Major educational and scientific events in Kuwait in 2011

On January 3, the Ministry of Education announced the start of implementation of the 2nd phase of the educational comprehensive quality project which began in 2009. On January 30, the cabinet approved a draft decree appointing Dr. Ahmad Al-Badr as Kuwait University Rector. On March 2, Al-Badr endorsed appointment of three new deputies for the rector of the university. On March 2, the cabinet approved draft decree establishing a two-ye Community College. On March 3, the cabinet approved establishment of a new educational tv channel station. On March 4, Kuwait donated USD four million for the American Studies Institute of the George Washington Univerity. Kuwaiti Ambassador to Washington Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah delivered the donation. On March 8, a Kuwait students team won first places in the Arab Open Robot Championship which was held in Jordan. On March 8, Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education Dr. Moudha Al-hmoud inaugurated the International Statistic Conference which is organized by the Kuwait University with the participation of several researches representing 30 countries. On March 11, Director of the National Centre for Education Development and Secretary General of the Higher Council of Education Dr. Redha AL-Khayyat, announced start of implementation of certain international tests at all Kuwaiti schools. On April 4, Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Dr. Mohammad Al-Effasi issued a resolution allowing declaration of the university, colleges and higher institutions union. On April 5, the minister of education and minister of higher education launched a project to install 24 hours monitoring cameras at 771 state schools. On April 21, the minister of education and minister of higher education launched the first stage of the national atlas for facilities and services project. On April 27, the ministry of education and the Sabah Al-Ahmad talent and creativity centre signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at establishment and development of a special education project for the discovery of talented students in elementary stages. On May 19, Dr. Fayeza Al-Khorafi, the former Kuwait University Rector, and Dr. Nouriya Al-Awadhi of the Kuwait University Chemistry section received the Award of Excellence from the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry and the American Chemistry Council. On May 22, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) and in cooperation with the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) conducted an aerial survey of the groundwater aquifers in northern Kuwait, using low frequency radar technology that has been used to explore the water in the Mars planet. On May 22, Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education Dr. Ahmad Al-Mlaifi issued a resolution canceling computer and physical education tests designed for 6th to 12th grade students. On August 14, the cabinet approved an additional financial credit to absorb more high school graduates in domestic scholarship programs. On August 22, the Kuwati Scientific Club announced acceptance of 80 inventions from 22 foreign and Arab countries to take part in the 4th Middle East Inventions Conference, which is organized under patronage of His Highness the Amir. On September 6, Kuwait and Luxembourg agreed to begin cooperation in the field of higher education following a meeting between a group of visiting Kuwaiti parliamentarians and high-ranking officials of Luxembourg's Education Ministry. On September 21, the first school specialised in difficult learning opened in Kuwait. On October 24, the ministry of education launched "flash memory project" for school students, known as e-books. The project aims at replacing textbooks for electronic means by copying them onto flash memories to ease the weight of carrying heavy school bags. On October 28, the Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education Ahmad Al-Mulaifi, during a visit to Paris, announced the opening of a new office in the service of of distinguished students during studying abroad and after graduation. (end) eh.bz KUNA 250907 Dec 11NNNN