AUK and Dutch Embassy Launch Landmark Initiative to Empower Women in Engineering

The American University of Kuwait (AUK) has launched an initiative to boost women's participation in STEM, partnering with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Kuwait. The project, "Empowering Women Through Engineering Design," is supported by the Netherlands’ Shiraka Programme and collaborates with Delft University of Technology (TU Delft). This initiative aims to enhance AUK’s Engineering Design course through international academic exchange, sustainability innovation, and empowering women in engineering, featuring guest lectures, workshops, and faculty exchange.

Led by Dr. Belal Gharaibeh and Dr. Mohammed El-Abd from AUK, along with Dr. Fatima-Zahra Abou Eddahab-Burke from TU Delft, the initiative aligns with CEAS’s mission to provide quality engineering programs and promote innovative research. The Shiraka Programme, established by the Netherlands’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs, supports governance and societal development in the MENA region, promoting democratic values and the inclusion of youth and women.

This partnership supports AUK’s mission to foster an academic environment that encourages critical thinking, communication, personal growth, community service, and leadership, especially among underrepresented STEM groups.