By Kyle Jackson

As-salām 'alaykum from an exchange student a American University of Sharjah (AUS). My name is Kyle Jackson, I spent a semester studying abroad at AUS in Sharjah, the United Arab Emirates. I am a senior student at Howard University in Washington D.C.

Many wonder what it takes to end up studying at a university on another side of the world. Well for me it was quite simple.

The first time I thought about doing an exchange program was in my sophomore year of college. Originally the plan was to go to one of the more popular programs in Europe.

When I continued to do my research on the programs that would be offered, I decided that I would go to Spain and study in Barcelona. I just knew that Barcelona was the best option for me because it is far enough to say that I’m abroad but it was still Western enough for me to be in my comfort zone.

Being a fluent speaker in both English and Spanish I knew that this would be a breeze for me and that I would have a great time. Most people including myself at the time thought of study abroad as an extended vacation before the next semester and not an educational and life changing experience.

As time progressed many of my friends returned from their voyages abroad. Many of them informed me of how they had a great time and learned so much but from my own observations I could tell many of them weren't challenged enough or pushed out of their comfort zones.

My intuition told me that if I was going to study abroad, I needed to be challenged and forced to grow in a place that I had no knowledge of. As I perused through the catalog of program providers and program locations I saw several locations in the Middle East and North Africa and I was suddenly intrigued.

What was interesting to me, was the differences in the government, customs, language, religion and even education systems. The Arab world was something that I had no real idea of. I had a few friends who are Arabs and a few who are Muslim but none of that was much helpful to me in gaining my own experience and forming my own opinions on the region.

I then made up my mind that this would be the challenge that I needed. Over the course of two weeks, I made the decision to apply through a program called Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) to study abroad at American University of Sharjah for Fall 2017 semester.

What made me choose the UAE was the diversity in the Emirates and the reason I decided to study in Sharjah in particular was that this Emirate is known to be the more traditional than other Arab cities and it was actually named as the ‘Cultural Capital of the Arab World’ by UNESCO in 1998.

The process of choosing the program was quite simple mainly because I matched it based on my degree track to graduate and I made sure to get courses approved by my counselor at my home university. American University of Sharjah had just the right courses. The AUS International Exchange Office was also very helpful in making the process smooth. And finally, I made it to the UAE, to Sharjah, to American University of Sharjah and I actually enjoyed my time and my studies.

Kyle Jackson was an exchange student at American University of Sharjah from Howard University in Washington D.C.

For more information about American University of Sharjah, please visit www.aus.edu

By Kateryna Kadabashy

Students of American University of Sharjah are known, among other things, to be well-rounded people who are exposed to a variety of life experiences locally, regionally and internationally. As students studying at this prestigious university, we also benefit from the American liberal arts educational model, which requires students to take general education courses in areas outside their majors in order to introduce them to diverse disciplines.

Here at AUS you hear stories of engineering students who take performing arts as part of their general education requirements and end up falling in love with subjects such as music and theatre, and they end up adding a minor in those programs.

Whether planned or accidental, one of the things that is abundant at American University of Sharjah is the love for arts. Many times the conversation you hear or overhear around the AUS campus could be about art exhibitions or performances that people just attended or inquiring where is the next exhibition or performance.

I have attended quite a few of these and just in case you are new at AUS, Sharjah or the UAE, you need to know that there are several places to visit around Sharjah and Dubai if you enjoy arts, theatre, performances and exhibitions. This list combines various locations, types of art and fits different budgets. Here are my personal favorites.

1. Sharjah Art Foundation

Located in the heart of Sharjah’s historic Art and Heritage Areas, Sharjah Art Foundation brings art closer to the community through various activities and exhibitions.

The Foundation hosts exhibitions and performances by Arab and international artists, arranges movie screenings, and organizes free art classes for adults and children. Check their schedule here. SAF also organizes the world-renowned Sharjah Biennial, which features an exhibition of work by contemporary international artists and a slate of public programs.

SAF has programs for young artists to develop and display their work for the public. For example, the March Project offers young regional and international artists the chance to research and work with art curators.

The foundation buildings are a mixture of modern structures and traditional homes. The premises also have a community garden, which guests can use as venue.

Fen, which means art in Arabic, is a restaurant available at SAF. It is located inside a renovated old building, with outdoor and indoor seating.

 Video project about the March Project by Kateryna Kadabashy

2. Sharjah Art Museum

Located a short distance from the Sharjah Art Foundation in the Heart of Sharjah, the Sharjah Art Museum is another treasure. It features changing exhibitions from modern artists as well as a permanent collection of paintings and sculptures by some of the most famous artists in the Middle East. It also has an Art Library with more than 4,000 items in English, Arabic and other languages.

