No description available.

This study explored the relationship between school building conditions and the academic achievement of twelfth students in selected public high schools in Kuwait. The population of the study was 56 high schools (28 boys' schools and 28 girls' schools) that offered a Sciences and Arts majors. The major research questions in this study were: (a) is there a relationship between overall, cosmetic, and structural conditions and student achievement; (b) does the relationship between building condition and student achievement differ between boys' and the girls' schools; and (c) what aspects of physical building components are related to student achievement. The high school principals were given the revised Commonwealth Assessment of Physical Environment (CAPE) to assess building conditions. Student achievement was measured by final examination scores collected from the Information Center at the Ministry of Education. Pearson r, was used to determine if there is a relationship between building conditions and student achievement. This analysis revealed that a positive significant relationship exists between student achievement scores and building conditions in the boys' schools. The results of two-way ANOVA and the t-test, used sequentially to compare academic achievement in the top and bottom quartiles, found that building conditions affect significantly the achievement of students in the Sciences major. The t-test highlighted significant differences in subjects in the Sciences major among only the boys' schools. Multiple regression, used to explain the variance in student achievement, indicated that building conditions explain at least 77% of the variance of Sciences majors' achievement, but did not account for any Arts majors' achievement. Because the SES index was neither available nor introduced into a formula, this resulted in a heavier weighting given to the remaining variables. The building conditions of the girls' schools did not explain student achievement in either the Sciences or the Arts majors. Step-wise multiple regression, used to determine which physical aspects of a building's condition best predict student achievement, indicated that graffiti and roof leaks are the main predictors of achievement. Six conclusions were drawn from this study: (a) a significant positive relationship was found between the overall, structural, and cosmetic building condition and student achievement in the Sciences major when all 56 school buildings were analyzed; (b) a significant positive relationship was found between the overall and structural building condition and student achievement in the Arts major when all 56 school buildings were analyzed; (c) a significant relationship was found between building conditions and academic achievement in boy's schools in the Sciences major; (d) building conditions had a lesser impact on academic achievement in the boys' schools in the Arts major; (e) in the girls' schools, building conditions did not affect academic achievement in either the Sciences major or Arts major; and (f) graffiti and roof leaks were the main predictors of physical aspects of a building's condition that accounted for student achievement. This study then underscores the need for the Kuwaiti Ministry of Education to establish policy supporting a program of improved facilities for all new schools. More research is needed to extend the breath of findings regarding the relationship between building conditions and student academic achievement. This study should be replicated in other non-U.S. countries. / Ph. D.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) play a vital role for organizations to measure project performance. The core objective of Key Performance Indicators is that not only organizations but also customers want their projects to be completed within the stipulated time and budget while maintaining the quality standards. Performance measurement is foundation for continual improvement. Subsequently, as a regular rule, benchmarking is the next step to improve contractors’ efficiency and effectiveness of products and processes. Camp (1989) introduced benchmarking concepts and defines it as “the continuous process of measuring products, industry leaders.” It is a problem to measure the performance of large projects such as construction and communication projects using predefined KPIs. Objective of this research is to find a framework to improve project performance through benchmarking of key performance indicators, to identify the suitable KPI prevailing in the construction industry of Kuwait and develop and calculate the KPIs to assess the performance of the construction projects and making recommendations to improve project performances of construction industry. For this study two Kuwaiti construction companies are selected i.e. Company AA and Company BB. Performance of their financial and non-financial data is analyzed. Primary data is collected through questionnaires and in performance of Company BB. Data also revealed that Company BB’s are having cost and time overrun. Organizations like Company BB have to investigate reasons of cost and time delays causing dissatisfaction. Decision of material selection and delivery time should be carefully taken. Organizations should improve its employment policies from selection to compensation, working conditions, motivations and availability of health and safety facilities; as satisfied customers can satisfy customers. Subsequently, Company BB management performance needs immense improvement at all levels and in all processes. Consideration of design quality indicators (DQI) as per requirement of stakeholders and bio-diversity impacts, it is impossible to satisfy the internal or external stakeholders of construction projects. This thesis contributes useful and new knowledge to the Kuwaiti construction industry. This study reveals the importance of significant KPIs needed for the growth of medium construction organizations through benchmarking the bigger organizations. The ultimate goal of this study is to highlight the importance of KPIs to access success of medium construction organizations. Although it is believed KPIs could be used for benchmarking of bigger size organizations.

