About this Item
Two very rare items relating to the establishment of Kuwait University and its early years. The Inauguration is in its original blue cloth, gilt-titled in English and Arabic with University crest 18x25cm, 45 + 149pp with English and Arabic texts, colour crest plate and several colour and b/w photos and documents. Covers very good, interiors fine. The Prospectus is in its original blue printed wraps 17x24cm, English text only, 220pp, (3) contents, colour crest plate, (15) statistics, (11) full-page b/w photos. Covers very good, interiors near fine except for some inked sidelines and ticks. Both were printed by the Al-Assriya Printing Press, Kuwait. The Government began to discuss founding its first university in 1960, with the Constitution (1962) reinforcing its commitment to free public education. The opening of Kuwait University in 1966 marked the launch of the nation's higher education system. At the time of inauguration it had a Faculty for Science, Arts and Education, a University College for Women, and was drawing up a Master Plan for faculties in commerce, law, medicine and pharmacy (pp23, 25). INAUGURATION: This commemorative work records the addresses by HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah al-Salim al-Sabah, HE Khalid al-Masul al-Fahied (Education Minister and Chancellor), Prof Abdel Fattah Ismail (Rector), and Miss Latifa Al-Bassam on behalf of the students. It also includes the guest list, University Council, academic staff, and demonstrators. The event was attended by delegations from Algeria, Bahrain, Czechoslovakia, Ethiopia, France, Hungary, India, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, UAR, UK, USA, Yugoslavia, the Arab League, UNESCO, FAO, and the Regional Centre of Educational Planning for Arab Nations. The Amir described the University as "the main source of education in our country", "a lighthouse for science and research", and "by far the best possible gift conferred by a state on its loyal subjects and its youth" (pp17-18). The Education Minister called it the fourth in a line of significant national events (after the discovery of oil, independence, and creation of the National Assembly), and the most remarkable in Ministry history. He includes a history of education in Kuwait, starting with the first government school in 1912, with details about growing school, student and teacher numbers. An immediate result is that secondary school exams are being set in Kuwait for the first time (until then set by the UAR Ministry of Education in Cairo). The Rector describes the foundation and immediate growth plans. The student representative reflects on the development of education over the last 30 years, and the opportunities this is providing. Photos show scenes from the event, opening with the Amir inscribing the Golden Register, and numerous formal documents. PROSPECTUS: This opens with a description of the foundation, progress with Faculties of Law and Sharia, and Commerce, Economics and Political Science starting in 1967, and plans for a Faculty of Medicine and new buildings. Chapters detail the University's structure; administration, staff, demonstrators, language teachers and mission members; student affairs; courses; student activities (unions, committees, sports, social etc); libraries; Roll of Honour; and data by faculty, year, gender, nationality etc. The tables on nationalities for example show that of the total student population of 1713, 1240 were Kuwaiti, 256 from other Gulf states and South Arabia (o/w 153 Bahrain, 47 South Yemen), and 217 other Arab and other nationalities (o/w 56 Jordan, 51 UAR, 32 Palestinian). Among the new Kuwaiti entrants, women and men were closely balanced, with women by far most attracted to the Arts (104/190), and men more evenly spread with commerce most popular (58/194). Photos show scenes from the Inauguration, a lab at the College for Women, Main Library interior, netball and swimming. Seller Inventory # 4874
Contact seller
Report this item