Admission to the museum is free and there is a parking area underneath the building. To learn more about its exhibitions and programs, visit the museum’s website.

3. AlSerkal Avenue

Located amid factories and warehouses in the industrial area of Al Quoz is an oasis of art and culture. AlSerkal Avenue is a unique hub of galleries, cafes and the first private museum in Dubai. The art center supports regional artists by providing residency programs and gallery spaces, which provide artists with the chance to get international exposure.

The Salsali Private Museum is the first of its kind in the region. The owner, Ramin Salsali, said he created the museum to encourage art collectors and contemporary artists in the region.

The Junction, also hosted by AlSerkal Avenue, is a space where performing artists can showcase their talent and ideas to the public. They host events such as theatrical performances and more. For their schedule, click here.

Another space for performing artists at AlSerkal is The Fridge, which is a renowned talent agency in the region that offers artists a platform to perform shows and concerts. Their upcoming events can be found here.

AlSerkal also offers some interesting dining experiences. For example, A4 Space, which is a multipurpose venue. Part of the A4 Space is the “Leave a Note” library, where guests are encouraged to donate any book of their choice with a note inside it. The venue also includes a family-run restaurant called Appetite Café, which serves a variety of sandwiches and drinks.

 AlSerkal Avenue by AlSerkal Avenue

4. Dubai Design District

Next to Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall, Dubai Design District, or d3, offers designers a space to unleash their creative potential. It is designed to be like an artistic neighborhood, with its own restaurants, hotels, apartments, retailers and galleries. Visitors are invited to enjoy the numerous shows and exhibitions hosted by d3. For more information on the events and timings, click here.

d3 hosts some interesting initiatives, such as The Fatima bint Mohammed bin Zayed Initiative. It was launched by Sheikha Fatima bin Mohammed and Tanweer Investments to help women in Afghanistan. The shop sells handwoven carpets and handmade home décor and clothing items at a fair wage price, which provides over 3,000 women in Afghanistan with jobs and incomes to sustain their lives.

d3 also offers noteworthy dining experiences. For example, The Lighthouse is a high-end restaurant where you can enjoy a delicious meal and purchase handmade designs displayed around you. Otherwise, you could savor tasty Italian ice cream in the shape of a rose at Amorino.

 Dubai Design District by d3

5. Dubai Opera

Dubai Opera will take you on a unique cultural journey. The venue’s design is inspired by the dhow, which reflects Dubai’s appreciation of its maritime heritage. The venue hosts various internationally acclaimed performances and events, such as theatre, concerts, fashion shows, live entertainment, conferences, galleries and art exhibitions. Some of the names the venue has hosted are Placido Domingo, Hussain Al Jassmi, and the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Awards ceremony. For a list of upcoming and current shows, click here.

Janus Rostock’s brilliant design of Dubai Opera makes it possible to turn the building into a concert hall, or even a banquet hall.

Sean Connolly, the famous New Zealander chef, recently launched his restaurant at Dubai Opera. The restaurant, Sean Connolly at Dubai Opera, is a modern brasserie that serves seafood and steak. The restaurant also includes a terrace that overlooks Burj Khalifa.

One thing to keep in mind before visiting Dubai Opera is that tickets and the restaurant prices are quite expensive for some university students.

 Mozart Gala at Dubai Opera

Dubai and Sharjah are thriving with places that quench the thirst of many art lovers. Whatever type or style of art you prefer, there is certainly something that can interest you in these places.

And if you are interested to learn more and perhaps develop your own talent in any area of the arts, American University of Sharjah is the place to go. The AUS College of Arts and Sciences as well as the College of Architecture, Art and Design offer various programs in performing art such as music and theatre; programs in design such as multimedia design, design management, visual communication which includes skills such as illustration, printmaking, advanced photography and publication design for print and digital media as well as other skills such as film making and animation.

Kateryna Kadabashy is a Mass Communication student at American University of Sharjah.

Visit www.aus.edu for more information about American University of Sharjah.

By Kyle Jackson

Marhabaan friends. My name is Kyle Jackson and I spent a semester as an international exchange student at American University of Sharjah (AUS) from Howard University in Washington D.C. In my last blog I shared my experience on how I decided to study abroad, the application and approval process and how I chose and ended up at the American University of Sharjah. Today I want to continue where we left off last time and share a little bit on the actual journey to the United Arab Emirates, to Sharjah and to American University of Sharjah.

After making the decision to study abroad at American University of Sharjah last fall, I was not done yet, there were several steps I had to finish in the United States before I could leave to the United Arab Emirates.

First I had to make sure that the International Exchange Office at AUS had all of my documents including copies of my passport, birth certificate, and my home university official transcript.

All of these documents were submitted on time for review and when they had been processed, I was notified that they were alright.