The aim of this study is to explore disability issues in the Kuwaiti context through a participatory research project with disabled people. Six disabled people participated in this project as co-researchers, and a further eight informants (disabled and non-disabled) contributed to this research as research participants. The thesis initially provides a critical exploration of the dominant conceptualisations of disability, such as the individual and social models and also includes cultural perspectives. The individual model provides an exploration of disability at the biological level, while the social model analyses disability at the socio-economic level (Bhaskar and Danermark, 2006). Cultural perspectives of disability provide an exploration of disability at the socio-cultural level (Danermark and Gellerstedt, 2004).After this exploration, and in relation to the experiences of the co-researchers, the thesis proposes that each of these singular perspectives can only provide limited conceptual effectiveness. The study then goes on to suggest that, rather than reducing the 'problem' of disability to one limited explanation, it is more productive to take an overarching, and more complex and interactional approach to disability that combines the best aspects of individual and social models as well as cultural and societal perspectives. The findings explore a number of disability issues at different levels. The analysis of the discussions with the co-researchers and interviews with the participants of this study emphasise a number of disability issues related to both the body and society. In relation to the body, both the co-researchers and the participants highlight issues and experiences related to the role of impairment in restricting activity, while at the same time acknowledging the roles of society and culture that play a part in disablement. The findings show the complexity of the understandings of disability and challenge the individual model, the social model and cultural perspectives of disability, and show how 'impairment' and 'disability' interact in the lives of disabled people in Kuwait. The thesis argues that an appropriate model for understanding disability in Kuwait is rooted in a critical realist paradigm that views disability from multiple levels, including biological, medical, psychological, socio-cultural and socio-economic levels. The findings also explore the process of participatory research with the co- researchers. In relation to this, the findings highlight the issues of power relations, skills development and reciprocity, decision making processes, sharing the experiences, and the possibility of this research opening the door for further research and changing people's attitudes on disability.

No description available.

