Privatization of Kuwait Higher Privatization of Kuwait Higher

Education: Policy and procedureEducation: Policy and procedure Imad M. Al-AtiqiImad M. Al-Atiqi

Imad@puc.edu.kwImad@puc.edu.kw

Lafi M. AlharbiLafi M. Alharbilalharbi@hotmail.comlalharbi@hotmail.com

Farida M. AliFarida M. Alifaridah@puc.edu.kw faridah@puc.edu.kw

Private Universities Council – KuwaitPrivate Universities Council – Kuwait

1. Introduction:1. Introduction:

The Kuwaiti government has recently taken fundamental The Kuwaiti government has recently taken fundamental steps in facilitating private higher education. steps in facilitating private higher education.

In 2000, the Kuwaiti National Assembly passed law 34/2000 In 2000, the Kuwaiti National Assembly passed law 34/2000 organizing Private Education.organizing Private Education.

The Ministry of Higher Education then formed a special The Ministry of Higher Education then formed a special committee of senior scholars to propose the executive committee of senior scholars to propose the executive bylaws, which was later passed by the Kuwaiti’s Council of bylaws, which was later passed by the Kuwaiti’s Council of Ministers. Ministers.

The executive office which puts together the procedures and The executive office which puts together the procedures and regulations for licensing and accrediting private institution.regulations for licensing and accrediting private institution.

We will present some detail about the formation of the We will present some detail about the formation of the Private University’s Council (PUC); Policies adopted for Private University’s Council (PUC); Policies adopted for licensing private institutions; and Procedures for maintaining licensing private institutions; and Procedures for maintaining quality control in Private Education.quality control in Private Education.

2. Private University Council (PUC)2. Private University Council (PUC)

The Private Universities Council (PUC) is an The Private Universities Council (PUC) is an independent organization composed of eight independent organization composed of eight members in addition to its chair; the Minister of members in addition to its chair; the Minister of Higher Education. Higher Education.

The PUC memberships, who are appointed by the The PUC memberships, who are appointed by the Council of Ministers upon the recommendation of Council of Ministers upon the recommendation of the Minister of Higher Education, are specialists the Minister of Higher Education, are specialists possessing a wide range of experience and possessing a wide range of experience and commitment to the filed of higher education. commitment to the filed of higher education.

PUC members are not involved in the business of PUC members are not involved in the business of running private education throughout the period running private education throughout the period of their membership. of their membership.

The PUC has the following mission:The PUC has the following mission:

Decides on the establishment of a private institution. Decides on the establishment of a private institution. Determines the requirements of the academic credibility of Determines the requirements of the academic credibility of

the private institution, and apply quality and control the private institution, and apply quality and control measures to insure full compliance with the proved terms measures to insure full compliance with the proved terms and conditions in the decree of establishing. and conditions in the decree of establishing.

Adopts universal standards at programs of study, and Adopts universal standards at programs of study, and frequently reassesses these standards for better frequently reassesses these standards for better performance and quality of higher education. performance and quality of higher education.

Establishes measures of accreditation, and validates Establishes measures of accreditation, and validates degrees and certificates issued by private institutions, and degrees and certificates issued by private institutions, and equates them with their counterparts in the public sector. equates them with their counterparts in the public sector.

Looks into cases where the activities of a private institution Looks into cases where the activities of a private institution are to be adjourned, combined and/or cancelled. are to be adjourned, combined and/or cancelled.

Looks into further issues of concerned as referred by the Looks into further issues of concerned as referred by the Minister of Higher Education.Minister of Higher Education.

PrivateUniversity

Council

General secretariat

LicensingCommittee

Research & development committee

AccreditationCommittee

EvaluationTeams/Agencies

Internal Scholarships Committee

Figure (1) : PUC Organizational structure.

3. Licensing Procedure:3. Licensing Procedure:

Proposals for new private institutions are put Proposals for new private institutions are put forward to a designated committee (Licensing forward to a designated committee (Licensing Committee). Based on careful examination of Committee). Based on careful examination of various parts of the proposed institution, the various parts of the proposed institution, the committee recommends dismissal, approval, or committee recommends dismissal, approval, or sometimes resubmissions. sometimes resubmissions.

The licensing procedure takes basically two turns. The licensing procedure takes basically two turns.

Initially, a preliminary application will be put Initially, a preliminary application will be put forward for preliminary review. If approved, then, forward for preliminary review. If approved, then, it will be supplemented with a detailed it will be supplemented with a detailed application. application.

Phase I: Preliminary Application.Phase I: Preliminary Application.