Second the more difficult step was going through the course list to make sure that the course that would be offered at AUS during the Fall 2017 semester matched what was listed on my program providers’ class list and that they would be transferable to my home university when I return.

In this process I discovered that the majority of courses I wanted were available except for one course which is a necessary course for my graduation.

So if you are considering to study abroad, always make sure you get approved for more classes than what you need for graduation because there is always a possibility of not getting a course you need. You also need to make sure that the list of courses offered on your program provider is up to date.

Finally, the time came when I had the excitement of doing the best part of this whole process, and that is packing for an entire semester abroad. I had received a packing checklist from the International Exchange Office at American University of Sharjah and I used that list when I was packing to make sure that I wouldn’t over pack or leave behind anything that would be necessary.

The best piece of advice I can give to people going to study abroad is, do not over pack. You might regret it. So be sure to follow the checklist you get plus necessary personal needs.

After all these steps were completed summer was over and I was already on the way to the Airport to start my semester abroad at American University of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates.

Maʿal-salāmah friends.

Kyle Jackson was an exchange student at American University of Sharjah from Howard University in Washington D.C. He applied to study abroad at American University of Sharjah through the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE)

For more information about American University of Sharjah, please visit www.aus.edu

New research from the Department of Economics at American University of Sharjah finds that obesity may be a significant contributor to climate change.

According to Dr. Jay Squalli, the author of this study and Professor of Economics in the Department of Economics of the School of Business Administration, “This research lies on the premise that obese people are not only heavier to transport but also frequent users of private vehicles. As a result, increased fuel consumption is expected to increase carbon emissions.” He added, “Obese people also consume more food than their leaner counterparts, and that could contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.” He explained that “In order to satisfy larger consumption of food, more pesticides and fertilizers must be used to increase yields, and these larger yields must be then transported to their end users.”

The study estimated that the transportation sector would be a net contributor to carbon dioxide emissions if the obesity rate exceeded 33.7 percent, which currently sits at or below the 2016 obesity rates of the US states of West Virginia, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Kentucky and Texas. On the other hand, it estimated that transportation and crop and animal farming would be net contributors to nitrous oxide emissions if the obesity rate exceeded 22.5 percent and 20.2 percent, respectively.

“Colorado is currently the only state with an obesity rate of 22.3 percent, which means that in the rest of the country obesity may have already pushed the transportation and crop and animal farming sectors to become net contributors to climate change,” said Dr. Squalli. He warned, “We must be more concerned in this context about nitrous oxide emissions, which come from agricultural soil management and transportation, among other things, and that have a 100-year global warming potential of up to 298. This means that one pound of nitrous oxide would cause 298 times as much harm to the environment as a pound of carbon dioxide over a 100-year period.”

The study highlighted the challenges faced by policymakers in tackling the obesity epidemic not only in the United States, but also across the world. It provided a number of suggestions. “We need to have an open and candid discussion about the obesity problem. Political correctness and blame shifting will only divert our attention and resources away from finding effective solutions,” said Dr. Squalli. He added, “Every country should carefully design its policy measures to ensure the reversal of the current obesity trend. For example, a tax could be levied on unhealthy food choices or on excessive fuel consumption. This is especially important for the UAE, where the obesity rate is about double the world average. Admittedly, the UAE has already taken important steps by levying a 50 percent tax on sugary drinks and a 100 percent tax on tobacco products and energy drinks, but more can certainly be done by extending such taxes to a larger range of products.”

Dr. Jay Squalli is a professor of economics at American University of Sharjah.

For more information about American University of Sharjah, please visit www.aus.edu

By Gureni Lukwaro

A project by three electrical engineering students at American University of Sharjah (AUS) was one among the best projects recognized at the 3^rd International Forum on Innovation and Entrepreneurship held from February 15–18, 2018 at the University of Sharjah.

The AUS team, which comprised students Ahmad Obaid, Muhammad Zahid and Behzad Bin Adnan, was advised by Dr. Nasser Qaddoumi, Professor of Electrical Engineering and Head of the Department of Electrical Engineering, alongside Dr. Rached Dhaouadi, Professor of Electrical Engineering and Petrofac Research Chair in Renewable Energy at AUS.

Their project, entitled “Wireless power transfer,” went through four stages during the competition and was placed fourth in the final stage of the competition.

“Fifty teams were selected to participate at the start of the competition and only 10 teams made it to the final stage. Our team was the only team that presented a working prototype,” said Dr. Qaddoumi.

The team received a trophy and a cash reward of AED 5,000.

“Our performance stood out very well and everyone was impressed with our idea. Many people we didn’t even know approached us to congratulate us!” said Obaid of their participation. “We were also approached by talent hunters from companies and had entrepreneurs advising us how best to take our project forward.”

