Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the role of administration and faculty members in developing character education within public and private universities in Kuwait. It further aims to explore the value of character education in effecting the quality experience of higher education. Design/methodology/approach The researchers employed a quantitative research paradigm, using a questionnaire survey method to collect data from faculty members at major public and private Kuwaiti universities. They used Statistical Package for the Social Sciences to analyze a total of 298 questionnaires. Findings The findings revealed that universities do indeed play a “strong” role in student character education. However, within public universities, it is the faculty themselves who form the key ingredient in the process rather than the administrative body, which is perceived to have a “Medium” effect. Conversely, at private universities, the administration and faculty both merited a “strong” role in developing character education. Practical implications The study will provide leaders with several recommendations to improve the integrated development of universities through fostering character education. Originality/value While K-12 education has received significant attention regarding the moral and character development of students over the last few decades, this study, extends this research significantly into higher education; focusing upon character development at university and comparing its implementation at both public and private institutions.

This study aimed to identify teachers' perceptions of the extent to which educational supervisors are committed to the ethics of classroom visits in public schools in the State of Kuwait. The study sample consisted of 682 teachers who were selected by random cluster sampling. To achieve the objectives of the study, the researchers used a questionnaire that comprised 42 items divided into three dimensions (before classroom visit, during classroom visits, and after classroom visits). The results of the study revealed that the degree of adherence to the ethics of classroom visits ranged from very high to high. There were statistically significant differences in the domain of before classroom visits due to gender, nationality and specialization However, there were no differences due to years in service. The study recommended a change from the culture of unannounced to announced classroom visits.

PurposeThe extent of Private Supplementary Tutoring (PST) upon higher education has received little attention in the academic literature. This study endeavours to discover the extent of the PST phenomenon and the socioeconomic determinants behind the demand for it amongst students in science-related disciplines at Kuwait University (KU).Design/methodology/approachA quantitative research paradigm was employed. By using a questionnaire survey method, data was collected from 475 participating students from twelve different colleges at KU. The questionnaires were analyzed using SPSS.FindingsThe findings showed that 50.1% of students employing PST in KU to some extent. The study also found that PST is more important in certain subjects than others. The students and/or their families also bear the cost of these extra educational expenses. The findings also indicated that a college student’s gender, the academic year of study, university allowance, alternative income sources, family financial status and monetary support all play a statistically significant role in whether they receive PST.Practical implicationsdeeper analysis of these factors, which underly the demand for PST, may offer a better understanding of its role in higher education, the functionality of higher education as a whole, and the effects of current policy and the political landscape.Originality/valueWhile significant attention has been given to PST in K-12 education over the last few decades, this study is extended significantly into the as-yet uncharted waters of higher education. This study focused on PST in higher education and the socioeconomic determinants behind its demand.

The study aims to identify the perceptions of the principals of public schools in Kuwait regarding the importance of diversifying the sources of school financing, the actual measures taken to increase the sources of school financing and the obstacles in the way of increasing the sources of school financing. The study uses the futures studies’ methodology through implementing Delphi method to achieve the objectives of the study. The implementation of Delphi technique is conducted in four consecutive rounds on a sample of experts in the study area consisting of 25 distinguished school principals in the educational areas, during the second semester of the academic year 2017/2018. The study concluded a number of results, the most important of which are: (1) school principals are convinced of the need to diversify school financing sources and increase its sources in light of the high prices and limited budget granted by the government for this purpose; (2) there are specific measures for increasing the support for school financing, the most important of which is to urge parents and society institutions to donate to schools in order to help fill the budget shortfall; (3) there are obstacles which face the attempts to increase the sources of school financing which are legal, regulatory and community partnership-based obstacles. The study came up with several recommendations that would contribute to diversifying school financing sources.

This study aimed to identify teachers' perceptions of the extent to which educational supervisors are committed to the ethics of classroom visits in public schools in the State of Kuwait. The study sample consisted of 682 teachers who were selected by random cluster sampling. To achieve the objectives of the study, the researchers used a questionnaire that comprised 42 items divided into three dimensions (before classroom visit, during classroom visits, and after classroom visits). The results of the study revealed that the degree of adherence to the ethics of classroom visits ranged from very high to high. There were statistically significant differences in the domain of before classroom visits due to gender, nationality and specialization However, there were no differences due to years in service.The study recommended a change from the culture of unannounced to announced classroom visits.