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

AUK has taken a major step toward advancing women’s participation in STEM with the launch of a groundbreaking educational initiative in partnership with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Kuwait. The project, titled Empowering Women Through Engineering Design, is supported by the Netherlands’ prestigious Shiraka Programme and unites AUK with the renowned Delft University of Technology (TU Delft).

The collaboration aims to enhance AUK’s Engineering Design course through international academic exchange, sustainability-centered innovation, and a clear focus on empowering women in engineering. The initiative includes a robust program of guest lectures, interdisciplinary workshops, and faculty exchange, creating a dynamic platform for knowledge-sharing and professional development.

The initiative is led by Dr. Belal Gharaibeh, associate professor of systems engineering at AUK’s College of Engineering & Applied Sciences (CEAS), who will also serve as the principal investigator for this initiative along with Dr. Mohammed El-Abd, dean of CEAS who will be serving as the co-principal investigator, in addition to Dr. Fatima-Zahra Abou Eddahab-Burke, assistant professor at TU Delft.

Commenting on the significance of this initiative, Dr. Mohammed said, “Securing the Shiraka grant in partnership with a prestigious institution like TU Delft is a proud milestone for CEAS,” said Prof. El-Abd. “This collaboration perfectly aligns with CEAS’s mission to offer high-quality engineering programs rooted in the core values of liberal arts education. It is also in line with our long-term vision focusing on innovative research and the positive contributions of our graduates.”

The Shiraka Programme, established in 2016 by the Netherlands’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs, supports good governance and societal development across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Through thematic courses and institutional partnerships, Shiraka promotes democratic values, improved public service, and the inclusion of youth and women in governance.

This partnership reinforces AUK’s broader mission to cultivate an academic environment that promotes critical thinking, effective communication, personal growth, community service, and leadership—especially among underrepresented groups in STEM.

 Group photo of the AUK and Dutch embassy delegation