The preliminary application will include the following details: The preliminary application will include the following details: Name of institution, Mission and objectives, Founders and their Name of institution, Mission and objectives, Founders and their

detailed CVs. detailed CVs. Affiliation with other institutions, if applicable.Affiliation with other institutions, if applicable. Resources available, Financial assets and Founders shares. Resources available, Financial assets and Founders shares. Detailed Feasibility study. Detailed Feasibility study. The institution’s proposed structure. The institution’s proposed structure. Regulations governing: policy of enrolment, academic Regulations governing: policy of enrolment, academic

requirements, study fees and scholarships. requirements, study fees and scholarships. Terms of study, examination, awarding of degrees, certificates Terms of study, examination, awarding of degrees, certificates

and diplomas, accompanied with the pre-approved programs of and diplomas, accompanied with the pre-approved programs of study by the affiliate international institution, if any. study by the affiliate international institution, if any.

Plan for institutional and programs’ accreditation. Plan for institutional and programs’ accreditation. Names of proposed First Council of Trustee and their CVs. Names of proposed First Council of Trustee and their CVs. The proposed dates for commencement of study.The proposed dates for commencement of study.

The proposal-study committee will look into the The proposal-study committee will look into the abovementioned detail, and thoroughly examine abovementioned detail, and thoroughly examine the content of the preliminary application to the content of the preliminary application to assess to what degree the application meets assess to what degree the application meets conditions and standards set by the PUC. conditions and standards set by the PUC.

The assessment at this stage will be chiefly The assessment at this stage will be chiefly concerned with the statement of the proposed concerned with the statement of the proposed institution and to what degree it serves the institution and to what degree it serves the objectives of high education in the country, and if objectives of high education in the country, and if so, does the proposed institution possess the so, does the proposed institution possess the material and human resources to achieve its material and human resources to achieve its mission. mission.

Phase II: Detailed application:Phase II: Detailed application:

Within one year from date of the initial application Within one year from date of the initial application approval, the founders should submit the following approval, the founders should submit the following documents: documents:

A detailed plan of the buildings: (study and research halls, A detailed plan of the buildings: (study and research halls, libraries, labs, appliances and student activity’s services libraries, labs, appliances and student activity’s services and management buildings and other service. and management buildings and other service.

Financial guarantee to insure the availability of the said Financial guarantee to insure the availability of the said fund for execution of the project. fund for execution of the project.

Within six months of the submission of detailed application, Within six months of the submission of detailed application, the PUC will answer back to the founders of the decision the PUC will answer back to the founders of the decision made on their proposal, either to submit further document, made on their proposal, either to submit further document, or the final approval. or the final approval.

Upon PUC recommendation, the Council of Ministers will Upon PUC recommendation, the Council of Ministers will issue the decree to establish the private institution. issue the decree to establish the private institution.

It is worth mentioning here that the private institution may It is worth mentioning here that the private institution may not commence its activity prior to proper establishment of not commence its activity prior to proper establishment of its required material and human resources, and a written its required material and human resources, and a written approval by the PUC. approval by the PUC.

Founder

Licensing committee

PUC

Founder

Preliminary approval

Preliminary Application Clarification

Phase 1

Recommendation

Phase 2

Rejection

Licensing Committee

comments

PUC

Recommendation

Detailed Application

Final Approval

Council of MinistersRejection

Institution License by His Highness the

Amir

Figure 2 : licensing process

3. Accreditation Criteria and Procedure:3. Accreditation Criteria and Procedure:

PUC requires every licensed institution to go PUC requires every licensed institution to go through institutional and academic-program through institutional and academic-program accreditation. accreditation.

Institutional evaluation is carried out by an Institutional evaluation is carried out by an independent external team formed by PUC. independent external team formed by PUC.

Program evaluation is carried out by Program evaluation is carried out by internationally recognized accreditation internationally recognized accreditation establishment. establishment.

The institutional accreditation considerations:The institutional accreditation considerations:

MissionMission: : Private university shall aim to contribute to Private university shall aim to contribute to

achieving the goals of higher education and achieving the goals of higher education and applied education in the country in a manner that applied education in the country in a manner that provides research service and serves the goals provides research service and serves the goals and the needs of the developing society. and the needs of the developing society.

ManagementManagement: : From date of the decree, the private institution From date of the decree, the private institution

shall enjoy an independent legal status, and will shall enjoy an independent legal status, and will be legally presented by its chairman to practice be legally presented by its chairman to practice the rights to obtain various types of funds, to be the rights to obtain various types of funds, to be part of financial contracts, and to accept part of financial contracts, and to accept donations. donations.

Council of Trustees of the private institution Council of Trustees of the private institution carries the following responsibilities:carries the following responsibilities:

approves the institution regulations approves the institution regulations manages its funds manages its funds elects its chairman and other key figures elects its chairman and other key figures Upon permission from the PUC and the standards Upon permission from the PUC and the standards

determined by Council of Ministers, the private determined by Council of Ministers, the private institution shall accept donations, grants, gifts institution shall accept donations, grants, gifts and and trust fund (waqf)trust fund (waqf) in a manner that shall not in a manner that shall not contradict its mission and objectives. contradict its mission and objectives.

appoints the financial auditor, which must be a appoints the financial auditor, which must be a licensed accountant. licensed accountant.

approves the annual balance sheet and financial approves the annual balance sheet and financial account.account.