Les pouvoirs publics koweïtiens entendent créer un climat favorable aux investisseurs, en mettant l’accent notamment sur le partenariat entre public et privé. C’est ainsi qu’en 2008, le parlement koweitien a adopté la loi 7/2008 qui comporte une organisation générale des contrats de constructions, d’exploitation et de transfert (BOT). Le législateur a adopté par la suite la loi 116/2014 sur le partenariat qui reprend avec plus de détails les formes de coopération publique-privée. À cet effet, deux organes ont été créés : le Haut Comité et l’Autorité des projets, avec des compétences très étendues quant à la formation et à l’exécution du contrat BOT (appel d’offres, négociations, conclusion du contrat, sa durée, son financement, etc.). L’objectif de cette étude est de traiter, à partir de cette législation, la notion de contrat BOT que les spécialistes assimilent volontiers au terme de concession, ou à celui de délégation de service public. Dans cette perspective, il est nécessaire d’aborder le montage financier et la nature juridique du contrat BOT. La mise en œuvre du contrat BOT fait intervenir une diversité des parties contractantes (administration, partenaires privés, créditeurs, sociétés de construction, fournisseurs de matériels, investisseurs de capitaux, consommateurs utilisateurs des produits, etc.), cela rend la réalisation de ce type de contrat assez complexe. Cette complexité peut se poser de manière aiguë au Koweït, dans la mesure où le pays vient juste d’inaugurer cette procédure de passation de marché impliquant directement le public et le privéLe montage financier des contrats BOT, connu sous le nom de « projet de financement » repose presque totalement sur des acteurs privés. Dès lors, la question qui se pose est celle de la répartition des risques. À ce sujet, l’analyse cherche à comprendre pourquoi les risques liés au financement sont assumés essentiellement par l’opérateur privé, indirectement par la société de projet, et directement par le prêteur, en l’occurrence les banques. Reste que pour couvrir ces risques, le contrat BOT prévoit, au bénéfice des pourvoyeurs de fonds, un certain nombre de garanties portant aussi bien sur les actifs composant le projet (équipements, outillages, stocks, transmission de créances), que sur le projet lui-même (nantissement et hypothèques des actions de la société de projet, cession de revenus, substitution des banques au promoteur privé défaillant).La nature juridique du contrat BOT soulève deux interrogations majeures : la première est de savoir si ce type de contrat relève de droit administratif ou de droit civil. La seconde porte sur les litiges qui peuvent naître de ce type de contrat comportant un large éventail d’éléments d’extranéité (investissements extérieurs, transfert de technologie, etc.) et soumis à l’arbitrage international. À ce niveau, il convient de connaître le droit applicable : s’agit-il du droit interne ou droit international ? C’est à cet ensemble de questions que cette recherche tente d’apporter un début de réponse en prenant comme cadre de réflexion le contexte koweïtien. / The Public Authorities (Government) of Kuwait aim to create a favorable investor climate, with particular emphasis on public-private partnerships. Thus, in 2008, the Kuwaiti Parliament passed Law 7/2008, which includes a general organization of contracts of construction, exploitation and transfer (BOT) “Build, Operate and Transfer”. The legislator subsequently adopted the law 116/2014 on the partnership which repeats in more detail the forms of public-private cooperation. To this end, two bodies have been created: the High Committee and the Projects Authority, with extensive expertise in the training and execution of the BOT contract (call for tenders, negotiations, conclusion of the contract, its duration, financing, etc.). The objective of this study is to deal, from this legislation, with the concept of BOT contract that specialists readily assimilate to the term of concession, or that of public service delegation. In this perspective, it is necessary to address the financial arrangement and the legal nature of the BOT contract.The implementation of the BOT contract involves a diversity of contracting parties (administration, private partners, creditors, construction companies, equipment suppliers, capital investors, consumer users of products, etc.), which makes the implementation of this type of contract rather complex. This complexity can be seriously arisen in Kuwait, as the country has just inaugurated this procurement procedure directly involving the public and the private sector.The financial set-up of the BOT contracts, known as the "financing project", relies almost entirely on private actors. Therefore, the question that arises is that of the distribution of risks. In this regard, the analysis seeks to understand why financing risks are borne mainly by the private operator, indirectly by the project company, and directly by the lender, in this case the banks. However, to cover these risks, the BOT contract provides, for the benefit of fund providers, a number of guarantees covering both the project assets (equipment, tools, inventory, transfer of receivables) and the project itself (pledging and hypothecation of shares in the project company, transfer of income, substitution banks to the defaulting private promoter).The legal nature of the BOT contract raises two major questions: the first is whether this type of contract falls under administrative law or civil law. The second deals with disputes that may arise from this type of contract, which includes a wide range of foreign elements (outside investment, technology transfer, etc.) and is subject to international arbitration. At this level, one must know the applicable law: is it domestic law or international law? It is to this set of questions that this research tries to bring a beginning of answer by taking as a framework of reflection the Kuwaiti context.

Le sujet des banques islamiques fait partie des sujets importants. Au Koweït, un certain nombre des banques islamiques exercent des opérations bancaires ainsi que des transactions commerciales mais celles-ci sont démunies de l’intérêt « Riba ». C’est pour cela que je voudrais aborder les modes de fonctionnement de ces banques sans oublier le contrôle des institutions bancaires islamiques. D’une part, la démonstration de la notion d’usure s’est faite par le biais de la présentation de la doctrine au regard du Fiqh et de la Charia. D’autre part, l’étude traite le système juridique des intérêts usuraires en droit Koweïtien . Par conséquent, l’étude s’avère complète à travers la présentation de l’aspect formel et procédural des banques islamiques, de leurs succursales sans oublier leurs départements en passant par leurs opérations ainsi que les services qu’elles proposent. Cette étude s’achève alors sur l’explication du système légitime (Charia) et juridique de la notion d’usure. / Islamic banking is one of the most important topics. In Kuwait, a number of Islamic banks engage in banking and commercial transactions but they avoid interest "Riba" in their transactions. Consequently, the study proves the formal and procedural aspects of Islamic banks and their departments, including their transactions and services. The study then concludes with the explanation of the legitimate (Sharia) and legal aspects of the concept of "Riba".

