AUS Connect Spring 2014 by ODAA

ISSUE 12

SPRING 2014

THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE OFFICE OF DEVELOPMENT AND ALUMNI AFFAIRS

His Highness Attends Seventh Alumni Reunion Dinner at AUS

His Highness greeting the 2,700 alumni in attendance at the Alumni Reunion Dinner, upon entering the AUS Main Plaza, along with H.E. Sheikh Khalid Bin Sultan, AUS Trustees Hamid D. Jafar and Riad T. Sadek, in the presence of Dr. Amr Abdulhamid and Mr. Ali Alzaabi, as well as AUS Acting Chancellor Thomas J. Hochstettler, and Vice Chancellors Nada Mourtada-Sabbah and Salem Al Qaseer

American University of Sharjah (AUS) is well set on its path to progress and plans to continue this growth by developing new master’s and PhD programs in the coming year, said His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qassimi, Supreme Council Member, Ruler of Sharjah and President of AUS. His remarks came at the Seventh Annual Alumni Reunion Dinner held Thursday, February 13 on the AUS campus. “I am pleased to inform you that your university continues to grow year after year. We hope that in the coming years, our campus will see many more colleges providing new master’s degrees as well as doctoral programs,” said the Sharjah Ruler

during his address. “We hope that our university becomes a research center that will attract qualified graduates from around the world and provide them with the best facilities and scholarships.” His Highness said that he was pleased to see the alumni return to AUS for this event and hoped to see them returning in greater numbers in the future. He wished them all great success in their future endeavors. The Sharjah Ruler’s arrival at the event was marked by a folklore performance by the Palestinian Al Hannouneh Band. His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan inspected the new

His Highness inaugurating the Alumni Reunion Dinner in the presence of AUS Trustees Jafar and Sadek, University of Paris II President Guillaume Leyte, AUS Acting Chancellor Hochstettler, Vice Chancellor Mourtada, and AUSAA President Ahmed Al Jbori

Alumni Wall of Fame before observing a special light show projected on the AUS Main Building. A short video on alumni legacies was also shown on the occasion.

and feel vicarious satisfaction as we watch you put to high purpose the learning we gave you during your time at AUS, and as you preserve and promote the values that you absorbed during your journey among us,” he added.

In his welcoming remarks, AUS Acting Chancellor Dr. Thomas Hochstettler, said, “This annual event is always a very special occasion for us. To see over 2,700 of our alumni return to their alma mater on nights such as this is possibly the most striking manifestation of the fulfillment of His Highness’s vision for his university. His Highness’s leadership and guidance have been the bedrock of every success we have achieved thus far. And that vision has been ably supported by the commitment and dedication of our Board of Trustees, and by our faculty and staff.”

Professor Nada Mourtada-Sabbah, AUS Vice Chancellor for Development and Alumni Affairs, welcomed the alumni and said, “You can readily see that AUS is not standing still while basking in its well-deserved reputation for excellence. Each year’s achievements are surpassed by those of the following year under the aegis of His Highness, who founded this great university, and you our alumni are the most cogent illustration of this university’s success so ably represented by you in all walks of life.”

“But it is you, our alumni, who constitute the most compelling evidence of the validity and staying power of His Highness’s vision. You are our ambassadors across the region and around the world. We are proud of your success

For the first time this year, each AUS college and school held its own reception to welcome back its alumni, prior to the reunion. This hour-long gathering gave working graduates the chance to share their work experiences with

AUS Alumni leafing through AUS Connect

Light show on the AUS Main Building

His Highness receiving the model of KhalifaSat from graduates of the College of Engineering, who contributed to building it, in the presence of Trustees Jafar and Sadek, University of Paris II President Leyte, Acting Provost Richards, Vice Chancellors Mourtada and Al Qaseer, and AUSAA President Al Jbori

their faculty mentors and apprise them of the direction their professional lives had taken. The alumni also had the opportunity to meet peers from various other graduating classes and reminisce about their time at AUS. The alumni reunion is a highlight of the AUS calendar, as it allows alumni from all over the world to convene at the University. The event also marked the announcement of the launch of a new AUS Alumni Association chapter in the USA. On behalf of the AUS Alumni Association (AUSAA), alumnus Ahmed Al Jbori, AUSAA President, congratulated His Highness on the occasion of the crowning of Sharjah as the Islamic Culture Capital by the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), and said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;When we combine the AUS intellectual spirit with the esteemed institutions of culture and science found here in Sharjah, it creates an unsurpassed intellectual community. I am proud to have the honor of relating to you all that Sharjah was named the Capital of Islamic Culture for 2014 in recognition of its remarkable contributions to science and culture.

His Highness and H.E. Sheikh Khalid Bin Sultan Al Qassimi, in a souvenir photo with AUS Acting Chancellor Hochstettler, AUS Acting Provost Richards, H.E. Sheikh Mohammed Al Thani, Mr. Alzaabi, and Professor Ali Beba

The research facilities found in Sharjah are a magnet for researchers and scientists. Intellectual development, of course, means innovation in knowledge, and it is at this apex where AUS stands without peer in the Gulf. And we, the standard bearers of our alma mater, demonstrate innovation on a daily basis.â&#x20AC;? He added that he is proud of the many agreements that AUS has signed with some of the finest universities in the world. The AUS Alumni Association presented His Highness with a commemorative painting on the occasion of Sharjah being selected as the Cultural Capital of the Islamic World. AUS Alumni of the Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST) presented His Highness with a satellite photo of Sharjah University City as well as a model of the KhalifaSat, a project in which nine AUS alumni (20 percent of the engineers at EIAST) are working on developing. This year, the AUS Alumni Association invited alumni to nominate graduates who they considered to be the

A folklore performance by Al Hannouneh Band in celebration of the Seventh AUS Alumni Reunion Dinner

His Highness greeting entrepreneur Alumna Bedour Al Raqbani in the presence of Mr. Ali Al Zaabi, AUS Trustee Varouj Nerguizian, Dr. Manahel Thabet, and Vice Chancellors Mourtada and Al Shehhi

best entrepreneurs by providing testimonials about their respective choices. Peers were asked to nominate those alumni who have shown the most innovation and prowess as entrepreneurs. The recipients of the Alumni Entrepreneur title recognized in the presence of His Highness were Sheikh Mohammed Abdulla Al Thani, Abdulla Al Kaabi, Ahmed Owais, Bedour Al Raqbani, Ali Al Suwaidi, Turki Al Yahia, Mona Kattan, Kholoud Kurdi, Iba Masoud, Sachin Gadoya, Farid Esmaeil and Ahmed Nour. The AUSAA also invited alumni to nominate fellow alumni candidates from all previous classes to be featured on the Alumni Wall of Fame, which recognized the legacies of those who had contributed to making a difference during their time here as students as well as achieving great success in their careers. The alumni honored on the AUS Wall of Fame were Eisa Al Ali, Ahmed Al Reyami, Ahmad Al Nabulsi, Ahmed Barghouthy and Anam Shahid. The dinner was attended by a number of distinguished guests and senior government officials including Sheikh Khaled Bin Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, Chairman of Urban Planning Department; Alumnus Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdullah Al Thani, Chairman of Sharjah Statistics Centre; Sheikh Salem Bin Abdul Rahman Al Qassimi, Chairman of the Ruler’s Office; Sheikh Mohammed Bin Humaid Al Qassimi; Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Bin Saud Al Qassimi; Dr. Amr Abdul Hamid, Special Advisor to the Ruler of Sharjah for Higher Education and Scientific Research; as well as AUS Trustees Hamid D. Jafar, Group Chairman, Crescent Petroleum; Riad T. Sadek, Chairman, Al Habtoor Leighton Group; Maroun Semaan, CEO, Petrofac; and Varouj Nerguizian, Executive Director and General Manger, Bank of Sharjah. The dinner was also attended by senior AUS officials, in addition to Professor Guillaume Leyte, President of the University of Paris II, who was a special Guest of Honor.

Also present were Hussein Al Mahmoudi, Director General, Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Ali Al Zaabi, President and CEO, Millennium & Copthorne Hotels, Middle East & Africa; AUS Alumnus Samir Khoury, Executive Vice President of Operations, Deputy Executive Chairman and Director, CCC; Michel Al Sayegh, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Al Sayegh Group; Dr. Asad Abdul Rahman, Executive Chairman, Palestine International Institute; Dr. Manahel Thabet, Owner & President, Smart Tips Consultants; Alumna Bedour Al Raqbani, Director and Founder of Kalimati Speech and Communication Centre; Alexis de Beauregard, Chief Officer for Marketing and Retail Product Offering, AXA Insurance; Samer Al Sayegh, Managing Director, National Paints; Faisal Yassine, General Manager - Hyundai Sales Division at Juma Al Majid Group; and Abraham Togatorop - Human Resources Director, Gulf and KSA at Unilever Gulf. Platinum sponsors of the event included Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons, Bank of Sharjah, Bee’ah, Emirates Telecommunications Company (du), EMAL, Julphar, Millennium Hotels and Resorts, and TOTAL; Unilever, the event Employer of Choice sponsor; Hyundai, silver sponsor, which provided the automobile raffled at the event; Nescafe, as the event’s Institutional Advancement sponsor; and Etihad Airways as the Official Airline sponsor, as well as National Paints.

AUSAA President Ahmed Al Jbori presenting His Highness with a commemorative painting in celebration of the selection of Sharjah as the Cultural Capital of the Islamic World, in the presence of AUS Trustees Jafar, Sadek and Semaan, and Professor Leyte, AUS Acting Chancellor Hochstettler, AUS Acting Provost Richards, and Vice Chancellors Mourtada, McDaniel, and Al Shuhaimy

AUS Alumni at the Seventh Alumni Reunion Dinner

His Highness Signs MoU between AUS and University of Paris II (Panthéon-Assas)

His Highness signing the MoU with Professor Guillaume Leyte, President of the University of Paris II

His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qassimi, UAE Supreme Council Member, Ruler of Sharjah and President of American University of Sharjah (AUS), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in October between AUS and University of Paris II. Professor Guillaume Leyte, President of the University of Paris II, signed the MoU on behalf of that institution. The two universities agreed to establish educational and scientific partnerships in areas of common interest, in particular in the fields of law, international relations, economics, management, and information and communication. At the signing ceremony in Paris, His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah expressed his satisfaction on signing an MoU with such a distinguished university as University of Paris II. “AUS has always sought to build a network of mutual cooperation and exchange of expertise in education, research, and development with globally renowned institutions of higher education. The University of Paris II is a particularly prestigious such partner especially in the field of law and we look forward to a fruitful mutual collaboration,” he said. He wished both institutions fruitful cooperation in all their fields of endeavor.

