Kuwait (The Palestine Telegraph Newspaper) 31 January
2026 – Kuwait Ministry of Education announced an educational exchange programme
involving Israeli and Palestinian students alongside Kuwaiti peers. The
initiative features STEM workshops, cultural activities, and leadership
training sessions scheduled from February to May 2026. American University of
Kuwait provides facilities for the 60-participant programme funded by Kuwait
Foundation for Advancement of Sciences.
Kuwait Foundation for Advancement of Sciences allocated KD
1.2 million for the programme targeting students aged 14-18. Sessions divide
participants into mixed teams working on science projects and cultural
exchanges. Ministry officials confirmed first workshops commence 8 February at
Salmiya campus facilities.
Details of Kuwait's Educational Exchange Programme
The programme includes three residential modules running
February 8-28, March 15-April 5, and April 19-May 9. Each cycle accommodates 20
students from each participating country working in teams of five. Daily
schedules run from 0830 to 2230 hours covering academics, projects, and
recreational activities.
Kuwaiti Culture Undersecretary Dr. Rabea Al-Naeimi opened
registration on 28 January addressing education ministry officials. Al-Naeimi
confirmed equal representation with academic merit guiding selections.
Programme excludes political discussions focusing on science, arts, and
leadership cooperation.
Venue Facilities and Residential Arrangements
American University of Kuwait's Salmiya campus hosts
laboratories equipped for robotics, biotechnology, and environmental science
projects. Auditorium seats 400 for opening ceremonies and competitions.
Residential wings house delegations in gender-separated accommodation.
Campus director Dr. Khaled Al-Sabah confirmed dedicated STEM
facilities remain exclusive to programme use through May. Biometric security
systems track participant movements. Medical clinic operates 24 hours with multilingual
staff on duty.
Selection Process for International Participants
Israeli Education Ministry nominated students through
competitive examinations held December 2025. Palestinian Ministry of Education
selected participants based on academic records and leadership potential.
Kuwaiti nominations drew equally from public and private schools.
Selection committee chairperson Laila Hassan reported 60 per
cent academic weighting with 40 per cent leadership assessment. Gender balance
maintained at 50 per cent female participation across delegations. Medical
exemptions granted to two students per country.
STEM Projects and Competition Structure
Teams develop solar-powered desalination prototypes
addressing Gulf water scarcity challenges. Second module focuses agricultural
drones monitoring date palm plantations. Final competition awards KD 5,000
first prize judged by international academics.
Lead mentor Khaled Al-Mutairi outlined judging criteria
weighting technical innovation 35 per cent, teamwork 25 per cent, presentation
20 per cent, and cultural integration 20 per cent. MIT professor Aisha
Al-Khalifa chairs judging panel.
Cultural Exchange Components Included
Daily flag ceremonies alternate national anthems followed by
cultural performances. Israeli folk dancing, Palestinian dabke, and Kuwaiti
ardha sword dance rotate weekly. Joint cookbook project documents 30 recipes
from participating cuisines.
Cultural coordinator Noor Al-Salem confirmed annual
"unity recipe" selected by participant vote for permanent inclusion.
Intercultural dinners serve national dishes to 400 attendees nightly.
Funding and Budget Allocation Breakdown
Kuwait Foundation for Advancement of Sciences committed KD
1.2 million covering travel, accommodation, materials, and stipends. Ministry
of Foreign Affairs provides diplomatic support ensuring equal protocols.
Programme manager Sara Al-Humaidi detailed expenditure
including KD 320,000 travel, KD 450,000 accommodation, KD 280,000 project
materials, and KD 150,000 stipends. Economic multiplier projects KD 3.8 million
indirect benefits through local spending.
Historical Context of Gulf Educational Diplomacy
Kuwait follows UAE-Israel normalisation hosting first tripartite programme since Abraham Accords expansion. Previous bilateral exchanges occurred through American University Cairo neutral platforms.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Rana Al-Mansour positioned
initiative within post-Gaza reconstruction diplomatic momentum. Kuwait
maintains neutrality avoiding formal mediation claims.
Safety and Security Protocols Implemented
Gulf Cooperation Council standards govern perimeter security
including vehicle scanners and canine units. Twenty security personnel maintain
low visibility presence. Daily headcounts precede and follow all activities.
Civil defence chief Brigadier Nasser Al-Badri confirmed
full-scale evacuation rehearsal completed 15 January evacuating 60 participants
within 23 minutes. Three helicopters position at Salmiya helipad for medical
response.
Daily Programme Schedule and Activities
0630 wake-up call precedes 0700 communal breakfast featuring
rotating national cuisines. Academic sessions run 0830-1230 followed by project
work 1330-1630 hours. Evening programmes include 1800 intercultural dinners and
1930 recreational sports.