The students were also interviewed by Sharjah TV. The interview will be telecast tomorrow, Tuesday, February 27 at 7:30 p.m.

The International Forum on Innovation and Entrepreneurship is a pioneering initiative to promote innovation and entrepreneurship. It is organized yearly by the University of Sharjah. The 3rd International Forum on Innovation and Entrepreneurship, themed “Innovation Starts With You,” was organized in collaboration with the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

American University of Sharjah congratulates both the students and their faculty advisors for a job well done and wish them the very best in all future competitions.

Gureni Lukwaro is a Digital Marketing Manager at the American University of Sharjah.

For more information about American University of Sharjah, please visit www.aus.edu

By Gureni Lukwaro

The College of Architecture, Art and Design (CAAD) at American University of Sharjah (AUS) hosted Deborah Mrazek, the leading authority on design value and design thinking, who delivered an enlightening lecture on the value of design. The event was held on February 20, 2018 at the AUS College of Architecture, Art and Design.

Following the lecture, Mrazek, who is also a principal at Curiate.co, conducted a Design Thinking Workshop on February 22. The lecture and the workshop were attended by a number of students and faculty from AUS College of Architecture, Art and Design; AUS School of Business and Administration (SBA) as well the AUS College of Engineering (CEN).

Organized by Robb Ziegler, Associate Professor of Design Management at CAAD, the two presentations were geared towards helping designers, design management students, and design professionals start to understand how to communicate their individual roles and value within their design careers, and to help students and professionals from other professions better understand how to leverage design within their organizations.

The lecture was also used to share with the audience examples of how design brings new value into the world and what some of the challenges are in communicating different types of value to business and other stakeholders.

“Design thinking is a proven user-centered and collaborative process of defining problems and rapidly prototyping solutions to create new value for groups, individuals, and organizations. Design thinkers are people who have learned what it means to work with ambiguity, to foster empathy, to apply creativity, and solve tricky problems. They love to make life better by design,” said Ziegler.

As part of this event, 20 students from CAAD, CEN and SBA, divided into teams of four, participated in a special competition. Each team worked on a common social issue or common problem for students, such as preserving cultural identity, finding like-minded people, or making the transition to college. Students then developed unique approaches to these issues though design thinking and pitched their solutions to a panel of judges.

The panel comprised members from each college/school at AUS and included Dr. Varkki Pallatucheril, Dean of the AUS College of Architecture, Art and Design; Dr. Mohammed Ibahrine, Associate Professor of Mass Communication at the AUS College of Arts and Sciences; Dr. Andrew Klein, Associate Professor of Management at the AUS School of Business Administration and Lucy Ziegler, Consultant at the Office of the Dean, College of Engineering. The judges deliberated over the entries and picked the winning team.

The winning student team’s entry was entitled “Am I in the Right Place?” and addressed the new student orientation issues at AUS. The project was designed by Anfal Al-Abdullah from CEN; as well as Naqiyah Mustafa, Aqeela Virjee and Maryam Zienelden from CAAD.

Gureni Lukwaro is a Digital Marketing Manager at American University of Sharjah.

For more information about American University of Sharjah, please visit www.aus.edu

More Photos

By Kateryna Kadabashy

Being a student at American University of Sharjah can be challenging. Sometimes it is a matter of adaptation, while at other times it is about learning how to handle certain issues. Both situations are a perfect chance to visit a Peer Advisor at the Academic Support Center (ASC).

Peer advising is one among the many academic services offered by ASC. The center employs four academically high-achieving students to work as Peer Advisors, one from each college on campus.

Peer Advisors are a great source of advice, because just like you, they are AUS students, too. ASC Director Dr. Mehvash Ali shared the inspiration behind starting the Peer Advising program: “AUS students consider their fellow students to be their primary source of academic advice. The ASC Peer Advising program maximizes on this existing relationship by offering an opportunity for students to learn from some of the most successful students in each of the four colleges.” Peer Advisors can share study skills, such as maintaining motivation, setting goals, taking notes and revising for exams. They can tell you more information about majors available on campus. They can help you discover extracurricular activities and services available on campus. And last but not least, they can give you strategies on how to maintain a healthy life-study balance.

Dr. Ali said the program is beneficial in other ways, as “being a Peer Advisor is also a great opportunity to develop leadership and interpersonal skills for the Peer Advisors themselves and is therefore a win-win situation.”

Peer advising services are available to all AUS students, regardless of their academic standing. As ASC Advisor Nora Arafa puts it, “Peer Advisors are a friendly face and a knowledgeable resource for our students seeking advice on succeeding at AUS.” In fact, you might already know some of them, if you have ever attended workshops organized by ASC and presented by a Peer Advisor. Just in case you haven’t, here is a short introduction to each Peer Advisor, so you could put a “friendly face” to a friendly name.  