The purpose of this study is to develop a set of behavioral objectives for the Second Year Chemistry Course in Kuwait Secondary Schools. This set of behavioral objectives will help school teachers to choose their activities, teaching methods, questions, and evaluation procedures; it will be useful in the preparation and use of behavioral objectives in their other courses. As a conclusion, the Chemical Education Material Study (CHEMS) appears more beneficial than the traditional chemistry course by its effect on student achievement and the stimulation of the cognitive abilities such as application and analysis processes. The present Kuwaiti chemistry course appears more organized than previous courses and the movement is toward the modern approach. Use of behavioral objectives appears more effective than the use of general objectives (or no objectives) in the area of students' achievements and attitudes, in the area of course content, and organization of complex cognitive processes. Recommendations for improvement of the Kuwaiti chemistry course and for further studies on behavioral objectives are listed.

This study examines and aims to disclose the current policies and practices of Training and Development (T&D) within Kuwaiti government and private/joint-venture organisations. The literature review indicates that although much attention has been devoted in studying Training and Development practices, a very few focus on T&D related factors on organisation performance in developing countries. The literature also indicates the need for considering these factors in order to have a better T&D effectiveness, and hence organisation overall performance. In this study the Training for Impact model was adopted and tested within Kuwaiti context in terms of training needs assessment and evaluation and follow-up. This research uses data collected from 100 organisations in Kuwait. 50 of these were government and 50 private /joint venture listed in Kuwait Stock Exchange. Therefore, all managers (100 training personnel) who are in charge of T&D function/programmes, were samples of the respondents of the present study. The main data collection methods adopted by this study were interviews (semi-structured) and "drop-in and pick-up" self-completion questionnaires. The data were quantitatively analysed and triangulation of quantitative findings was carried out in order to find out the difference between the two sectors in Kuwait in terms of T&D practices and related factors. To establish a causal connection between related factors and identified dimensions (T&D effectiveness, organisational rating, and satisfaction with evaluation process), a multiple regression technique was employed. The major findings of this study are noted below: Results indicate that the majority of the investigated organisations do not have a formal T&D system. T&D programmes are still carried out on a piecemeal basis rather than a systematic long-term policy. Findings which were common among the majority of the approached organisations were absence of a systematic organisational training needs analysis, use of conventional training methods, lack of effective procedures for T&D evaluation. The study explores the training personnel's way of thinking towards their T&D function and to the proposed T&D dimensions framework (integrated HRD strategy, top and line management commitment, a supportive formal system, T&D mechanism, organisational culture, and training budget). The findings indicate that most of the training personnel perceived these dimensions as providing motivation, commitment and support to their T&D function. Six main factors were found to influence T&D practices in government and private/joint venture organisations. These factors are: top management commitment, mutual support between organisational philosophy and T&D activities, line management support T&D involvement in organisation strategy, T&D policies and plans, and T&D effects on employees self-development. The study also identifies T&D effects on organisation performance in Kuwaiti organisations in terms of eliminating problems; increasing commitment and motivation; fulfilling individual needs and personal objectives, improving interpersonal and interdepartmental relations, improving quality of goods and services; and leading to effective utilisation and investment in human resources. In addition the study establishes a causal connection of T&D related factors with performance dimensions, organisation rating, and satisfaction of T&D evaluation. The author recommends that for the T&D function to be treated as seriously as other organisational functions, then Kuwaiti training personnel, as well as top and line management, need to be more willing to play proactive and strategic organisational roles in T&D activities.

This study explores the “push-pull” dynamics of Shia migration from southwestern Iran (Fars, Khuzestan and the Persian Gulf coast) to Kuwait during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Although nowadays Shias constitute thirty five percent of the Kuwaiti population and their historical role in building the state of Kuwait have been substantial, no individual study has delved into the causes of Shia migration from Iran to Kuwait. By analyzing the internal political, economic, and social conditions of both regions in the context of the Gulf sheikhdoms, the British and Ottoman empires, and other great powers interested in dominating the Gulf region, my thesis examines why Shia migrants, such as merchants, artisans and laborers left southwestern Iran and chose Kuwait as their final destination to settle. The two-way trade between southwest Iran and Kuwait provided a pathway for the Shia migrants and settlers into Kuwait. Moreover, by highlighting the economic roles of the Shia community in Kuwait, my thesis enhances our understanding of the foundation and contributions of the Shia community in Kuwait. Thus it fills a significant gap in Kuwaiti historiography. The research for this thesis draws from a variety of primary sources, including British government documents, the writing of western travelers, the Almatrook business archive, and oral-history interviews with descendants of Shia immigrants to Kuwait.