ShareBy Meshaal Al-Enezi
KUWAIT: The Secretariat General of the Supreme Council of Planning and Development yesterday signed a memo of understanding with the ministry of higher education to dispatch Kuwaiti students on scholarships to get PhDs in cognitive economies and knowledge and creativity management as part of the National Knowledge Economy Center's programs.
The memo was signed by Minister of Finance and Acting Minster of State for Economic Affairs Mariam Al-Aqeel and Education Minister Saud Al-Harbi in the presence of the secretary general of the Supreme Council for Planning and Development Khaled Mahdi. Aqeel said that the memo was signed because the supreme council's secretariat general supervises the 'Kuwait Knowledge Seat' within the activities of the NKEC and the ministry of higher education.
Aqeel added that according to the memo, students meeting the set conditions would be dispatched on four-year scholarships to get PhD degrees in cognitive economies and knowledge and creativity management. She pointed out that the Kuwait Knowledge Seat is an NKEC program that targets investment in national manpower, giving them access to scientific research resources to improve the productivity of scientific research within Kuwait.
Aqeel added as one of the leading projects in the region, the search engine project is one specialized in cognitive economies that aims at enabling national scientific researchers to produce more scientific researches through access to international scientific journal and periodical websites.
Harbi said the agreement enhances communal partnership, namely in the field of cognitive economies, which already need substantial leaps to help Kuwait face the challenge of exploring new economic opportunities and put an end to relying on one source of income. "Therefore, cognitive economies are an integral part of a national vision and an educational necessity," he underlined.
Mahdi also expressed his joy on signing the memo and explained that the program ensures dispatching scholarships upon coordination with the ministry of higher education. He also noted that special committees would be formed to set the selection conditions.
Municipality allowances
Head of the Kuwait Municipality employees' syndicate Mohammed Abdullah Al-Aradah said the municipality had contacted the Civil Services Commission (CSC) on Jan 19 concerning the payment of hazard, pollution and noise allowances for gravediggers, undertakers and drivers working at the funeral department. Aradah added that according to the Civil Services Commission resolution number 13/2012, allowances demanded are KD 35 for each of the above categories.
Separately, the Capital municipality inspection team conducted a field tour to inspect all violations of state property and those committed by stores and various installations. In this regard, team leader Zaid Al-Enezi said the campaign resulted in filing five citations for unlicensed ads, issuing four warning notices for public property violations and dealing with eight complaints reported through the team's hotline.