  College of Architecture, Art and Design (CAAD) Peer Advisor Naqiyah Karachiwala

Naqiyah is a junior majoring in design management, who switched from mass communication to CAAD. She is especially skilled in self testing, time management and self-study skills. Naqiyah loves reading and participating in on-campus activities.

College of Engineering (CEN) Peer Advisor Taha Ameen

Taha is a junior double major in electrical engineering and mathematics. He is especially skilled in time management, smart studying, note taking and predicting exam questions. Taha believes that “education is a tool we can use to collectively change the world.”

College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Peer Advisor Kateryna Kadabashy

Kateryna is a senior double major mass communication concentrating in journalism and international relations, with a minor in psychology. She is especially skilled in motivation, public speaking, general education requirements and managing majors and minors. Kateryna loves pets and chocolate.

School of Business Administration (SBA) Peer Advisor Raneem Osman

Raneem is a junior in finance who is minoring in actuarial mathematics. She is especially skilled in motivation, time management and coping with stress. Raneem is a freelance makeup artist and blogger.

Every Peer Advisor has specific office hours during which you can meet with them. All you need to do is visit the ASC front desk to book an appointment. Do not worry about being judged or somebody finding out that you visited a Peer Advisor, as the ASC trains these students and makes sure that your privacy is guaranteed.

To book an appointment with an ASC Peer Advisor, call 06 515 2180 or visit the Academic Support Center in the Main Building.

Kateryna Kadabashy is a Mass Communication student at American University of Sharjah as well as a Peer Advisor at AUS Academic Support Center.

Visit www.aus.edu for more information about American University of Sharjah.

By Gureni Lukwaro

Students coming to study at American University of Sharjah (AUS) can benefit from a strong and enduring relationship with the university which does not end with their graduation. AUS is committed to equipping its students with the necessary life and career skills while at university as well as supporting them as AUS alumni in their careers and professional lives after they graduate from university.

The Office of Advancement and Alumni Affairs (OAAA) at AUS provides students with a wide variety of career preparation and skills development initiatives. Through this office, the university provides advice and guidance to AUS students and alumni to better prepare their resumes and cover letters in order to increase their chances of finding internships and exciting entry level opportunities.

OAAA also organizes a dynamic annual Careers Forum during which they bring leaders from academia and industry to campus in order to tackle contemporary topics and pressing issues pertaining to the current and future state of the job market, as well as to take a look at all the opportunities which our students and alumni can benefit from. This year’s exciting event will be held on Sunday, March 18, 2018 and Monday, March 19.

The annual forum includes high level panel discussions on the first day, followed by a career fair on the second day. This year, the panel discussions will revolve around the theme of “Youth career development in light of social, economic, and technological advancements.” Her Excellency Sara Al Amiri, who is the UAE’s Minister of State for Advanced Sciences, as well as an AUS alumna, will deliver the event’s inaugural remarks.

Her Excellency Sara Al Amiri, who is the UAE’s Minister of State for Advanced Sciences

The three panels to follow will focus on a number of important issues, including disrupting forces and their impacts on job creation; careers of the future; and the digital revolution – emerging tech as a game changer. Speakers and panelists at these sessions include:

• His Excellency Sheikh Fahim Al Qasimi, Chairman, Supreme Committee for the Digital Transformation of Sharjah
• Ziad Al Hazmi, CEO, Lufthansa Technik
• Samer Choucair, Vice President, Crescent Enterprises
• Irfan Al Hasani, Economic Expert, Dubai Competitiveness Office
• Ghassan Talhouk, Country Manager UAE, LinkedIn
• Elvir Abdul Rahman, Country Manager, DistributionNOW
• Greg Shuler, Chief People Officer, UAE Exchange
• Bader Hareb, Executive Director of Development, Emaar
• Omar Al Mahmoud, CEO, ICT Fund
• Fadle Saad, Country Manager – Enterprise Business and Partnerships, Hewlett Packard
• Xavier Anglada, Managing Director ME & Turkey, Accenture Digital
• Ahmed Ameen Ashour, Regional Education Director - Public Sector at Microsoft Gulf

In addition to these prominent speakers who will grace the occasion, around 60 local, regional and multinational companies will also be on campus to recruit the best talent at AUS. These include:

