Why Does Kuwait University Suck?

Question

Many Kuwaitis nowadays complain about how terrible Kuwait University (the only university in Kuwait from 1966 until 2004 when other private ones were opened) has become these days. The reputation of Kuwait University is sinking by the day as we hear more and more complaints about it. The question is what has lead the university become such a horrible place to study in?

Answer 1

Why does Kuwait University suck? It's the backwardness of the people who hold high offices at the university itself (starting with the Rector of the university, and going all the way down till you reach the bottom of the "pyramid"). The backward mentality, and the lack of innovative thinking of the Administration - those are the two main factors that are literally dragging the university to the bottom. Look at the Rules&Regulations of the university to realise how backward they are. The university needs totally new faces in the Administration in order to receive an impetus for renovation. But that's unlikely (or I'd even say - impossible!) to happen. Due to an outrageous corruption in the State of Kuwait, the University Administration is like a "mafia". People only get appointed or promoted from "inside" the circle - no stranger could ever penetrate it. And, as you may know, the mafia is very protective of its members, so there is no chance in one thousand years that the university will change into the better. The quality of education at Kuwait University is APPALING. If there ever was an independent international body which assesses the universities worldwide, and marks them from 1 to 10 (10 being the top mark), Kuwait University would score 1, and I am saying that without a LEAST doubt in my mind. That's how bad it is. I reckon that by the year 2011, most of the Kuwaitis who can afford letting their offspring attend private universities abroad, will definitely do so (or, if they have good connections at the Ministry of Higher Education, will secure them a government-sponsored scholarship). Others will let their offspring to a private university inside Kuwait (you are going to have more than 10 private universities in Kuwait by 2011). As for the third group - Kuwaitis, who have very large families, and cannot afford to let their daughter or son go abroad, or attend the private university - the university's student body will consist exclusively of them.

Are universities around the world intended for students? The answer is 'yes, but not in Kuwait'. Do students at KU have any say? Unfortunately, no. Imagine.....Kuwait University does not even have a Student Ombudsman to begin with! There is no impartial complaints system too! Does Kuwait University have a weekly newspaper? Yes! Is it an impartial newspaper? No! Do you want to know why? Because Kuwait University is NOT a democratic university where a student can express his own opinion publicly about the Administration without a fear of prosecution. Try to publish an article in 'Horizons' - the university newspaper (or 'Afaq', as it's called in Arabic) - criticising the Rector, a Dean, or any other official at Kuwait University. Will your article ever see the daylight? No! It will go directly to the bin, and you might even be questioned by the Editor why would you want to disrupt 'the harmony' at the University!!!
Look at what the university really cares about in order to understand how superficial it is. The shrubs, the flowers, and the new buildings certainly look nice (which, although were built only a few years ago, are already starting to leak water, the walls are starting to disintegrate, the chairs are broken, the airconditioners do not work when the temperature outside is well above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, etc., etc., but then, again, it's the evidence of corruption, when the government gives the university to, let's say, install new desks in an auditorium for $50 thousand, and some crook - a KU official - buys 'Made in China' cheap ones for $12 thousand, pocketing the rest ) but.....that's about the nicest thing that the university can boast of.
Does the Administration of the University is blind and does not know of the corruption? Of course it does! But, remember, mafia is protective of its own members, so no external force could ever harm them.
In short, Kuwait University will be branded by its Western counterparts as a backward university, will remain a corrupt university, and will be eventually closed down.

Answer 2

Not just Kuwait University, all government-provided services suck in Kuwait and that is due to giving people high positions that they don't qualify for. So, nothing special about why the KU sucks. It is just because it is a government-run university.

Answer 3

Some of it is just undergraduate "grousing." You will get over it in time.

I fear that some of the criticism is initiated in the private universities in Kuwait who are in competition with KU for good students. You might want to consider regarding the criticisms you hear with a healthy dose of skepticism.

By all means, listen to the complaints and if you think them through and fell any are legitimate, propose an action plan to correct the problems and politely present them to the Dean and or President. Politely, please

Answer 4

competition,by the way what was the temperture out theyr today