“We are especially pleased to partner with American University of Sharjah in this collaborative arrangement,” said President Guillaume Leyte. “AUS is the leading institution of higher education in the Gulf and has gained recognition as a distinguished academic institution that is particularly keen to elevate and retain its academic standards of excellence while pursuing innovative programs that benefit the UAE and the GCC. It is an honor indeed for us to have His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi personally sign this MoU. This agreement binding the University of Paris II with American University of Sharjah in the pursuit of avenues of mutual collaboration will no doubt benefit from the vision and guidance of His Highness who is an established academic in his own right. We extend our profound gratitude for his presence here in launching a new level of collaboration that will no doubt bring distinction to both our great universities. We look forward to working together and most especially to launching the joint LLM in International Law and International Business,” he added. Dr. Thomas J. Hochstettler, AUS Acting Chancellor, thanked His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah for his generous and sustained support for AUS and for its development as the main provider of premier American-style higher education in the region. “This MoU is a testimony of our

university’s continued efforts to become an institution of high consequence, not only across the MENA region, but globally as well. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the University of Paris II for their enthusiasm in partnering with AUS in the pursuit of avenues of mutual collaboration in formalizing this agreement between our two institutions,” he said. AUS Vice Chancellor Nada Mourtada-Sabbah, who earned her doctorate in public law from University of Paris II, noted how pleased she was to witness this agreement of collaboration between American University of Sharjah, which she joined at its inception in 1997, and University Paris II, her alma mater, under the aegis of His Highness. Vice Chancellor Mourtada further commented that “this significant collaborative agreement will mutually benefit both institutions and will give AUS an additional focus on excellence in international law and international business, with a focus on training professionals who will one day achieve leadership positions in these vital fields.” The MoU anticipates that the partnership between the two universities will include several key dimensions: collaboration on research projects; student exchange; the exchange of specialists and experts in fields of mutual interest; information and document sharing; the creation of joint academic programs, including possibly an LLM program in international law and business law; and workshops, seminars, and conferences on themes of mutual interest. According to the MoU, “Additional agreements of collaboration will be undertaken for the implementation of teaching and research partnerships. The agreements will specify the subjects of mutual interest, the research activities and the teaching program, the terms and conditions of exchange of faculty, researchers and students.” Each university will assist and facilitate the missions of the visiting faculty or researchers throughout their stays, according to its own rules and statutes. As a token of appreciation and gratitude, the University of Paris II offered His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi a historic book entitled A Travelogue in Paris, in 1784. Along with His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qassimi and Professor Leyte, the signing ceremony was witnessed by H.E. Mohammed Meer El Raessi, UAE Ambassador to France; AUS Vice Chancellor for Public

Affairs, Salem Al Qaseer; the President of Scientific Council of University of Paris II, Dr. Bertrand Crettez; and the President of Administrative Council of University of Paris II, Dr. Yves Gaudemet. His Highness was accompanied by a prominent UAE delegation comprising Dr. Amr Abdel-Hamid, Special Advisor to the Ruler of Sharjah for Higher Education; H.E Abdullah Bin Mohammed Al Owais, Head of Sharjah Department of Culture and Information; H.E. Ahmed Al Amri, Director of Sharjah International Book Fair; H.E. Mohammad Al Zaabi, Director General of Sharjah Protocol; and Mohammad Khalaf from Sharjah TV.

Ruler of Sharjah Graces MENA Economic Forum in Marseilles

His Highness attending the signing ceremony agreement between the Sharjah and Marseilles chambers of commerce and industry, signed by H.E. Ahmed Al Midfa and H.E. Jacques Pfister, in the presence of Ambassador H.E. Mohammed Meer Abdullah Al Raeesi and H.E. Arnaud Montebourg

His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qassimi, Supreme Council Member, Ruler of Sharjah and President of American University of Sharjah, graced the third convocation of the MENA Economic Forum in Marseilles, France, with his presence as a keynote speaker on November 7. Held under the high patronage of H.E. Francois Hollande, President of the French Republic as part of the Semaine Economique de la Mediterannee, the MENA Economic Forum celebrated Marseilles as the Cultural Capital of Europe (2013) as well as the selection of the Emirate of Sharjah as the Cultural Capital of the Islamic World (2014). The MENA Economic Forum 2013 explore‎d solutions in the post-recession aftermath of laggard growth and mutual collaboration for building the human infrastructure and creating employment opportunities for the MENA youth. High on the list was the purpose of stimulating economic development in MENA to integrate youthful workers as well as exploring avenues of fruitful cooperation and partnerships. Strategic decision‎-makers from both regions considered ways to finance start-ups, enhance “targeted education,” and high-tech ways to disseminate new business models throughout all levels of society. As in previous years, the Forum’s main objective continued to be the development of capacity-building foundations for an enduring stability and prosperity in the region through the building of local and regional partnerships in such strategic arenas as culture, education, and capacity-building training for new generations.

Pursuing avenues of mutual collaboration between Europe and the UAE, the Forum drew 500 decision-makers from business, education, and government ministers of trade and economy from Europe and the GCC. Graced with the presence of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, who delivered the keynote address as the Guest of Honor for the event, the Forum welcomed a high powered delegation from the Emirate. The delegation comprised H.E. Sheikh Khaled bin Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qassimi, son of His Highness the Ruler, and H.E. Sheikha Hoor bint Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qassimi, President of Sharjah Art Foundation, and AUS Trustee Hamid D. Jafar, Group Chairman of Crescent Petroleum Company; H.E. Ahmed Midfaa, Chairman of Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry; H.E. Hussain Al Mahmoudi, Director General of Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry; H.E. Abdullah Al Owais, Head of the Sharjah Department of Culture and Information; H.E. Hisham Al-Mazloum, Director of Sharjah Arts Directorate; H.E. Mohamed Ali Al Noman, Chairman of the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority; H.E. Marwan bin Jassim al Sarkal, CEO Sharjah Investment and Development Authority; H.E. Khaled Al Huraimel, Group CEO of Beeah; Badr Jafar, President of Crescent Enterprises; Abdulaziz Al Musallam, Director of Heritage and Cultural Affairs at the Sharjah Department of Culture; and Ali Al Merri, Director General of Dr. Sultan Al Qassimi Center of Gulf Studies.

His Highness attending the signing ceremony agreement between AUS and Kedge Business School, signed by AUS Acting Chancellor Hochstettler and Kedge Business School President Pierson, in the presence of H.E. Montebourg, H.E. Al Raeesi, and AUS Trustee Jafar

In the Forum’s inaugural Guest of Honor keynote address on the opening day, His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qassimi highlighted the many contributions of Marseilles to the rich course of history in France during the World War II and earlier, and its current status as the European Capital of Culture for 2013 with key enriching accomplishments in manifold domains. His Highness reviewed with great precision the major undertakings of this ancient gateway and the exceptional cultural and artistic achievements it witnessed and generated through the centuries. He emphasized Marseilles’ pivotal role in the development of culture, education, modern economy, and the arts. In his concluding remarks His Highness accentuated the vital role of intellectualism and education in the enlightenment and marching forward of any society. Without education and cultural enrichment, darkness prevails, His Highness concluded. His Highness also attended the signing ceremony of an agreement between AUS and Kedge Business School, aimed at forging an educational and academic partnership between the two institutions, in particular in the fields of economics and business administration. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by AUS Acting Chancellor Thomas Hochstettler and Francois Pierson, President of Kedge Business School who announced the creation of the Euromed Chair of Management. The chair will be jointly housed at AUS and at the Kedge Business School in Bordeaux and Marseilles, France. Research and teaching will focus on building grassroots economic capacity in the Middle East and in Southern Europe. His Highness also attended together with H.E. Arnaud Montebourg, French Minister of Industrial Renewal, the signing ceremony of the agreement between the Sharjah and Marseilles chambers of commerce and industry, which was signed by H.E. Ahmed Al Midfa and H.E. Jacques Pfister, Chairman of the Marseilles-Provence Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

H.E. Arnaud Montebourg observing His Highness’s books during the opening of the exhibition entitled “Sharjah, Past and Present Through the Visual Arts”

At the conclusion of the addresses by ministers from Europe and North Africa, His Highness inaugurated along with Minister Jack Lang, President of the Institute of the Arab World, the Sharjah Cultural Days in Marseilles. The exhibition celebrated the UAE’s culture, history, heritage and traditions. The show exhibited His Highness’s private collection of historic maps of the Arabian Gulf region, geographic documents, calligraphy works by UAE and Arab artists, as well as different types of traditional ships of the UAE. AUS Trustee and Chairman of the Crescent Petroleum Group, Hamid D. Jafar suggested “two collaborative avenues for the long-term solution of the most critical problem facing both the MENA region and Europe,” namely “severe youth unemployment” through “targeted education and industry cooperation.” “Both Europe and the MENA Region are facing headwinds currently. The MENA Region is already embroiled in a major upheaval driven by social and economic dismay, while Europe now risks losing its global economic competitiveness to the US and China” noted Hamid Jafar. However, “we can help each other though farsighted and strategic cooperation and this illustrious forum presents a unique opportunity to act as launchpad for such cooperation between our two regions.” “The MENA region has one of the fastest growing populations in the world, and is slated to reach 600 million

Mr. Samir Salloum, Mr. Pierre Tapie, Mr. Hussain Al Mahmoudi, Mr. Moncef Belkhayat, and Mr. Jean-Renée Géhan, in the Higher Education Panel

H.E. Sheikha Hoor Bint Sultan Al Qassimi, Mr. Mishal Kanoo, and Mr. Jean Gazancon, in the Art as Cultural Identity Panel

Mr. Marwan Al Sarkal, Mr. Said Ibrahimi, and Ms. Amani Abou Zeid, in the The Role of Financial Institutions Panel

people by 2050 according to the World Economic Forum,” and “the old paradigm of relying on governments to be the employer is no longer sustainable,” Hamid Jafar remarked. “According to the World Bank, 85 million new jobs will need to be created in the next 10 years just to catch up with the global average youth unemployment rate of 12 % equal to as many jobs that were created in the whole of the 20th Century!”

edge. And where industry can be of immense support to our endeavor is to bridge the gap that often lurks between incomplete or not so-well-targeted education, and skill.”

