from national statistics/UNhttp://blog.euromonitor.com/2012/02/special-report-the-worlds-youngest-populations-.html

Demographics:

Important factors within the Middle East

5th October, 2015 7Prof. Abid Khan In Focus: Qatar and Kuwait

Growth in international mobility of students

5197 5540 54886248

5510

6639 6381 64477027

8482

95699997

11025

13746

16799

1147 1205 1253 1284 1327 13541838 1809 2007 2168 2431

2825 28593585

5039

1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013

Kuwait Qatar

Source: UNESCO

5th October, 2015 8Prof. Abid Khan In Focus: Qatar and Kuwait

Kuwait – Innovation Landscape

� Impressive economic growth – oil revenues remain greatest contributor to growth and main source of government income

� Sector diversification to manage risk around oil industry reliance is a key priority

� Building a knowledge economy by developing an effective STEM ecosystem;

– Kuwait Foundation for Advancement of Sciences (2012-16 Strategic Plan)

� Belief that innovation should inspire sustainable business advantage and act as a catalyst for corporate growth (KFAS Innovation Challenge 2016 competition)

5th October, 2015 9Prof. Abid Khan In Focus: Qatar and Kuwait

Kuwait – Education Landscape

� Focus on increasing STEM education capabilities to address future workforce needs

� Education reform has been undertaken in collaboration with the World Bank (School Education Quality Improvement Program) and focussed on:

– curricular reform– the development of national assessment systems– improvement of school leadership– creation of professional standards

5th October, 2015 10Prof. Abid Khan In Focus: Qatar and Kuwait

Qatar – Innovation Landscape

� In addition to substantial oil revenues Qatar has become the world’s largest exporter of liquefied natural gas

� Commitment to reinvest extensive hydrocarbon revenue to transform itself into a modern knowledge-based economy

� Research is a core plank of market diversification that is reflected through national research priorities:

– engineering and technology, physical and life sciences, medicine, humanities, social sciences, and the arts (Qatar National Research Fund)

� Developing local human resource capacity is a key strategy to meet workforce needs in a more diversified economy (Qatar National Vision to 2030)

5th October, 2015 11Prof. Abid Khan In Focus: Qatar and Kuwait

Qatar – Education Landscape

� Focussed on education excellence – Qatar has an innovative and distinguished learning environment

� Building English language capability to enhance global connectivity and opportunity for graduates

� National Road Safety Strategy – Qatar University to take the lead and has just established a road trauma research centre

� Qatar Education City has 8 foreign university branch campuses including Weill Cornell Medical College, Carnegie Mellon University and University College London

5th October, 2015 12Prof. Abid Khan In Focus: Qatar and Kuwait

The US and UK dominate R&D interaction with the region

Thomson Reuters Web of Knowledge, 2011

Top collaborating partners for the 5 most prolific research publishing nations in the Arabian Middle East.

Color intensity reflects research output volume, with deeper colors corresponding to greater output.

The numbers in each country refer to the percentage of national output that has an international co-author.

5th October, 2015 13Prof. Abid Khan In Focus: Qatar and Kuwait

Many models exist for international partnering

Traditional

Emerging

Evolving

5th October, 2015 14Prof. Abid Khan In Focus: Qatar and Kuwait

The basis of collaboration is broadening

Comprehensive

Activities

5th October, 2015 15Prof. Abid Khan In Focus: Qatar and Kuwait

Summary

� The ME region is moving to an innovation-economy based model requiring grater collaboration with the global innovation-system

� Traditional ‘academic to academic’ partnering is growing but strategic (critical mass) areas need greater facilitation

� Opportunity for international collaborations that;

– Have greater capacity to span the global solutions ‘value-chain’

– Create (global) critical-mass and access capability at minimal cost

– Link research and education leaders in areas of impact