Teaching staff:Teaching staff:

The teaching staff at private institutions and/or The teaching staff at private institutions and/or the branches of foreign universities should be the branches of foreign universities should be holders of PhD (or equivalent). Full time staff shall holders of PhD (or equivalent). Full time staff shall not be less than 70% of the total staff.not be less than 70% of the total staff.

The private institution shall organize staff The private institution shall organize staff contract, contract renewal, promotion, system of contract, contract renewal, promotion, system of delegating and secondment, and policy governing delegating and secondment, and policy governing evaluation of performance and others of evaluation of performance and others of administrative issues. administrative issues.

Students’ affairs & degrees and certificatesStudents’ affairs & degrees and certificates

Students not obtaining a certificate of completing Students not obtaining a certificate of completing secondary school study or its equivalent may not secondary school study or its equivalent may not be enrolled at the private institution. be enrolled at the private institution.

The private institution shall establish polices, The private institution shall establish polices, regulations, conditions and procedures of regulations, conditions and procedures of enrolling students, students’ follow up, enrolling students, students’ follow up, dismissals, re-entering, and graduation, as well as dismissals, re-entering, and graduation, as well as schema of student registration and guidance and schema of student registration and guidance and other issues concerning student affairs. other issues concerning student affairs.

Financial affairs:Financial affairs:

Private institution must observe a regular Private institution must observe a regular maintenance of its financial resources and keep maintenance of its financial resources and keep up-to-date records of its accounts and financial up-to-date records of its accounts and financial records. Periodical financial statements shall be records. Periodical financial statements shall be subject to the approval of one or more licensed subject to the approval of one or more licensed auditor whom Council of Trustees shall appoint. auditor whom Council of Trustees shall appoint. Council of Trustees must approve the annual Council of Trustees must approve the annual financial report of the private institution.financial report of the private institution.

FinancialReportTechnical

committee

EvaluationTeam

LicensedInstitution

Technical Report

Self – assessment ReportAssessmentReport

AccreditationCommittee

Feed back on Assessment

ReportRecommendation

PUC

Accreditation Decision

Figure 3 : Institutional Accreditation Process

Performance CriteriaPerformance Criteria

Effectiveness: how well did you doEffectiveness: how well did you do Efficiency: How did you utilize Efficiency: How did you utilize

resources.resources. Internal Structure: Is your Internal Structure: Is your

organization consistent with the organization consistent with the missionmission

Growth and Renewal: can you Growth and Renewal: can you sustain progressive improvementsustain progressive improvement

The outcome:The outcome:

The response of Kuwaiti community to the law establishing private The response of Kuwaiti community to the law establishing private institutions was overwhelming. institutions was overwhelming.

Over 30 applications for establishing private higher institutions Over 30 applications for establishing private higher institutions were received. were received.

There are a number of factors in favor of private institutions in There are a number of factors in favor of private institutions in Kuwait:Kuwait:

Specialized institutional accreditation.Specialized institutional accreditation. Mandatory international affiliation.Mandatory international affiliation. Mandatory Program accreditation.Mandatory Program accreditation. International campus design and standards.International campus design and standards. Little political interference.Little political interference. Training, research, development and business incubators Training, research, development and business incubators

encouraged.encouraged. Gives priority to job market demand.Gives priority to job market demand.

So far ten decrees have been issued to license private high So far ten decrees have been issued to license private high institutions. institutions.

- Five institutions have already commenced their activities. - Five institutions have already commenced their activities. Table (1) below lists the approved programs in these Table (1) below lists the approved programs in these institutions.institutions.

- Four institutions are branches of internationally accredited - Four institutions are branches of internationally accredited institutions, and six others are affiliated with internationally institutions, and six others are affiliated with internationally accredited institutions. Table (2) below summarizes the accredited institutions. Table (2) below summarizes the international partnership of the licensed institutions. international partnership of the licensed institutions.

- As of 2005/2006 around 9,000 students are enrolled in - As of 2005/2006 around 9,000 students are enrolled in private institutions. The approved student capacity is private institutions. The approved student capacity is 18,000 and the projected capacity by year 2025 is 60,000 18,000 and the projected capacity by year 2025 is 60,000 students.students.

- One institution has been awarded the institutional - One institution has been awarded the institutional accreditation by PUC for 3 years. accreditation by PUC for 3 years.

- Four other institutions are in the process of obtaining the - Four other institutions are in the process of obtaining the institutional accreditation.institutional accreditation.

Thank you.Thank you.