“The solutions need foresight, definition, and concerted action. The underlying solution for resolving our problems in the medium-to-long-term is undoubtedly by utilizing two essential tools targeted education and industry cooperation, working hand-in-hand. Targeted education needs vision and action.” “I am extremely fortunate,” added Mr. Jafar, “to have witnessed first-hand, our Forum’s Guest of Honor, His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qassimi’s incredibly successful and highly acclaimed vision of establishing our Region’s most successful higher education hub the Sharjah University City.” “The general reality elsewhere in our regions is that not all educational establishments are as focused and many of their graduates do not readily find jobs, owing to the lack of necessary skills. That’s where industry comes in, to bridge the gap. We have to appreciate that industry and business are not charities...they will not employ unqualified people. But they do need and will employ talent and skill to rejuvenate, sustain, and improve their competitive

“With the right education, training, mentoring, and support, our youth, our future both in the MENA Region as well as in Europe will be able confidently to enter into the increasingly competitive job market. And in doing so, help to resolve the host of long-term social, economic, and political challenges facing us,” concluded Trustee Jafar. Ministers and economic experts advocated sustainable growth through having the private sector finance “smart cities” in water and energy and invest in human capacitybuilding as the combined top priority focus of all involved. Moulay Hafid El Alamy, Morocco Minister of Industry, Trade, Investment and the Digital Economy, sought a second electronic transformation to unify MENA. Arnaud Montebourg, French Minister of Industrial Renewal, emphasized the willingness to enhance strong ties with the UAE and the Emirate of Sharjah across a wide range of domains and industries. From AUS, the co-organizers of the MENA Forum were Acting Chancellor Dr. Thomas Hochsettler; Vice Chancellor for Development and Alumni Affairs, Dr. Nada MourtadaSabbah; Vice Chancellor of Public Affairs, Mr. Salem Al Qaseer’ and Interim Dean of the School of Business and Management, Dr. Hashem Dezhbakhsh.

Forbes Magazine Names Alumnus Turki Al Yahya One of the Most Creative Leaders in Saudi Arabia

Forbes Middle East listed alumnus Turki Al Yahya among one of the most inspiring individuals in Saudi Arabia’s economic success, and as a self-starter who has the power to initiate change and contribute to the Saudi Arabia of tomorrow. Could you please introduce yourself – your education and work experience? I hold a degree in finance and marketing from AUS’s class of 2005. When I was an undergraduate student I worked with Unilever. After I graduated, I joined the family business to set up an operation in the UAE before I decided to go to Saudi Arabia back in late 2007 to start my own business with a few partners. Forbes magazine listed you as one of the most creative leaders in Saudi Arabia. Tell us briefly about this prominent award? In tandem with the Saudi Ministry of Trade and the Chamber of Commerce, Forbes gathered a list of the 500 top entrepreneurs in Saudi Arabia from different industries. Based on certain criteria and business indicators, they selected the top 30, with the biggest influence on the local society and economy. I was pleased to be one of the top and I was glad my business got ranked first in the health care industry. WHITES, one of the brands you founded, was ranked as the strongest successful brand in the health industry in KSA. Tell us more about your business. The idea behind WHITES was to establish a new understanding of the modern pharmacy, and introduce the concept of health and beauty shops to the Saudi market. Within five years, WHITES became the market leader in health and beauty and the biggest makeup and skin care retailer in Saudi Arabia. WHITES has positioned itself as the young, fashionable, and trendy brand that continues to develop while it grows. In addition to WHITES, we own more than four brands and over 200 retail shops in Saudi Arabia. Why did you start the business and what motivated you? I started the business because there was an “opportunity”

and we had “the idea.” And I always wanted to export a concept we created rather than importing one. Having good partners who believed in the same concept and were willing to take a risk with me for that belief, was a strong motive to start up the business. What were the major challenges that you faced in the process of starting up your business? There were a number of challenges and obstacles that I had to face. Governmental regulations and procedures, team building, time limitations, and business familiarity were some of the challenges I had to face. These are just some of the challenges that any entrepreneur will encounter when starting up her/his own business. What situations or environments seem to make you most creative? Most of the ideas come when I am at my shops, looking at the people, the products, and the staff; it is in those moments that I start analyzing and thinking creatively. Which characteristics do you possess that you consider to have contributed to your business success? I am always optimistic and solution-oriented; furthermore, I always listen and learn, I take risks and I believe in what I do. How did your AUS education help you in your career path? AUS was the base from which I started my journey. I learned, developed and acquired experience at AUS. It was not only the education that I gained, it was the personality and the experience intertwined. What one piece of advice would you give to other young AUS entrepreneurs starting out? Learn from others, and do what you want to do. Never stop and never give up and keep going!

The Abraaj Group Endows Women’s Entrepreneurship Fund at American University of Sharjah

Arif Naqvi, Founder and Group Chief Executive Officer of The Abraaj Group, said, “The collaboration with American University of Sharjah is a demonstration of our commitment to empowering young women who are shaping the world. At Abraaj, our support for nurturing entrepreneurial networks and businesses in the markets in which we invest is embedded within our investment philosophy and we are proud to support such initiatives.” AUS Acting Chancellor Dr. Thomas Hochstettler expressed his gratitude to The Abraaj Group for its active support of the educational mission of the university and their foresight to partner with higher education to benefit the community.

American University of Sharjah (AUS) announced the establishment of The Peter Heath Women’s Entrepreneurship Fund, following an AED 5 million endowment by The Abraaj Group, a leading investor operating in global growth markets. The Fund will support up to 10 students annually. Students will be invited to apply for the Fund through a competitive process that recognizes and rewards creativity, innovation and entrepreneurial initiatives. Abraaj executives will work closely with AUS in reviewing project proposals and selecting the successful candidates. The Fund embodies the aims of the Abraaj Strategic Stakeholder Engagement Track (ASSET), which celebrates entrepreneurship, diversity and innovation across growth markets. The Fund is named after Dr. Peter Heath, who for four years served as AUS Chancellor and has been especially supportive of the initiatives and endeavors of women entrepreneurs.

“The Peter Heath Women’s Entrepreneurship Fund is an opportunity to channel the talents and innovation of AUS’s young women entrepreneurs into productive endeavors such as creative entrepreneurship. In doing so, this endowment will support women in developing new, innovative, high-value-added businesses and to that extent unlocks fresh potential and opportunities for talented young women at AUS,” Dr. Hochstettler said. AUS Vice Chancellor for Development and Alumni Affairs Dr. Nada Mourtada-Sabbah commented, “This endowment will support outstanding AUS young women entrepreneurs. It will accelerate the growth of their businesses by identifying and connecting them with the advisors, resources and insights they need to succeed and become expert leaders.” At its recent meeting in London, the AUS Board of Trustees passed a resolution appreciating The Abraaj Group’s support for entrepreneurship and expressed its gratitude and recognition of this vital contribution to the educational mission of the university.

Prominent Emirati Business Leader Establishes an AED 10 Million Professorship and Scholarship Fund at American University of Sharjah

His Highness attending the signing ceremony agreement between AUS and Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group, signed by Sir Easa Saleh Al Gurg and AUS Acting Chancellor Hochstettler, in the presence of H.E. Sheikh Khalid Bin Sultan, AUS Board of Trustees members, and AUS alumni Abdullah and Easa Al Gurg

The Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group, one of the leading business conglomerates in the UAE, established “The Sir Easa Saleh Al Gurg Professorship in International Studies” and “The Sir Easa Saleh Al Gurg Young Emirati Leaders Scholarship Fund,” with a generous gift of AED 5 million to each, at the American University of Sharjah (AUS). The Group was founded in 1960, by H.E. Easa Saleh Al Gurg, the Group’s chairman. It has a range of diverse products and business interests that predominantly include retail, projects and trading, manufacturing and joint ventures. H.E. Easa Saleh Al Gurg is a highly esteemed entrepreneur who believes in the power of supporting others and has championed various causes that have promoted decent living and a first-class education for all people in the UAE. “Both the Scholarship Fund and the Professorship are meant to offer AUS students state-of-the-art education opportunities that will cultivate their academic, personal, and professional development, to contribute to the competitive economy led by UAE nationals characterized by knowledge and creativity,” stated H.E. Al Gurg. On this occasion, AUS Acting Chancellor Dr. Thomas Hochstettler expressed his gratitude to H.E. Easa Saleh Al Gurg for this generous gift. “Our vision for the University since its establishment has been to make a unique educational institution characterized by creativity and achievements that will contribute to meeting the needs

of society for well trained and highly qualified cadres capable of coping with rapid global developments and keeping pace with continued education,” commented Acting Chancellor Hochstettler. Speaking of education as a key role in driving progress by nurturing and developing the leaders of tomorrow, AUS Vice Chancellor for Development and Alumni Affairs, Dr. Nada Mourtada-Sabbah, thanked H.E. Easa Saleh Al Gurg for his generosity in giving AUS students the opportunity to avail themselves of a first-class education at AUS. “Innovation, research, science and technology form the pillars of a highly productive and competitive knowledge-based economy. This generous contribution will therefore help stimulate the intellectual growth of AUS students and enhance their critical thinking, which will yield a talented workforce that can help form the fabric of the UAE economy,” emphasized Vice Chancellor Mourtada.

AUS Receives AED 5 Million to Establish The Makhzoumi Foundation Scholarship Fund for Entrepreneurship in Industry

Mr. Fouad Makhzoumi and Acting Chancellor Thomas J. Hochstettler signing the agreement in the presence of Vice Chancellor Nada Mourtada-Sabbah and Mrs. Makhzoumi

American University of Sharjah (AUS) has received AED 5 million from Future Pipe Industries, the world’s leader in design and manufacture of composite large diameter fiberglass pipe system, to set up the The Makhzoumi Foundation Scholarship Fund for Entrepreneurship in Industry. The establishment of the fund will allow meritorious students and those with financial need to benefit from the excellent education provided by AUS. This generous endowment is yet another manifestation of the private sector’s confidence in AUS and the university’s ability to partner with leading corporate names to ensure quality higher education and training to deserving candidates. Such ties are an integral part of the goals set by the university since its very inception. Commenting on the establishment of the fund, Fouad Makhzoumi, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Future Pipe Industries, and the Founder of Makhzoumi Foundation, emphasized that he is working on the premise that education and training are the building blocks for people to realize their true potential. “This fund is meant to support the endeavors of young entrepreneurs at AUS by recognizing the importance of investing‎ in education to serve the communities across the nation in order to foster ongoing economic growth and prosperity for the country,” he said.

