Technical and Vocational Education in Kuwait: Industry's Perceptions of Graduate Standards and Students' Responses to the Curricula

This paper is based on a study designed to evaluate industry's perception of the standard of graduates from Kuwait's Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAE&T). The College of Technological Studies, the College of Business Studies, and the Electricity and Water Training Centre were selected as representative institutions of the PAAE&T. The oil sector, the Ministry of Electricity and Water, and local commercial and industrial banks were chosen as representative of the recipients of PAAE&T graduates. The study was based on extensive field work which encompassed a review of related literature, questionnaires and personal interviews with the General Director of the PAAE&T, selected deans, heads of departments, heads of industrial placement, lecturers, and final-year students. In addition, to evaluate the industrial perspective, questionnaires and personal interviews with key figures in industry, as well as with PAAE&T graduates and their direct supervisors, were conducted. The paper argues that unless the PAAE&T recognizes the value of building strong links with industry, its contribution in tackling the shortage of skilled and semi-skilled Kuwaiti manpower will be below expectations, thus increasing dependence on expatriate workers for years to come.