Al-Fajr: Introduction of new majors and admission of approximately 20,000 students for the upcoming academic year

The Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET) launched its admissions fair at The Avenues Mall as part of the second phase of the “My Start is Right” campaign, aimed at introducing students and their parents to the available majors and admission procedures for the 2026-2027 academic year.

PAAET Director General Dr. Hassan Al-Fajam emphasized that the authority is working on introducing several new majors, noting that some are still pending approval from the Civil Service Bureau, while others have already been launched. These include Real Estate Valuation and Appraisal and Air Traffic Controller programs, as well as courses developed in collaboration with government entities such as the Kuwait Municipality and the General Fire Force, all designed to meet labor market needs.

Al-Fajam stated that the admissions fair represents the second phase of the authority’s campaign to promote its majors and academic programs, following the success of the first phase conducted via social media platforms. During that phase, college deans and institute directors presented the available programs and majors.

He noted that the fair aims to provide secondary school students and their parents with the opportunity to closely examine the majors and programs offered for the 2026-2027 academic and training year, and to answer all inquiries regarding admission and study procedures.

Regarding the admission plan, Al-Fajam highlighted that the authority traditionally receives a large number of applicants annually. Last year, it admitted approximately 19,400 students, and it expects to admit between 19,800 and 20,500 students in the upcoming academic and training year.

He added that students wishing to study at their own expense will be considered under the vacancies plan, which will be announced after the main admission plan concludes. Applications for admission begin on August 5, followed immediately by the vacancies plan, which will address remaining seats in majors that have not reached their capacity.

Al-Fajam clarified that the vacancies plan is not new but is implemented annually to fill remaining seats in certain majors where the number of admitted students falls below the available capacity.

For his part, Dr. Mohammed Al-Kandari, Dean of Admissions and Registration at PAAET, affirmed that the admissions fair aims to introduce secondary school students to available majors, helping them choose the right field based on their abilities and interests. He stressed that making the correct academic choice is the first step toward building a future.

Al-Kandari explained that the fair allows students to understand the nature of each major and the career paths it leads to. He noted that the authority is committed to providing students with the information needed to make informed decisions, as choosing a major is not just about studying but is the first real investment in a student’s professional future.

He pointed out that the admission plan for the 2026-2027 academic and training year has so far introduced two new majors: Real Estate Valuation and Appraisal at the College of Technological Studies, and a cleaning program designed to train personnel for the Kuwait Municipality. He noted that the latter program leads directly to employment with the municipality.

Al-Kandari added that the authority is currently preparing a new program in Artificial Intelligence, expected to be launched in the future at either the Institute of Communications and Navigation or the College of Business Studies, once the necessary procedures are completed.

On her part, Mihnaz Qabazard, Director of the Institute of Communications and Navigation at PAAET, stated that the institute’s participation in the admissions fair aims to introduce secondary school graduates to the majors offered by the institute and other institutes and colleges within the authority, helping them choose fields that align with their interests and future employment opportunities.

Qabazard noted that students are increasingly interested in majors that lead to employment, extending their focus beyond the desired field of study to include the nature of future jobs and available career opportunities. She affirmed that the authority is committed to developing programs that meet labor market needs.

She highlighted a recent significant achievement: the renewal of the Air Traffic Control certification by the Public Authority for Civil Aviation (PACA) in accordance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards. This certification paves the way for relaunching the Air Traffic Control major within a five-year plan in collaboration with the General Administration of Civil Aviation, while also meeting the needs of the National Guard in this field.

She further added that the institute is preparing to sign a cooperation agreement with the General Administration of Customs, starting from the second training semester. The program will offer courses in Customs Affairs, Customs Examiner, and Customs Inspector, contributing to the training of specialized national cadres.