Dr. Thomas Hochstettler, Acting AUS Chancellor, thanked Makhzoumi for his continuous support of the educational mission of the university and for his generous contribution. “The Makhzoumi Foundation Scholarship Fund for Entrepreneurship in Industry is one of the university’s initiatives to support our emerging entrepreneurs. By partnering with a far-sighted business leader like Fouad Makhzoumi, who is well known for his keen interest in social welfare, and who himself is a successful self-made businessman keen to give back to society, we are able to support the endeavors of AUS young entrepreneurs and provide them with opportunities to interact with members of the business community,” said Dr. Hochstettler. AUS Vice Chancellor for Development and Alumni Affairs, Dr. Nada Mourtada-Sabbah, expressed her gratitude to Makhzoumi for his generosity and support of the educational endeavors and entrepreneurial projects at AUS as well as in contributing to capacity-building of the future young leaders and entrepreneurs of tomorrow.

General Electric Endows AED 5 million to Establish “The GE Research Fund” at American University of Sharjah

General Electric (GE), a diversified global infrastructure, finance, and media company that is built to meet essential world needs, endowed AED 5 million to the American University of Sharjah (AUS) to set up the “The GE Research Fund” at the University. The establishment of the fund will assist students, who have demonstrated outstanding academic performance, to avail themselves of a research opportunity. Mr. Nabil Habayeb, GE’s President and CEO for the Middle East and Africa region, indicated that “in today’s competitive business environment, it is crucial that the executive workforce is proactive and geared to meet the challenges of the future. This can be accomplished only through focused research and training, as well as the sharing of expertise and knowledge - which form the core of GE’s corporate citizenship program. GE is at the forefront of working with prestigious universities the likes of AUS, to develop industry-based research that empowers graduates to perform efficiently at the workplace in the UAE.” Acting AUS Chancellor Dr. Thomas Hochstettler thanked General Electric for its active support of the educational mission of the University and conveyed the Board of Trustees’ appreciation and deep gratitude to GE as a valued corporate partner of the University for its

generous contribution. “GE’s growth strategy for the region is powered by initiatives focused on developing human resources and investing in future leaders, who will steer the prospects of the economy for the longterm, which reflects GE’s operational ethos of working hand-in-hand with local universities for socio-economic development,” stated Acting Chancellor Hochstettler. Furthermore, AUS Vice Chancellor for Development and Alumni Affairs, Dr. Nada Mourtada-Sabbah, expressed her gratitude to GE for the highly valued contribution to the AUS Research Fund. “The GE Research Fund” identifies research and development as key growth vehicles in the transformation of the country through preparing a high caliber of manpower necessary to direct the future development of the UAE. With this initiative, AUS strives to evolve as a crucial learning hub in the region and fosters ties with corporations, such as GE, to help provide opportunities for the very best students to pursue various research fields at AUS,” she remarked. GE maintains a long-established and highly successful corporate citizenship program with components in knowledge-sharing, compliance and governance, human rights, health, safety and environment, supply chain, employee relations, and community work.

AUS Receives Paintings From Artist Ismail Al Rifai

AUS Acting Chancellor Thomas J. Hochstettler and Vice Chancellor Dr. Nada Mourtada-Sabbah with artist Ismail Al Rifai

American University of Sharjah (AUS) has received a collection of six paintings donated by renowned artist Ismail Al Rifai during his visit to the University on April 6. The paintings were received by Dr. Thomas J. Hochstettler, AUS Acting Chancellor and Dr. Nada Mourtada-Sabbah, AUS Vice Chancellor for Development and Alumni Affairs, on behalf of the university. The generous artwork contribution came about through the collaboration of the Office of Public Affairs and the Office of Development and Alumni Affairs, as part of the university’s Art through University and Community Dialogue initiative. “At AUS, we have been mandated to engage organically with our community and help foster and nurture creative endeavors in fields as varied as science and commerce to literature and the arts,” said Dr. Hochstettler. “Therefore, we take our role to encourage and promote cultural exchanges very seriously as it is an integral part of the university’s mission. We are pleased and grateful for this generous gift received as part of the Art through University and Community Dialogue initiative,” he added. “The artwork gifts speak to the bond between the university and community leaders in all walks of life, in an initiative to enrich the art collection at AUS and for art to continue to flourish within the university culture,” added Salem Al Qaseer, Vice Chancellor for Public Affairs.

Vice Chancellor Mourtada-Sabbah said, “Part of the university’s mission is to cultivate the fine arts, literature, and sciences within the Emirates. Creative professionals need a community of expertise and talent to evaluate, critique and stimulate one another. A number of AUS alumni are already recognized as budding artists who are joining endeavors with other artists in the country. These include rising names in the art world such as AUS alumnae Reem Al Ghaith and Lamya Gargash, among many others. The university is committed to enabling students and alumni to further their skills in the arts and sciences through interacting with established experts like the acclaimed artists in the UAE and the GCC.” During his visit to AUS, Al Rifai thanked the university’s leadership for continuing to improve awareness of the arts at the highest levels. Additionally, he praised AUS’s efforts to link the university with society and the community in order to enhance the empowerment of students and alumni as they interact with the pioneers of art in the UAE and other experts and specialists in various fields. He also said, “Not only does AUS encourage the arts but its magnificent buildings are ideal for permanently displaying prominent artwork collections. The university constantly supports such creative talents allowing contemporary art to gain more exposure in the region as AUS’s young people are able to excel in all fields.”

AUSAA Witnesses its North America Chapter Launch

Vice Chancellor Nada Mourtada-Sabbah and AUSAA Board members with members of the newly-established AUSAA North America Chapter

The AUS Alumni Association recently marked the historic launch of the North America Chapter on March 1, 2014. Given the many formal ties between AUS and our corporate partners and universities in the US and Canada, this newly formed AUSAA Chapter will certainly strengthen the already powerful link between AUS and its family and friends in North America. The North America Chapter held its opening event at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City. Around 40 alumni, who reside and/or work in North America and are currently mastering new skills for rapid career advancement, or pursuing graduate education, attended the event demonstrating their support and attachment to AUS. Commenting on the occasion, Dr. Nada Mourtada-Sabbah, AUS Vice Chancellor for Development and Alumni Affairs, stated, “This is indeed a milestone for you, for the wider Alumni Association and for American University of Sharjah. The North America Chapter was a bold vision in the making and it was made possible by the dedication of the alumni here in North America represented by alumnus Saud Al Nowais, and his fellow volunteer committee members which include alumni Amer Al Shaaban, Mohammed Abu-Jayyab, Dina Lutfi, Nour Al Khatib, Racha Daher, Ahmad Shahin, and Faisal Pawaskar, with their determination to found and sustain an active alumni chapter.” “Your new Chapter speaks to a sense of ongoing identity by which you, the AUS alumni, engage your alma mater. In short, the North America Chapter is like an extended family and as a colony of expatriates you can help one another in your social lives and in your careers. You will find a shared experience from having been at AUS and in creating a solid network here in the States and the distinctive AUS “lifeway” will renew each time you convene or even when several of you get together socially. You all share the unique AUS identity. Therefore, if

you find yourself on business or pleasure in the States, you thus will have a ready-made network of possible contacts,” urged Vice Chancellor Mourtada. Members of the AUSAA Board also attended the kick-off banquet including: AUSAA President alumnus Ahmed Al Jbori, AUSAA Vice President alumna Budoor Al-Amoudi, AUSAA Executive of the Council alumnus Ahmed Al Reyami, and AUSAA Executive of Administration alumna Melissa Bayik. AUSAA President Ahmed Al Jbori highlighted the main accomplishments of the AUSAA this year. He also advised members of the North America Chapter to explore a variety of activities, while giving them examples of specific kinds of programs that would be most useful to their members. Additionally he guided them through possible methods of polling their respective membership on what would be top priorities to initiate for this Chapter. “The list on projects could be endless, but might include seminars on topics of mutual interest, dinners at exotic restaurants around North America, trips to the cultural or recreational places of interest, or perhaps even picnics where the spouses and children join in the fun-filled activities,” he stated. AUSAA President Al Jbori also urged alumni in the North America Chapter to begin to take an active and engaging role in the Association without necessarily expecting the rewards to be reaped immediately. “In our modern world, major leadership gurus have extolled the virtues of altruism and public service without expecting immediate reciprocity. This reciprocity inevitably comes with time in the form of professional recognition, commercial connections and friendships, and personal satisfaction derived from the opportunity to serve one’s constituency within a true leadership role, allowing the nurturing of one’s own character qualities and the honing of one’s technical and people skills,” emphasized Al Jbori.

Sharjah Crown Prince Inaugurates the Fifth AUS Business Forum

H.E. Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Bin Sultan Al Qassimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, inaugurates the Fifth AUS Business Forum in the presence of Mr. Pierre Choueiri and Mr. Fouad Makhzoumi along with Acting Chancellor Thomas J. Hochstettler and Vice Chancellor Dr. Nada Mourtada-Sabbah

