KUWAIT, Dec 2 (KUNA) -- The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) has selected Dr. Haila Al-Mukaimi, a political science professor at Kuwait University, to lead the "women in leadership and government" initiative.
It is an important opportunity to benefit from UCLA's great academic expertise, Al-Mukaimi told KUNA Saturday, expressing her pride in the US college selection, which is an "international achievement for Kuwait".
UCLA is one of the world's leading academic institutions that trained high-profile women in business administration and management, said the Kuwaiti academic teacher.
Al-Mukaimi mentioned that an advisory council, consisted of women from various world countries, will be formed to draw a work strategy for the assigned "international" initiative, including international conferences and workshops.
UCLA has selected a Kuwait University's professor to lead the initiative due to KU's significant experience in the human development field, she noted, adding the initiative will be implemented worldwide on political, government, and leadership levels.
The initiative's timing is also convenient, especially since the enactment of women's political rights in Kuwait 12 years ago, Al-Mukaimi noted, stressing the importance of reviewing international experiences in empowering women and enhancing their performance.
It is also a core part of Kuwait's sustainable development goals, which kicked off in 2015 and continues until 2030, she said, expressing hope that local, regional, and international human development sectors interact with the initiative to help it attain its goal.
Meanwhile, Professor Michael Lofchie, Chair of the International Development Studies Academic Program at UCLA, indicated, in a statement, that the University's decision to select Al-Mukaimi was based on her prominent academic, executive, and government experience.
The Kuwaiti professor was also chosen for her abundant research and knowledge production, as well as her constant communication and interaction with UCLA through her political and community studies and researches in women, political participations, and democratic transitions, said Lofchie.
The international initiative seeks to strengthen women's political participation according to scientific bases, he said, adding that it also aims to identify nature of obstacles and boosters for women's performance in the governments and leaderships. (end) tab.ma