1. Emaar Properties
2. Bee’ah
3. Crescent Enterprises
4. Crescent Petroleum
5. Petrofac International Ltd
6. Cummins Middle East
7. Central Bank of the UAE
8. Unilever
9. AECOM Middle East Limited
10. Henkel
11. Khatib & Alami
12. L’Oreal Middle East
13. ABB FZ L.L.C.
14. Arab Media Group
15. Bayzat
16. Bosch Middle East
17. BPG Group
18. Careem
19. Chalhoub Group
20. Citi Bank
21. Danone Nutricia Early Life Nutrition
22. Dar Al-Handasah
23. Deloitte & Touche
24. DistributionNOW
25. Dubai Financial Securities Authority (DFSA)
26. Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC)
27. du – Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company
28. Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA)
29. Ecolab
30. Elabelz
31. Electrolux Appliances
32. Emirates NBD
33. Enova Facilities Management LLC
34. EY
35. Fast Building Contracting Co.
36. Gemalto
37. Gulftalent
38. Hill+Knowlton Strategies (H+K)
39. ICAEW Middle East
40. JAFZA
41. Lufthansa Technik
42. Nestle
43. Philip Morris Management Services
44. Philips Lighting
45. PwC
46. Reckitt Benckiser
47. Sanofi
48. SAP
49. Schlumberger
50. Schneider Electric
51. Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center – Sheraa
52. Techno Steel Construction Co. L.L.C.
53. TECOM Group
54. Tenaris
55. UNHCR – The UN Refugee Agency
56. Woods Bagot

We encourage all our students who are looking for internships, all senior students who are graduating soon and are getting ready to explore career options, and most importantly, our alumni who are looking for jobs or considering a career change, to attend this year’s fantastic event.

Do remember though to do a little bit of research on companies you are interested in applying to and update your CV, customizing it to the needs of each of the companies you wish to apply to.

We wish you all the best in finding your dream jobs and look forward to welcoming you next week at the AUS annual Careers Forum and Career Fair!

Students and alumni can register to attend the panel discussions via the following link www.ausalumni.ae/AUSCF18

Gureni Lukwaro is a Digital Marketing Manager at American University of Sharjah.

For more information about American University of Sharjah, please visit www.aus.edu

His Excellency Sheikh Fahim Al Qasimi, Chairman, Supreme Committee for the Digital Transformation of Sharjah

Ziad Al Hazmi, CEO, Lufthansa Technik

Samer Choucair, Vice President, Crescent Enterprises

Dr. Irfan Al Hasani, Economic Expert, Dubai Competitiveness Office

Ghassan Talhouk, Country Manager UAE, LinkedIn

Elvir Abdul Rahman, Country Manager, DistributionNOW

Greg Shuler, Chief People Officer, UAE Exchange

Bader Hareb, Executive Director of Development, Emaar

Omar Al Mahmoud, CEO, ICT Fund

Fadle Saad, Country Manager – Enterprise Business and Partnerships, Hewlett Packard

Xavier Anglada, Managing Director ME & Turkey, Accenture Digital

Ahmed Ameen Ashour, Regional Education Director - Public Sector at Microsoft Gulf

By Rose Armour

Did you know that if each student, faculty member and staff member used 15 fewer plastic bags a month, 1 million fewer plastic bags would end up in the landfill each year?  In honor of Environmental Day 2018 and Earth Day 2018, AUS Sustainability will be giving away reusable AUS-branded canvas bags to encourage everyone to end plastic pollution. We are challenging students, faculty and staff to refuse plastic bags at the grocery store and other shopping outlets. It is an easy action that everyone can do to reduce the number of plastic bags in the landfills. Let’s do our part.

On Thursday, April 19, AUS Sustainability will be staffing a booth at Environmental Day 2018, which will be hosted by American Chemical Society (ACS) in collaboration with the Department of Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Sciences. The event will be in the Main Building Rotunda from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Stop by our booth to get your free reusable bag and be a part AUS Sustainability’s End Plastic Pollution campaign.

Also, get prepared for AUS Sustainability’s Earth Day Challenge on Sunday, April 22, where you can get a new reusable water bottle for turning over 10 single-use plastic bottles to be used in the AUS Greenhouse project.  Follow us on Facebook @AUSSustainable for more updates!

Rose Armour works for AUS Office of Sustainability.

For more information about American University of Sharjah, please visit www.aus.edu

By Ryan Highland

Over the past 100 years, plastic has been integrated into our daily lives to the point it’s inescapable.  It can be found in all products we use from morning to night—from the soaps we use to wash our face to the pillows we sleep on.  However, the properties that make plastics so popular are the same that lead to serious consequences for humans and the environment, mainly the inability for plastic to biodegrade.  According to the BBC, 9.1 billion US tons of non-recycled plastic has been produced to date with 79 percent (5.5 billion US tons) accumulating in the landfills and natural environment.  By 2050, 13.2 billion US tons of plastic waste will litter Earth if our current behavior does not change. 