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qassimi, Supreme Council Member, Ruler of Sharjah, and President of American University of Sharjah (AUS), His Excellency Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Bin Sultan Al Qassimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, inaugurated the Fifth AUS Business Forum and Career Fair at the university on March 17. The forum, an important annual event on the AUS calendar, brings leading corporate names, renowned industry leaders and experts to campus to discuss a wide variety of issues pertaining to the region. In tandem with the university’s strategic goals of organically-linking academic activities with commercial, industrial and societal concerns, the event provides students, alumni and faculty with an opportunity to interact with and listen to thought leaders debate and share their views on topics ranging from entrepreneurship and leadership, technology and innovation to investment and banking and the art of leadership, among others. Addressing the delegates in his welcoming remarks, Dr. Thomas Hochstettler, AUS Acting Chancellor, said that the event was a special forum where visionaries, experts and leaders from various industries assembled to interact with students, alumni, employers, AUS officials, and other honored guests to discuss the latest in local and international business and share their ideas on how to contribute to the region’s growth and prosperity. “To have so many of our industry leaders present with us here today gives us hope and confidence that together we can forge a bright and prosperous future not only for our respective institutions but for the UAE and the region,” he added. Hamid D. Jafar, Chairman, Crescent Group of Companies, and a member of the AUS Board of Trustees, delivered the conference’s inaugural address in which he focused on the

challenge of youth unemployment faced by the MENA region. “The MENA region’s population has tripled over the past four decades to over 360 million people. MENA’s youth unemployment rate currently stands at 25 percent which is the highest in the world, and believe it or not, the World Bank estimates that 100 million new jobs will need to be created in the MENA region in the next eight years, just to catch up with global average employment,” he said. He noted that the UAE offered a great model of managing the job market in terms of youth employment. He said that the country saw low rates of unemployment despite its high population growth rate. He stated that these low rates of unemployment were not achieved as a result of the country’s natural resources wealth but rather because of the business environment that the country’s leadership has fostered over the years. “The reason is twofold: On the one hand, it is policies that have allowed business development to flourish while on the other, it is fostering education and higher education with the job market firmly in mind. It goes without saying that both of these complementary factors need nurturing by enlightened policies and a caring leadership which we, of course, are extremely fortunate to have in the UAE,” he said. Delivering the key note address, Pierre Choueiri, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Choueiri Group, focused on factors that help in becoming a successful entrepreneur and the lessons he had learned on his path to success. He said that it is important to start at the bottom of the corporate ladder as it gives one crucial experience needed to learn each step of the business. “Anyone can learn anything if they put their mind to it,” he said. “Passion is very important. The Choueiri Group began with only two people armed with nothing more than a passion for success.” He said that while a clear vision for one’s business is your guide to success, it

Sharjah’s Crown Prince in the presence of Trustee Hamid D. Jafar, Mr. Fouad Makhzoumi, Mr. Pierre Choueiri, Mr. Mishal Kanoo, Mr. Samir Khoury, Mr. Yousuf Bastaki, and Sheikh Mohammad Bin Faisal Al Qassimi, along with Acting Chancellor Hochstettler, Acting Provost Richards, Vice Chancellors Mourtada and Al Qaseer, and Dean Grosse

is passion for your work which sustains you. “Passion drives successful entrepreneurs. It sustains and motivates us to meet the toughest goals,” he added. Panels comprising academics and senior officials from the corporate sector were held throughout the day-long event, which was organized by the university’s Office of Development and Alumni Affairs. In an exclusive interview conducted by Dr. Robert Grosse, Dean of the AUS School of Business Administration, Fouad Makhzoumi, Chairman of Future Pipe Industries, shared his experience and perspectives on business and entrepreneurship. He stressed on the importance of companies relying on and utilizing research centers and universities to develop products catering to the needs of their clients. He said that this should be pursued keeping in mind the requirements of the client achieved in the most cost-effective way, thus making the company attractive to clients and investors alike. Commenting on what it took to be a successful entrepreneur, Makhzoumi said that there

was no standard recipe for success. However, he placed great stress on education as a vital factor that plays a great role in helping an individual identify opportunities when he sees them and equips him with the wherewithal to interact with these opportunities in the best way possible way. Dr. Nada Mourtada-Sabbah, Vice Chancellor for Development and Alumni Affairs, also addressed the delegates at the event. “As the university most closely associated with the private sector, AUS is proud to support and collaborate with business and industry to fulfill the needs of the UAE. We open the door wide to the flow of ideas and innovation between industry and higher education so that the enhanced synergy flows both ways. We are all at work to devise the best means in raising standards of living and in preparing the young leaders of tomorrow for this region of the world,” said Dr. Mourtada-Sabbah.

Mr. Ammar Hattab, Mr. Frederic Sicre, Mr. Adnan Ahmed Yousef, and H.E. Marwan Al Serkal, in the Investment and Banking Panel, moderated by Dean Robert Grosse

AUS Trustee Hamid D. Jafar giving the Forumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Inaugural Remarks

Mr. Pierre Choueiri, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of the Choueiri Group, addressing the audience

Alumnus Abdulla Easa Al Gurg, Mrs. Claire Woodcraft-Scott, Dr. Ayman Sahli, Alumnus Sheikh Mohammad Bin Faisal Al Qassimi, Mr. Mishal Kanoo, Mr. Adel Mardini, and Dr. Ali Beba, in the Entrepreneurship and Leadership Panel moderated by Mr. Yousef Hamza

Mr. Paul Smith, Mr. Hossam Darra, Dean Leland Blank, and Alumna Sarah Amiri, in the Technology and Innovation Panel moderated by Mr. Samir Khoury

Alumnus Adi Abu Obeida, a PhD Student at Rutgers University graduate years. In addition, I worked as a graduate research assistant during those years, which allowed me to carry out further research with my professors. This allowed me to attain some hands-on experience which granted me deeper and more realistic insight into the teaching sector, while giving me access to vital research experience. My keenness for civil engineering also expanded during my years at AUS, especially structural engineering, all of which led to a desire to pursue my studies further. You are pursuing your PhD degree at Rutgers University. What is the program you are following and how is that different from your AUS education? I am pursuing my degree in the civil and environmental engineering program. My research assignment includes a variety of topics; however, my main research is investigating non-metallic materials in pre-stressed concrete beams and slabs. My experiences at AUS and Rutgers are quite different. Many factors have affected my experiences such as location, history and the availability of resources. At AUS I learned the fundamentals which are, in my opinion, the most critical part of education. Having a solid foundation at AUS gave me many opportunities and made it easier to continue my studies at Rutgers, which is one of the top universities worldwide in my field.

Would you please introduce yourself in a few lines? My name is Adi Abu-Obeidah, I am from Jordan originally and was born and raised in the United Arab Emirates. I completed by undergraduate studies in 2009 and my master’s degree in 2012, both in civil engineering at AUS. I am currently a civil engineering PhD student at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, in the United States. In looking back to your upbringing and education, who or what influenced you to study civil engineering at AUS? The prestigious accreditations and affiliations, high ranking and reputation in the education industry were the main reasons I decided to continue my studies at AUS. Once I joined, it was only a matter of time before I fell in love with the campus and all the facilities, activities and the beautiful architecture, where each structure is a work of art. Growing up in the United Arab Emirates, the construction industry becomes a significant part of one’s life. In my case, it was not only due to the continuous construction of some of the most iconic skyscrapers, but also due to the progressive designs of the beautifully decorated bridges and tunnels. As my passion for civil engineering developed, so did my desire for continuously improving myself in this field. Did your AUS education help you in choosing to pursue a graduate degree? Why or why not? Growing up with a father who is a teacher, in addition to many young nieces and nephews, I have become accustomed to teaching and passing on my knowledge to others. My aspiration to become a professor evolved during my years as an undergraduate and graduate student at AUS. My introductory experience as a teacher took place when I worked as a graduate teaching assistant during my

What are some of the greatest challenges you face as you are working on this degree? One of the greatest challenges is the incorporation of the academic research with the real-life projects. My greatest responsibility as a graduate student at Rutgers includes dealing with real life problems that need to be solved as part of my research. This enhances my knowledge, and helps me, as a researcher, dig deeper into the topics I am working with. Are you currently employed? And if yes, what type of work do you do? What is a typical day like for you? Currently I’m working as research assistant in the civil engineering lab at Rutgers University. My duties as a graduate assistant include developing finite element models, performing field tests and instrumentations of sensors, laboratory testing, and data collection and processing as well as writing technical papers and reports. What specific goals, including those related to your occupation, have you established for your life? One of the many goals that I have when thinking about the future, is to work as a professor in the structural engineering department at top ranking university. As for my immediate goal, it is to complete my PhD degree with a good number of published papers that will give me the opportunity to pursue the career I desire. What are planning to do after completing your PhD degree? After completing my PhD I’m planning to attain a career that will help me achieve my goal to work as a professor. I might work for couple of years in the construction field to gain more experience and then get back to my passion: teaching and research.

Alumni Leaders Participate in a Workshop on Institutional Advancement Capacity-Building Training The workshop allowed foundations, leaders in industry, professionals in institutional advancement, university presidents, and alumni to share their vision on the importance of enhancing the culture of giving and strengthening Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives within the UAE and beyond. During the workshop alumni from various institutions, who were instrumental in bringing their alumni together back to their alma mater and founding their alumni association, were trained to establish support for their alma maters through industry as well as alumni organizations. This event observed universities and businesses forming a mutual symbiosis for creating new knowledge, organizational techniques, and technology for use in the economy and in the classroom. Corporate social responsibility consequently creates social value in communities where firms do business, thereby improving business performance, and generating sustainable growth for the country.

Mr. Sultan Al Habtoor, Vice-President and a founding member of Al Habtoor Group

In todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fast-paced and ever-changing world driven by the global market, universities must be initiators of change with conduits directly into industry and business. On December 15, 2013 a workshop entitled â&#x20AC;&#x153;Institutional Advancement Capacity-Building Trainingâ&#x20AC;? was held in Dubai. The event was organized by the American University of Sharjah along with other institutions of higher education in the UAE.

This expertise, developed during the workshop, will combine the skills required to build a culture of corporate social responsibility tailored to the UAE and the Gulf. Corporate philanthropy will help generate educational programs, chairs, professorships, and joint research projects to help sustain growth within the country. Executives from industry shared various applications of corporate social responsibility, as senior corporate personnel also presented ways to address the social, economic, and environmental effects of doing business in the UAE.

