MADRID, July 26: Kuwait’s Ambassador to Lisbon, Hamad Al-Hazeem, held talks with senior officials at ISCTE – one of Portugal’s leading universities – to explore opportunities for academic cooperation and the potential for Kuwaiti students to pursue higher education in Portugal.

Speaking to KUNA on Saturday, Ambassador Al-Hazeem said he met with Professor Maria Joao Cortinhal, Vice Chairman for International Relations, and Professor Maria de Lourdes Rodrigues, Rector of the College of Business Administration, to discuss strengthening academic and cultural relations between Kuwait and Portugal.

The ambassador emphasized ISCTE’s global standing, noting that it ranks among the world’s top 50 universities in several specialized academic programs. The institution also holds a strong international reputation, particularly in the field of business administration.

Founded 52 years ago, ISCTE comprises five main faculties: Sociology and Humanities, Business Administration, Public Policy, Technology and Engineering, and Digitization. The university offers a wide range of programs taught in English at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels, making it an appealing destination for non-Portuguese-speaking students.

Ambassador Al-Hazeem confirmed that ISCTE has expressed its willingness to collaborate with Kuwait’s National Bureau for Academic Accreditation and Education Quality Assurance (NBAQ) to facilitate the admission of Kuwaiti students.

He highlighted Portugal as an attractive study destination due to its safe environment, high-quality education system, reasonable living costs, and internationally recognized academic institutions.

Currently, no Portuguese university has been accredited by the State of Kuwait. However, Al-Hazeem expressed hope that initiatives like this would pave the way for future partnerships and contribute to strengthening cultural and educational ties between the two nations.

He also acknowledged the presence of other prestigious Portuguese universities, including the University of Lisbon (ranked 260th globally), Nova University (327th), and Católica University (351st), reinforcing Portugal’s reputation as a competitive hub for international education.