For Earth Day 2018, AUS Sustainability is championing this year’s theme, #EndPlasticPollution, by focusing on reducing and reusing plastic right here on the AUS Campus.  Visit us outside in between the Main Building and Student Center to participate in our Plastic Bottle Exchange.  For every 10 small plastic bottles or one 5-gallon bottle you turn in, you will receive an AUS Sustainability reusable metal water bottle or canvas tote bag.  Use your metal water bottle to fill up at any of the public water coolers listed here on the new AUS Sustainability Map.  Not only will you save money, you will do your part to reduce the amount of plastic being introduced into the environment. 

All plastic bottles collected by AUS Sustainability will be reused right here on campus in the AUS Greenhouse project.  This groundbreaking, student-led initiative will use plastic bottles collected to construct a greenhouse that is designed to both keep plants warm in the winter as well as cool in the summer.  Stop by and meet the mastermind of the AUS Greenhouse, Zulfikar Shahpurwala, and follow the project progress on Instagram: @aus_greenhouse.    

Changing how we think and interact with plastic in our daily lives is an important step to #EndPlasticPollution and it will not happen overnight.  To see how pervasive plastic is your life, calculate your own plastic pollution impact with this convenient tool from the Earth Day Network.  We believe you will be shocked.  Here at AUS Sustainability, we are dedicating to extend this campaign beyond Earth Day 2018 in order to make a measurable impact with the AUS community.  Please follow AUS Sustainability on Facebook @AUSSustainable to keep informed on the ongoing efforts to #EndPlasticPollution.  We hope you join us on this important journey! 

*info and image from “Plastic Pollution Primer and Action Toolkit - End Plastic Pollution Earth Day 2018” Earth Day Network

Ryan Highland works for AUS Office of Sustainability.

For more information about American University of Sharjah, please visit www.aus.edu

American University of Sharjah (AUS) alumna, Apoorva Goel is among the top five finalists of Shell Ideas360, a global competition in which students develop ideas to tackle the pressures on the world’s food, water and energy resources. Goel made it into the finals with like-minded innovators from the US, France, Australia and Indonesia, out of 1,100 candidates that participated in the competition this year from all across the globe.

By Martin Giesen

Rarely do re-enactments add much substance to the original. Redressing the Renaissance, a recent project by students in the College of Architecture, Art and Design, is a laudable exception to the rule.

In April 2018, when a team of graduating architecture students called the Group of Seven chose to organize and choreograph a reunion of Raphael's School of Athens, they wondered what the outcome would be.

They picked a crown jewel in the canon of Western art history: the 1510 Vatican fresco that covers one of the walls in a room of the Pope's private apartments. In reality, the Stanza della Segnatura is neither private nor is merely a room. These days thousands of tourists are shepherded through the hall on their way to the Sistine Chapel, where Michelangelo was painting the ceiling just when Raphael, his much younger rival, was at work in the Apostolic Palace next door.

Raphael's painted vision assembled his Renaissance peers in a pageant of historical giants. Philosophers, poets, mathematicians and astronomers, dramatists and physicists, artists and architects—the VIPs of Europe's intellectual and creative history gathered in a fictional symposium below the grand Roman vaults of the new basilica of St. Peter.  

In Raphael's fresco the A-list of appearances is impressive. Alexander the Great is present. Socrates and Apelles mingle with Raphael's lover La Fornarina and the Andalusian polymath Ibn Rushd. Bramante, Raphael's mentor and architect of the new basilica, is featured prominently. Aristotle represents the empiricist school of thought, while Leonardo da Vinci poses as Plato and points towards heaven as the source of his theory of forms.

It took 61 students, staff and faculty of the College of Architecture, Art and Design (CAAD) to pull off the photo shoot for the reenactment. Garments and shaylas were procured. Skeptical mothers lent saris and bedsheets. The composition was color-coded and divided into regiments, each under the tutelage of one of the seven lieutenants. Parts were chosen or assigned according to personal preference or prevailing character. Prestige played a subordinate role.

Masking tape was deployed the night before the shoot to mark individual positions on the ground in front of the university's administration building. Raphael's image was carefully studied and actors were coached to mimic likeness of stance, gesture and expression. Wardrobe was labeled, and binder clips were readied to secure clothing.

The resulting work, however, is more than the kind of tableau sometimes enacted for entertainment at a fine arts graduation party. It is a statement that challenges the canon, argues stereotypes and redirects the debate. It is an art work in its own right.

The students' re-enactment debunks Renaissance notions in post-modern fashion. High and low culture hierarchy is shattered. Commercial exploitation of an original product is avoided. The cult of originality, embodied in the single-minded grouchiness of Michelangelo, is replaced by cheery teamwork. The almost all-male cast in the fresco is rebalanced by plenty of women, in recognition of the gender ratio of CAAD's student body. High-brow pretensions of the fine art of painting—a solitary affair of the lonely genius—are replaced by clever crafts, historically associated with women's work:  the textile world, linked to weaving, tailoring and dressing.