AUS Acting Chancellor Hochstettler and Paris Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi Presdient Eric Fouache along with Mr. Yousef Hamza, Mr. Sultan Al Hajji, Mr. Alexis de Beauregardm Mr. Samir Salloum, Mr. Ziad Makhzoumi, and Mr. Majid Khamiri

Mr. Ziad Makhzoumi, Mr. Sultan Al Hajji, Mr. Yousef Hamza, and Mr. Alexis de Beauregard, during the Capacity-Building in the Region Panel Chaired by AUS Acting Chancellor Thomas J. Hochstettler

Dr. Kamel Abdullah, Professor Eric Fouache, Dr. David McGlennon, Mr. Samir Salloum, and Mr. Yousef Hamza, during the CSR: The New Frontier of Growth and Innovation Panel Chaired by Mr. Ziad Makhzoumi

Mr. Majid Khamiri, Mr. AbdulAziz Abahindy, Mr. Eisa Al Ali, and Mr. Abdullah El Shazly, during the Managing Alumni Relations and Maintaining Connections Panel Chaired by Mr. Yousef Al Bastaki

In Excess of 70 Companies Attend Successful AUS Career Fair

24 Acting Chancellor Thomas J. Hochstettler inaugurates the AUS Career Fair along with Vice Chancellor Nada Mourtada-Sabbah and Dean Leland Blank, in the presence of team members of the Office of Development and Alumni Affairs

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qassimi, Supreme Council Member, Ruler of Sharjah, and President of American University of Sharjah (AUS), the university held its annual Career Fair on March 18. The event, held exclusively for AUS students and alumni, was inaugurated by Dr. Thomas Hochstettler, AUS Acting Chancellor, and follows the success of the annual AUS Business Forum. As one of the most high-profile events held on campus, the Career Fair provides a link between the university, where students acquire skills and knowledge, and the world of business, where these skills and knowledge can be used. This edition of the event had over 70 local and multinational companies participating and allowed AUS seniors and alumni to meet with representatives from the private and public sectors to explore opportunities pertaining to fulltime employment as well as internships. Engaging with the corporate world is among one of the university’s main endeavors. Events such as these reflect the university’s priorities as well as offering a forum where companies can come to campus and meet well-qualified candidates for jobs in their respective businesses. Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Nada Mourtada-Sabbah, Vice Chancellor for Development and Alumni Affairs, said, “We are very pleased by our continued association with the leading companies present here today. This event is a prominent one, as it links our seniors and alumni with local,

regional, and multinational companies, allowing them to network as well as explore the career paths and professional opportunities that Career Fair offers.” This year participating companies included local, regional and international private, semi-government and government agencies interested in recruiting AUS students and graduates as either full-time employees and/or interns. Some of the companies present included Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), Bee’ah, Emirates NBD, Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC), MBC Group, Schlumberger and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) among others. “The best thing is the wide variety of corporate brands present here today,” said an AUS senior student at the event. “One gets the chance to speak directly to officials representing their companies who can provide guidance and advice relating to internship opportunities and fulltime employment.” Sponsors include: Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons, Investment Overseas, MAG, Total, STRATA, Yahsat, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, Julphar, Crescent Petroleum, Abu Dhabi Investment Council, AXA Insurance, Cummins Middle East, Khatib & Alami, National Petroleum Construction Company (NPCC), Petrofac International Ltd., Procter & Gamble, Unilever, Accenture, Arla, Chalhoub Group, Ecolab, Emerson, Henkel, L’Oreal Middle East, Mars GCC, Mubasher Trade, Nestle Middle East and Shell.

Sharjah Ruler Praises American University of Sharjah’s Progress at Fall 2013 Commencement Ceremony

His Highness congratulating the graduating students of Fall 2013

His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qassimi, Supreme Council Member, Ruler of Sharjah and Founder and President of American University of Sharjah (AUS) expressed his pride in the university in launching the Master of Science in Accounting degree program, the first of its kind in the UAE, while addressing the Fall 2013 commencement ceremony of the university held on January 25, 2014, at University City Hall, Sharjah. The ceremony had 516 students graduating in various majors offered by the university at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The ceremony was also attended by His Excellency Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Bin Sultan Al Qassimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah. Sheikh Sultan congratulated the students, their parents and the entire community of AUS, and praised the university’s recent advancements. “I would like to congratulate your university, which celebrates you today, because you, my dear sons and daughters, are an integral part of its mission towards excellence and leadership,” said His Highness. His Highness also mentioned the new Master of Science in Accounting program at AUS. “This fall semester, AUS launched its Master of Science in Accounting degree program. The first of its kind in the UAE, this program can be integrated with the AUS Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) program in accounting so that students can complete the BSBA and the MSA in five years of continuous study,” said His Highness. Sheikh Dr. Sultan also demonstrated his delight with AUS’s expanding list of achievements, which vary from new partnerships with globally esteemed institutions, to

accreditations by the most prestigious academic boards and associations around the world. “American University of Sharjah has been taking steady steps towards advancement in higher education. These steps awarded AUS its local and international accreditation,” said His Highness. “This university also continues to execute its plan to build a strong network with other globally distinguished higher education institutions with which it will exchange experience in education, research and development. It was satisfying for me to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between American University of Sharjah and University of Paris II to establish an academic companionship especially in the fields of law, international security studies, economics, political science, information and telecommunications,” he added. His Highness also mentioned AUS’s key achievements over the past six months. “American University of Sharjah does not cease to succeed in all possible fields. It has recently risen in one of the world’s most trusted university rankings, to the 440 range. AUS is one of the very few universities in the Middle East and North Africa region featured in this ranking system,” he said. “We congratulate you and your parents, and we encourage you to continue your successful academic journey, and to be good and constructive citizens in your societies. We wish you success in building a promising future for yourselves and your nations. Proceed in your lives, holding the torch of knowledge for the good of society,” said His Highness in conclusion.

His Highness in a souvenir photo with graduate H.E. Sheikh Sultan Mohamed Saud Al Qassimi

Also present at the ceremony were Sheikh Mohammed Bin Saud Al Qassimi, Chairman of the Central Finance Department; Sheikh Khalid Bin Abdullah Al Qassimi, Chairman of Seaports and Customs Authority; Sheikh Salem Bin Abdul Rahman Al Qassimi, Chairman of the Ruler’s Office; and Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdullah Al Thani, Chairman of the Statistics and Social Development Department. Also present were Rashid Ahmed Bin Alshaikh, Chairman of the Amiri Court; General Khamis Al Mazeina, General Commander of Dubai Police; Mohammed Diab Al Mousa, Advisor at the Amiri Court; Dr. Amr Abdel Hamid, Advisor to His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah for Higher

Education Affairs; a number of members of the executive and consultative councils of the emirate of Sharjah; members of the AUS Board of Trustees; vice-chancellors; and other senior university officials, as well as members of the media and the public. AUS Acting Chancellor Dr. Thomas Hochstettler also applauded the graduates. “In a few moments, our graduates will come down from those risers behind me and walk individually and proudly across this stage to receive their diplomas from the hands of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah,” said Dr. Hochstettler. He also stressed

on the relevance of this event as their transition into a life of independence where responsibilities become heavier. “In that moment, they will cease to be our students and move into a new and challenging phase of their lives. It is a moment of great symbolic importance for them and for the entire AUS community, and it marks for them a liminal moment of commencement, of entry into life beyond the safe haven of our beloved university,” said Dr. Hochstettler. In his speech, the Acting Chancellor also reminded the students of the good habits they acquired at AUS, and advised them to utilize these habits for their progress in life. “As you go forth from this place today and as the memory of this congratulatory celebration grows dim in the coming years, I would suggest that you pause now and again and ponder the importance of the good habits that we have tried to instill in you during your study years at AUS. The habit of hard work, the habit of social engagement, the habit of critical thought: these are the legacy that we leave with you today. Cultivate these habits, and practice them every day as you go forward, and your life will be one rich with purpose and in all ways fulfilling,” said Dr. Hochstettler. The breakdown of the graduates is as follows: • Total number of graduating students: 516 • Undergraduate students receiving degrees: 455 • Graduate students receiving degrees: 61 • Male graduate and undergraduate students: 290 • Female graduate and undergraduate students: 226 • Total number of UAE nationals: 111 A breakdown of the graduating class by college/school is as follows: • College of Architecture, Art and Design: 25 undergraduate and 5 graduate • College of Arts and Sciences: 68 undergraduate and 9 graduate • College of Engineering: 211 undergraduate and 37 graduate • School of Business and Management: 151 undergraduate and 10 graduate The student speaker at the ceremony was Adi Al Fardan, graduating with a degree in finance, who talked about the challenges that humanity has always faced and how it is now up to the graduates to combat these challenges and push forward in their lives. ”Someone just like us, in the last thousand years graduating in Europe or wherever, had the same sort of issues to face as we do,” said Al Fardan. He reminded his colleagues that the issue they should be concerned with the most is how to find answers to the common issues. “The challenges we graduates face are always the same, but each year the answer to how we approach and deal with our challenges will be different. So one question we might ask about tomorrow is how should we deal with a tough economy and job market, or how should we get ready for more school if we plan to continue in graduate school?”

Al Fardan also thanked everyone who helped the students during their study at the university. “On graduation day, we realize that we have so many individuals to thank who have helped us develop the mental strength to push forward in our lives and careers. But as we gather today, we thank them as a whole, for indeed the university is one body,” said Al Fardan. “But everything we have accomplished today, all of our preparation, and all of our memories of AUS, are the result of the hard work and vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qassimi. Sheikh Sultan deserves our gratitude for opening this university 16 years ago so that AUS students would be able to push open the doors of opportunity,” he added. Al Fardan concluded his speech with a reminder to his classmates on the importance of determination in life and kindness to other people. “Despite the challenges that we will face, we, the graduating Class of Fall 2013, stand at the doors of opportunity, ready to push. We will have gratitude in our hearts for the people who have prepared us, and we will put our trust in Allah while we push open the doors of opportunity.”

AUS Launches CAUSE Mentorship Program

Mr. Ali Jaber, Mr. Philippe Dessoy, Ms. Umran Beba, Mr. Osman Sultan, and Mr. Herald Kroll, in a souvenir photo with AUS Acting Chancellor Thomas Hochstettler, Acting Provost Malcom Richards, Vice Provost Kevin Mitchell, Deans Mahmoud Anabtawi, Leland Blank, and Peter Di Sabatino, and Vice Chancellor Mourtada, along with alumni mentors

A mentorship initiative aimed at motivating students, especially seniors, of American University of Sharjah (AUS), was successfully launched on September 24, at the university’s campus. Entitled CAUSE (Coaching AUS Executives), the initiative is designed to encourage students through the shared knowledge and experience of leading industry experts and community mentors who have made positive contributions to UAE society. The main objective of the program is to enhance future leaders experience by providing hands-on learning and professional development opportunities with AUS alumni executives. This innovative training opportunity will also enhance the skills of AUS’s graduating students and improve students’ understanding of their majors, job markets, entrepreneurship and other fields of interest. Dr. Thomas Hochstettler, AUS Acting Chancellor, welcomed company executives, AUS students and alumni to the event.

