Development of the academic manpower of the faculty of medicine, Kuwait University [1995/96-2001/02]

ABSTRACT

Objectives Determine the size and structure of the academic members of the Kuwait University, Faculty of Medicine, with emphasis on nationality, gender, and academic rank distributions in different academic departments in order to identify scarcity of Kuwaiti nationals at different departments. Methods Survey involving review of the records in the Personnel Department, Faculty of Medicine about academic staff during the 7 years 1995/96 to 2001/2002. Available data included academic rank, gender and nationality. Results Out of total 114 academic positions during 95/96, Kuwaiti nationals occupied 30 positions [26%]; whereas, out of 179 academic positions during 2001/2002, Kuwaiti nationals occupied 82 positions [45%]. The majority of Kuwaiti members were in the clinical departments [33% in 95/96 and 56% in 2001/2002 respectively], in particular, Departments of Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics, and Radiology. In the basic sciences departments, Kuwaiti academic staff were progressively increasing in Pathology and Microbiology. Female Kuwaiti academic staff are improving in Departments of Microbiology, Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Pediatrics. Conclusion Clinical sciences departments progressively attracted Kuwaiti national academic staff. The proportion of Kuwaiti faculty members is also improving in the two basic sciences departments, Microbiology and Pathology. However, there is scarcity of Kuwaiti members in the Departments of Anatomy, Nuclear Medicine, and Psychiatry