France-Kuwait Alumni Gala highlights scientific talent, innovation and entrepreneurship
- The gala showcased Kuwait-based graduates of French universities working across medicine, healthcare, economics, mathematics, law, strategic foresight and business, demonstrating how French higher education has contributed to professional careers in Kuwait.
- The event highlighted expanding France-Kuwait cooperation between the two countries in research, healthcare, higher education, investment and business, including collaboration between the Dasman Diabetes Institute and Inserm.
- The gala emphasized the role of alumni networks in creating professional connections, knowledge exchange and new opportunities, while the growing Francophone community and expansion of French-language education in Kuwait could strengthen pathways for students seeking higher education in France.
The France-Kuwait Alumni Gala 2026, held at the Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST), brought together French higher-education alumni, diplomats, academics and professionals in Kuwait to highlight the contribution of scientific and professional talent to innovation, research and entrepreneurship.
Held under the theme “Scientific Talents: Discover, Innovate, Entrepreneur,” the event focused on the experiences of Kuwait-based graduates of French universities and the role of alumni networks in strengthening educational, professional and institutional links between France and Kuwait.
The event was hosted by GUST, which was established in 2002 and has developed into a prominent institution in Kuwait’s private higher-education sector. The university’s President Dr. Taher Ali and Director of Strategy Sirine Sadeddin were among those involved in hosting the gathering.
The gala formed part of Alumni Day, an initiative launched in 2022 by then French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna, with the support of Campus France. The annual initiative brings together graduates of French higher-education institutions around the world and highlights the continuing links between alumni and France.
The Kuwait event featured professionals working across medicine, healthcare, economics, mathematics, law, strategic foresight and business. Speakers included Dr. Maryam Al-Qabandi, Assistant Professor of Medical Physics at Kuwait University; Dr. Mansour Sadeqi, an orthopedic surgeon at Orthokuwait; Sheikha Sarah Al Sabah, founder and foresight adviser at Futuresmaker; Dr. Fida Karam, Associate Professor of Economics at GUST; Dr. Wasim Daher, Associate Professor of Applied Mathematics at GUST; Dr. Sheikha Al-Trad, Professor of Private Law at Kuwait University; and Brice Escarguel, Purchasing Director at Alshaya Group.
Their academic backgrounds span institutions including Sorbonne and Paris-Descartes universities, CELSA Paris-Sorbonne, INSP, the Paris School of Economics, Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, the University of Strasbourg, INALCO, EDHEC and the University of Franche-Comté.
The gathering also highlighted the broader scope of Franco-Kuwaiti cooperation, particularly in research, healthcare, higher education, investment and business. In healthcare and research, cooperation includes collaboration between the Dasman Diabetes Institute and Inserm, through the IMMEDIAB laboratory at the Necker-Enfants Malades Institute, involving researchers working between Kuwait and Paris.
France was also highlighted as a major destination for international investment in Europe, while cooperation in higher education continues to provide opportunities for Kuwaiti students and professionals seeking advanced study and research experience. The event also underscored the growing role of the Francophone community in Kuwait, with nearly 500,000 French speakers and around 1,400 French teachers working in public and private institutions.
The expansion of French-language education to the second year of secondary school was also highlighted as creating further opportunities for students considering higher education in France. The alumni network was presented as a platform for maintaining professional connections, exchanging expertise and creating new opportunities between graduates, institutions and businesses.
The event ultimately placed alumni at the center of the France-Kuwait educational relationship, showcasing professionals who have carried their French academic experience into Kuwait’s healthcare, academia, business, research and other sectors.