Alumnus Hisham Dirbas, CAUSE Initiative Team Leader, addressing the audience

H.E. Hussain Al Mahmoudi, Mr. Mishal Kanoo, and Mr. Ziad Makhzoumi, during the Leadership and Entrepreneurship Panel moderated by Alumnus Ali Al Suwaidi

Alumni mentors counselling fellow alumni

H.E. Hussain Al Mahmoudi, Mr. Ali Jaber, Mr. Mishal Kanoo, Mr. Philippe Dessoy, Ms. Umran Beba, and Mr. Ziad Makhzoumi, in a souvenir photo with AUS Acting Chancellor Hochstettler, Acting Provost Richards, and Vice Chancellor Mourtada, along with alumni mentors

“CAUSE is another example of how AUS is continuously supporting its community through initiatives that add value and help improve the industry,” he said. “The initiative has been designed to help unify and build successful mentoring programs through proven standards, cutting-edge research and state-of-the-art tools to face the challenging job market encountered by our graduating seniors,” Dr. Hochstettler added. Dr. Nada Mourtada-Sabbah, Vice Chancellor for Development and Alumni Affairs, also welcomed the participants. “CAUSE is a mentorship program specifically designed to use the strengths of the AUS Alumni Association—notably the alumni already firmly situated within the private sector—and our rich network of partners who are not AUS graduates, but who are equally dedicated to partnering with this great university,” said Dr. Mourtada-Sabbah. “Our goal is to help pave the way into the private sector for each cohort of graduating seniors. This is a daunting task and it requires equally resourceful solutions,” she said. “The CAUSE initiative goes hand-in-hand with AUS’s interest in empowering students and graduating seniors by matching them with mentors based on a variety of characteristics including field of study, graduate programs, career interests and previous outreach experience,” Dr. Mourtada-Sabbah added. The program featured three panels followed by trialrun interviews with the students, facilitated by company executives. It teamed mentors from industry—alumni and AUS non-alumni partners—with aspiring seniors to create a proactive platform of mentors and mentees working together to carry out these interviews with industry veterans, offering an opportunity for skill-building, personal networking and a powerful mutual experience. Osman Sultan, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Integrated Telecommunication Company (du), gave an intriguing perspective on the changing nature of the world and informed attending students and alumni of the importance

of understanding these changes. He also pointed to the positive and negative results of these changes and advised the students and alumni to adapt to them in the job market. Ali Jaber, General Director, MBC Group TV expressed great concern for the current state of journalism in the Arab world directing the audience’s attention to the need of ethical journalism in the region. He also emphasized that with all the changes currently taking place in the Arab world, it is important for educational institutions to focus more on ethics in the different topics of education. Panelists and speakers at the event included Osman Sultan, Chief Executive Officer, Emirates Integrated Telecommunication Company, du; Philippe Dessoy, General Manager, Six Construct; Umran Beba, Senior Vice President and Chief HR Officer and Acting Sector Head, PepsiCo AME; Ali Jaber, General Director, MBC Group TV; Ziad Makhzoumi, Chief Executive Officer, Fakih IVF Group; Mishal Kanoo, Deputy Chairman, The Kanoo Group; Lloyd Budd, Director and Head of Sales and Customer Relations, Majid Al Futtaim; Ergham Al Bachir, Director – Human Resources and Administration, Waha Capital, Abu Dhabi; Dr. Mohamed Salem, HR – Deputy Vice President, Emal; Dr. Azza El-Shinnawi, Education and Citizenship Lead, Microsoft Gulf; Sana Al Rifai, Founder and Creative Director, Tintbox - Advertising Gifts; and AUS Alumni Hisham Dirbas, Karim Abu-Ajram, Ali Al Suwaidi and Aisha Miran.

Mr. Osman Sultan addressing the audience during the inaugural session

Alumna Aisha Miran moderating the Career Advancement Panel hosting Mr. Lloyd Budd, Ms. Ergham Al Bachir, Mr. Abdulhakeem Al Mushtaghal and Alumna Sana Al Rifai

Alumni mentors counselling fellow alumni

Mr. Ali Jaber, Mr. Philippe Dessoy, and Ms. Umran Beba, during the Capacity Building and Corporate Social Responsibility Panel moderated by Alumnus Karim Abu-Ajram

A PhD in Chemical Engineering at McGill University; Alumna Zeina Jendi My name is Zeina Jendi. I graduated from AUS in 2011 with a BSc in chemical engineering and a minor in petroleum engineering. I have been living in the UAE ever since I can remember, but I recently got the chance to relocate. So I am currently residing in the “Paris of North America” Montreal, pursuing a PhD in chemical engineering at McGill University. Throughout my studies at AUS, I always looked up to some of my professors as role models in the professional field. An academic career was further instilled in me after my internship because routine office work did not suit me at all. After graduation, I spent one year in the master’s program at AUS, where I also worked as a teaching assistant. Throughout that year, some of my professors encouraged me to apply abroad and were greatly supportive with recommendation letters that were crucial for me to receive admission into the PhD program with a scholarship. And here I am taking the first few steps in hopes of becoming that inspirational and professionally expert person that my AUS professors were, and still are, for me. The main difference between my current program and my undergraduate degree at AUS is the format. There are very few courses in my current program although the graduate courses I took at AUS allowed me to have a smooth transition. The majority of the program is basically research, and my research in specific is computational with no experimental work. The challenging part I find is designing the thesis because the extent of analysis and chosen technique is open, within some flexible limits. At the same time, this is also an advantage because it exposes me to different research techniques given the wide range of facilities available through collaboration with different groups, even outside McGill. In addition to doing research, I also work as a teaching assistant for different courses. For me, the best part of being a graduate student is that a typical working day does not exist. While some days are spent entirely on research, others are spent mostly in group meetings or grading and conducting tutorials. In short, I really enjoy the graduate lifestyle at a campus as beautiful as McGill’s, with its historic buildings that once hosted notable scientists, like Ernest Rutherford. My main goal is to pursue a lifetime of learning while sharing the knowledge with others. In terms of a profession, I look forward to becoming a university professor. However, by that time I believe I would have had my fair share of formal engineering education.

Twelve Years…and Counting: Alumna Randa BouMehdi Back in the days when I was an undergraduate student at AUS, I knew that AUS was the place that I wanted to return to after graduation, so I worked hard towards achieving that goal. After graduating from AUS in 2005, my teaching career began at a private school in Dubai, where I taught English to middle school students for three years. In order progress in my career and further strengthen my teaching skills, I joined the MA TESOL program (Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) at AUS in the spring semester of 2006. The MA TESOL program not only provided me with the knowledge to become a better teacher, but it also instilled in me the confidence to present at two international conferences in the Middle East and publish three research papers. Even though being a teacher and a student and an expectant mother all at once was a great challenge for me, it was a worthwhile experience. In 2009, I had my first bundle of joy, Amalia, and the following year I defended my thesis and earned my MA with a distinctive GPA of 4.0. My MA granted me interviews and opportunities to teach at several prestigious universities both in Dubai and Sharjah, but I still aimed to teach at one place, American University of Sharjah. In the fall semester of 2010, I joined the Department of Writing Studies at AUS as an adjunct instructor. Just before being awarded a full-time position in the department, I had my second bundle of joy, Rami, in February 2013. AUS has witnessed the major milestones of my lifetime. Here I am now, a full-time instructor in the Department of Writing Studies, teaching Fundamentals of Academic Discourse, Academic Writing, and Writing and Reading Across the Curriculum, and enjoying every bit of it. My sense of belonging to this place intensifies every year, as I know that this is where I want to be for the coming years.

Entrepreneurship in the Arts Interview: Alumna Kholoud Kurdi, “The Jewel of Arabia”

Alumna Kholoud Kurdi graduated from AUS with a degree in design management. Kholoud carved out a niche for herself in the jewelry business. She is a designer and business professional who efficiently integrated the fundamentals of entrepreneurship with the flourish of creative brilliance. An accredited jewelry professional of the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), Kholoud has several honors to her credit for some of her exquisite works of art and jewelry. She was nicknamed “The Jewel of Arabia” in relation to her homeland on the Arabian Peninsula. She is a global artist, who was able to put her mark on the gold and jewelry industry in a short time through continual successes at many events and international competitions. Her exclusive designs appeal to many social figures and stars. Kholoud has been crowned with success both locally and internationally. She earned the title “Best Arab Jewelry Designer” four years in a row by the Middle East Jewelry and Watches Awards. She was also named as “Jewelry Woman of the Year” by the Arab Woman Awards. In addition, she was awarded the Most Stylish Arab Woman and was ranked among the top 100 hundred distinctive personalities in Dubai for the years 2013 and 2014. Tell us a little bit about your background. How has the journey been to become an artist and jewelry designer? My journey has been a thorny one, yet rosy. It’s a beautiful challenge to do what you are passionate about. I have been very passionate about gem stones and diamonds ever since I can remember, although my studies were about design, I later pursued further studies in jewelry design and stones’ science. Before joining AUS, I studied for three years in the US, where I studied design and fashion show production, and then I moved to the UAE and chose AUS for the strong reputation it has and I studied design management, which gave me a broader view to managing a design-related business. How and when did you first realize you wanted to become a jewelry designer? After graduation in 2005, I completed my master’s and then decided to enter the sparkly world of gem stones. I first

worked as the development manager of the Gulf Region of the Dubai Diamond Exchange. This was a game changer, as I decided to shift into this field. Three years later, I opened my first boutique in Dubai Mall with my own jewelry brand “Toujours Jewelry.” And from there, I escalated into winning many international awards, such as the best Arab jewelry designer, jewelry woman of the year, and I was ranked among the top 30 jewelry designers in the world. Tell us about your design style at your boutique, Toujours. What makes your collections unique in the industry? The jewelry industry, like any other, is highly competitive; you have to constantly come up with new creative ideas to stand out in the crowd. So I try my best to be innovative and offer different jewelry in terms of the designs and the materials used. My jewelry is unique; I believe it has a soul, it provides more than golden items, it is distinctive and every piece tells a little story. As a designer, where do you draw your inspiration from? Inspiration is tricky, for me, everything inspires me. From nature to Arabic culture to calligraphy, I have created many pieces, which embrace all of the above. My latest collection “The Glamorous Scent” won an Award as the Most Creative Jewelry Collection in the Middle East. This collection was

purely inspired by nature, the designs soulfully represented birds, flowers, and butterflies molded harmoniously with gold and scented oud wood. Can you explain the process of creating one of your elegant pieces for readers to help them understand the time and work that goes into your wonderful creations? When it comes to jewelry, people always talk about “Collections, but I prefer to talk about ‘Pieces,’ timely pieces, where each piece stands out and distinctively conveys beauty and aspiration. For example, some pieces take me months to create, from finding the right stone, to creating the design, to finally producing the mold and manufacturing. The most fun part of all is drawing the design and imagining the piece in its final appearance. I still prefer my pencil and colors rather than the computer design software; I just feel more connected to the stones as well as to the design. Call me old fashioned, but I just love the feeling of connecting to my sketches. What is your favorite piece ever, that you created, and what made it so special? By far, my most favorite piece is called “The One and Only;” made with a 198.00 ct. emerald stone, which is big in size and in historical value. It is a green emerald that has floral carvings all around it, in which I reflected those designs into the actual design of the pendant in diamonds to create a one of a kind piece, which can never be duplicated. I like these types of creations, which are unique and timely. We often hear jewelry designers describe their designs as bold, glamorous or wearable. If you could only use three words to describe the essence of your jewelry what would they be?