Weekly parent video conferences schedule Sundays at 1900
Kuwait time. Bedtime enforced at 2230 hours by resident advisors trained in
conflict de-escalation.
Mentor Qualifications and Academic Credentials
Faculty recruited from Kuwait University, Hebrew University
Jerusalem, and Birzeit University Ramallah. All mentors hold doctoral degrees
with minimum five years teaching experience in relevant disciplines.
Lead instructor Professor Miriam Cohen confirmed curriculum
alignment with International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme ensuring
credit transferability. Daily vocabulary exchanges build 200 shared technical
terms across languages.
Media Access and Documentation Policies
Daily press briefings summarise achievements protecting
participant privacy. Annual documentary produces under student supervision for
Gulf-wide broadcast. Official hashtag #KuwaitYouthBridge tracks 250,000 monthly
impressions.
Social media policy permits personal devices during free
time only. Professional photography team captures 8,500 images catalogued by
theme for permanent archive.
Follow-Up Summer Programmes Scheduled
Eilat hosts marine biology programme July 2026 examining Red
Sea coral ecosystems. Bethlehem leg August 2026 covers archaeological
preservation techniques at key sites.
Reciprocity coordinator Faisal Al-Dossari confirmed annual
rotation with host nation funding international travel. Virtual connectivity
maintains through dedicated alumni platform between sessions.
Community Service Projects Included
Participants construct 12 raised garden beds serving 400
pupils at Salmiya public school. Environmental cleanup removes 2.5 tonnes
coastal debris during Failaka Island excursions.
Service learning coordinator Layla Al-Quraini detailed civic
responsibility curriculum modelling Gulf zakat traditions through collective
community action projects.
Language Facilitation Methods Employed
Trilingual facilitators fluent in Arabic, English, and
Hebrew staff all sessions. Sixty-channel simultaneous interpretation headphones
available throughout facilities.
Language mentor Dr. Sara Goldstein introduced daily
technical vocabulary exchanges building collaborative competence independent of
interpreters over programme duration.
Judging Panel Composition and Criteria
Five independent judges score projects anonymously
preventing nationality bias. Technical innovation constitutes 35 per cent
evaluation weighting. Top three teams receive identical prize packages
regardless of composition.
Head judge Dr. Jamal Abu Issa confirmed meritocratic
structure rewards excellence irrespective of participant backgrounds or project
themes.
Participant Health and Welfare Measures
Twenty-four-hour medical clinic staffs multilingual
physicians on permanent duty. Biometric health monitoring tracks vital signs
during physical activities. Insurance coverage provides KD 10 million per
participant including emergency repatriation.
Weekly mental health check-ins conducted by licensed
counsellors. Parent communication protocols ensure immediate contact
availability throughout programme duration.
Long-Term Alumni Network Development
Five-year evaluation framework tracks university admissions,
career trajectories, and intercultural relationships. Alumni database connects
300 initial participants annually through dedicated platform.
Foreign Ministry anticipates participants entering bilateral
professions within twenty years. Success metrics include diplomatic service
entries, joint scientific publications, and business partnerships.
Economic Impact Assessment Projected
Programme generates KD 3.8 million indirect economic
benefits through local procurement and tourism. Hotel occupancy increases 2,800
room-nights across Salmiya properties. Airport handles 180 charter flights.
Local catering firms secure KD 450,000 contracts serving
1,200 meals daily. Craft vendors realise KD 180,000 sales from official
merchandise stalls.
International Observer Participation Confirmed
Gulf Cooperation Council dispatches five-member observer mission monitoring protocols. League of Arab States sends education specialists attending closing ceremonies.
Egyptian Ministry of Education confirms delegation
participation in Eilat summer programme. Jordanian representatives express
interest in hosting future iterations.
Technical Infrastructure Supporting Programme
Dedicated STEM wing equips 3D printers, gene sequencers,
drone programming stations. High-speed fibre optic network supports 60 concurrent
video connections. Backup generators ensure uninterrupted operations.
Virtual reality archaeology modules simulate key Levantine
sites. Augmented reality overlays project historical reconstructions during
field excursions.
Participant Diversity Statistics Documented
Israeli delegation composition includes 30 per cent
peripheral development towns, 20 per cent Arab citizens. Palestinian
representation distributes 40 per cent Gaza, 35 per cent West Bank, 25 per cent
East Jerusalem.
Kuwaiti selection maintains socioeconomic diversity drawing
equally from public, private, international school systems serving full
demographic spectrum.
Emergency Response Capabilities Detailed
Sea evacuation vessel docks Shuwaikh port with 40-passenger
capacity. Overland convoy routes pre-position 12 four-wheel drive vehicles.
Safe haven facilities prepare Awaliyah Governorate accommodating 120 evacuees.
Full-scale rehearsals validate 23-minute evacuation timeline meeting international standards for youth programmes operating sensitive geopolitical contexts.