On the other hand, women's managerial skills are given a nod: the mainly female students multi-task to organize the majority male faculty. 

The Redressing counters global dispersion by grounding the locale firmly on the campus of the university. The library lent the arch. The dome was appropriated from a classroom building. The arcade was borrowed from those that front our academic buildings.

Contemporary media of art-making are given their due. The all in-house production benefitted from excellent IT infrastructure. The Photoshop work alone required a 5GB file.

The colonialist assumption of western/white superiority is confidently rebuked by parading a competent phalanx of minority actors and protagonists of color. Local cultural norms are respected: Raphael's naked Apollo got dressed. The universality claim inherent in Roman Catholicism is challenged by a cast that includes, among others, Muslims, Hindus, Protestants and Agnostics (here with a capital A).

At the end of the day, this contemporary work of art does not rebel against tradition or denigrate Raphael or Renaissance values. Instead, it seeks to celebrate another rebirth, a Renaissance that embodies the spirit of our age.

Redressing the Renaissance is more than a re-costuming event. It is the courageous and creative installation of seven students of American University of Sharjah who decided to pay tribute to and give artistic form to the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah: to establish a distinctive institution, nurtured by history, responding to the aspirations of contemporary society in the United Arab Emirates.

Martin Giesen is a professor of art history at American University of Sharjah. 

To access high resolution copies of the image, Click Here.

Credits: Photo Credits:   Aashish Rajesh;    Editing Credits: Tasnim Tinawi;  The Group of Seven Team: Divya Mahadevan, Farah Monib, Zahra'a Nasralla, Gopika Praveen, Tasnim Tinawi, Uthra Varghese, Nabeela Zeitoun

By Gureni Lukwaro

Are you looking for a world-class education for yourself or for your child? The kind of education that can lead to exciting and rewarding careers? Education that can help students become the best versions of themselves?

If you are ready to unlock your true and full potential, then look no further; American University of Sharjah (AUS) can help you realize your goals. With world-class faculty; outstanding teaching, learning and research facilities; and one of the region’s most diverse and vibrant campuses, AUS is the place for students who are ready to make their mark in the world.

AUS offers 26 bachelor’s programs, 14 master’s degrees and one PhD through its four colleges:

College of Architecture, Art and Design

• Bachelor of Architecture
• Bachelor of Interior Design
• Bachelor of Science in Design Management
• Bachelor of Science in Multimedia Design
• Bachelor of Science in Visual Communication

• Master of Urban Planning

College of Arts and Sciences

• Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature
• Bachelor of Arts in International Studies
• Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication
• Bachelor of Science in Biology
• Bachelor of Science in Chemistry
• Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences
• Bachelor of Science in Mathematics
• Bachelor of Science in Physics
• Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (MA TESOL)
• Master of Arts in English/Arabic/English Translation and Interpreting (MATI)
• Master of Science in Mathematics

College of Engineering

• Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering
• Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering
• Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering
• Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
• Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering
• Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering
• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering
• Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering
• Master of Science in Chemical Engineering
• Master of Science in Civil Engineering
• Master of Science in Computer Engineering
• Master of Science in Electrical Engineering
• Master of Science in Engineering Systems Management
• Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
• Master of Science in Mechatronics Engineering
• PhD in Engineering Systems Management

School of Business Administration

• Bachelor of Science in Business Administration major in Accounting
• Bachelor of Science in Business Administration major in Economics
• Bachelor of Science in Business Administration major in Finance
• Bachelor of Science in Business Administration major in Management
• Bachelor of Science in Business Administration major in Management Information Systems (MIS)
• Bachelor of Science in Business Administration major in Marketing
• Master of Business Administration
• Master of Science in Accounting

All these programs are designed to meet the challenges of a competitive and dynamic business and industrial environment.

The university is licensed by the Commission for Academic Accreditation of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (UAE) in the United Arab Emirates, which recognizes all undergraduate and graduate programs. American University of Sharjah is accredited in the United States of America by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

The Bachelor of Science degree programs in chemical engineering, civil engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering offered by the College of Engineering are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. The Bachelor of Science degree program in computer science offered by the College of Engineering is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET. The Bachelor of Architecture program of the College of Architecture, Art and Design is accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) of the United States. The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration as well as the Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) degrees offered by the School of Business Administration are accredited by the (AACSB).

Please click here to learn more about our internationally recognized degree programs, admission requirements and procedures, financial grants and scholarships and life on campus.