I would say my jewelry is unique, soulful,l and distinctive. What kind of woman wears your jewelry? Jewelry lovers, collectors and women who adore glamour and who usually stand out. Many celebrities choose my jewelry, such as Sherin Abdulwahab, Asala Nasri, Dianna Haddad, Nicole Saba, Mona Zaki, Asma Almunawar, Balqees Ahmed Fathi, super model Karolina Kurkova, and many others. How did your AUS education help you start your own business? AUS taught me determination in pursuing my dream, I believe you can get an education anywhere, but it is the way you get your education that changes your path, and AUS gave me that. The diversity of professors and the high level of input molded me into the woman I am today. What are your upcoming trends in the jewelry design? I’m currently working on some pieces, which will be disclosed at an event in April with a famous Lebanese fashion designer. So stay tuned! What advice would you give to AUS graduates interested in getting into the jewelry design business? Get the best out of your education at AUS, as you are attending one of the best education-providing foundations, never give up and sincerely believe that what you are studying right now will always be carried with you when you leave and join the real business world.

AUSAA Wall of Fame Inductees During the Seventh Alumni Reunion Dinner, the AUS Alumni Association invited alumni to nominate fellow alumni candidates from previous classes to be featured on the Alumni Wall of Fame, recognizing the legacies of those who had contributed to making a difference during their time at AUS as students as well as achieved great success in their careers. The following were the alumni declared winners.

Eisa Al Ali Eisa was well-known for organizing many activities for students during his years at AUS. He was an ambassador of the University during the new students’ orientation, as well as for events held offcampus. He was passionate about identifying student issues and concerns, and proposing solutions. In 2003–2004, Eisa was elected to be the President of the Student Council. During his tenure, he worked on rebranding the Council’s image, and established office hours. He also proposed a change in the Council’s constitution, and amended its by-laws. He was also an active participant in the decision making process on issues pertaining to the students’ car park, and the budget allocation system to student clubs. He was also key in successfully securing the approval of the Students’ Sports Scholarship.

Ahmad Al Nabulsi Ahmad graduated from AUS with a bachelor’s in electrical engineering and a MS in mechatronics. He was actively involved in a variety of student clubs and activities, making contributions to The Leopard, the Palestinian Cultural Club, and OSA’s Community Services wherein he always assumed leadership roles. He also represented AUS as a student diplomat in the Bahraini Universities Model United Nations. Ahmad was also recognized for his academic performance and achievements by being awarded the Chancellor’s Distinguished Award in 2005–2006. His senior design project was recognized by British Petroleum (BP) as the best project that promotes BP’s Performance Brand Values, and was also showcased in a full episode on Sharjah TV’s Ebda’at Program. Ahmad placed first in the Fourth International Symposium on Mechatronics and its Applications Student Poster Competition, and placed second in the same symposium’s sixth rendition. He also has published in various journals and conference proceedings.

Ahmed Al Reyami Ahmad was an orientation team leader/volunteer for more than four years during which he helped hundreds of new students adapt to their new life at AUS. He was elected as the Student Activities Coordinator of the Student Council, was President of the Photography Club, and Vice President of the ASCE AUS Student Chapter. He was also very active with other student clubs.

Ahmed Barghouty Ahmad Barghouty serves as a symbol of AUS strength, determination and resilience. While studying finance at AUS, he was faced with one of life’s toughest tests: battling leukemia, not once, not twice, but thrice. Ahmad’s positive attitude is what helped him triumph over his life changing predicament. Not only did he maintain his morale at a positive high, but most importantly, he treated the challenge as an obstacle that he needed to adapt to and overcome. During his challenging time at AUS, Ahmad volunteered in a number of the Palestinian Cultural Club initiatives, worked as a research assistant, performed his Arabic poetry, acted in the play Qais wo Laila, and still managed to graduate with a GPA of 3.33. Ahmad always emphasizes how he could not have won his battles without the unlimited support he received from his family, friends, colleagues, and the AUS faculty and staff.

Anam Shahid Anam was an active member of the AUS Debate Club through participating in the eigth AUS Inter-Collegiate Debating Championship, fourth Intra-Mural Public Speaking Competition, and NYU Abu Dhabi British Parliamentary Debating championship. Her team won the Inter-Collegiate Debating Championship, and she was awarded the best speaker for the semifinals stage, and overall best speaker for the championship. She was an active member in Community Services and the Student Leadership Programs. Anam introduced the Leadership Case Study Competition, Group Team Building Exercise, Wall of Leadership, Electronic Registration, and Social Media presence for the conference. The conference was a major success and the hashtag #ASLC13 trended at second place in the UAE on Twitter. In SBM, Anam held the position of Executive Secretary and Vice President on the Dean’s Business Team, where most of her work was dedicated towards putting together initiatives for the enrichment of business students. Anam was the co-project manager for study tours to Germany and New York, SBM CareerWise, SBM Apprentice, and AUS Goes Pink.

Professor Ali Beba Hopes to Establish an AUS Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center

Could you start by telling us a bit about yourself? I am originally from Turkey. I started my career as an engineer and worked for a range of public institutions and private companies. I continued my academic work in Oklahoma, USA, where I received my PhD. After teaching engineering in Turkey and in the US, I became a consultant to the World Bank and the United Nations Environment Programme on clean energy and environmental sciences. Later, I joined Procter and Gamble where I practiced business management and entrepreneurship. This experience encouraged me to start my own private businesses. In the “return” stage of my “learn-earn-return” cycle, I decided to go back to academia to share my real-life experiences mostly in business and engineering schools. Before moving to the UAE I was the Director of the Entrepreneurship Center of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), where I created the Annual One Million Dollar Entrepreneurship Competition. Now I am an Adjunct Professor at AUS, I am teaching courses on Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the School of Business Administration (SBA), and getting involved in organizing innovative entrepreneurial activities. I think I am a pragmatic person who likes to integrate theoretical science and technology with practice and incubate the culture of entrepreneurship in academic institutions. I am very much result oriented as is reflected in the motto of the Entrepreneurship Centers I helped to create - “Make it Happen.”

What did it take to be a successful entrepreneur ten years ago and what has changed for today’s entrepreneurs? It is the speed and penetration of the digital communication in our lives that changed the way we are doing business now versus 10 years ago. In one word it is the INTERNET. Cloud computing, Big Data and video streams are the main game changers. Establishing a new business to make new products and/or to create new services in any part of the world is now easier compared to 10 years ago. Developed or underdeveloped, rural or urban have almost no impact on starting a new business. Reaching reliable information is no hassle; most of the time it is free. As Friedman said, “The World is Flat.” And, indeed, it is getting flatter by the day while it is also getting more crowded and more polluted which, in a way, are reasons to start new businesses. The mind-sets of innovators and entrepreneurs did not change much, but the way of doing business did change in a major way. Of course, competition is now fiercer than 10 years ago. But I am sure that entrepreneurs of today are luckier than the entrepreneurs of 10 years ago! As entrepreneurship continues to change and evolve, what skills will students need to develop in your opinion? Students will need to develop their “digital” skills on a daily basis. They also have to master business skills, especially marketing, finance, and entrepreneurship. Forming and working “teams” and “collaborating” with other students from other schools and from different disciplines are must haves as entrepreneurship continues to evolve. I also

strongly recommend that students participate in many multidisciplinary and multicultural social activities in order to develop their written and oral communication skills. How can AUS’s competitiveness and innovation contribute to entrepreneurial development? Recent QS ranking put AUS within the top 500 universities on the globe. To be exact, AUS ranked number 440. It is a fact that there is still plenty of room to advance AUS in academic competitiveness and make it truly a “Third Generation University” where the research results of science, engineering, and architecture are translated into innovative products and services for the benefit of society via entrepreneurship. We have to remember that the new trend in higher education is the ability to embrace the concept of “academic entrepreneurship” which allows the faculty members, students and staff to get involved in starting up commercial activities. This new mind set, of course, needs commitment and the implementation of a strategic plan on entrepreneurship. I think that the cutting – edge research and excellent publications of AUS need enhancement in this area. I firmly believe that entrepreneurial development of the region will gain momentum once the flag of entrepreneurship is raised on the AUS campus. What role do you recommend that AUS play to boost entrepreneurship, for example an entrepreneurship center, and how could that be utilized to advance the knowledge that addresses real-world challenges? My biggest dream here is to see AUS establish “The AUS Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center” with a strong incubation program; and to help build a state-of-the-art “Techno Park” in Sharjah. This Center would serve as a common platform for all AUS schools and bridge the varying mind-sets of the different AUS schools by offering continuous training and education programs on entrepreneurship. It would also be home to many start-ups and would support incubation by organizing outreach and networking activities including entrepreneurship competitions and joint events with AUS alumni. If this dream becomes true, at the historical time of Dubai winning EXPO2020, I am sure that it will be possible to support the UAE’s aspiration of converting itself into a fully knowledge-based economy, which could provide new solutions for sustainable economic growth by utilizing maximum levels of clean energy and by protecting the environment. How could an entrepreneurship incubator at AUS sculpt the young minds to create future leaders? What needs to be addressed in the entrepreneurship curriculum? Leadership and entrepreneurship are close concepts, but they are not the same. One could be a great entrepreneur, but not a good leader, and vice-versa. Yet, it is a proven fact that entrepreneurship paves the road to sustainable development in free market economies. Let us remember that entrepreneurship can be taught. Therefore, I think an entrepreneurship curriculum must exist and needs to be an option in all university programs. Each school can and should offer a minor program in entrepreneurship. A student, for example, graduating with a major in engineering or science or architecture can have a minor in entrepreneurship. AUS should not consider entrepreneurship as a field of study only for the SBA students, but must consider it as a new field of study for all of its colleges.

Leading regional entrepreneurship incubators share their unique successes and efforts in developing SMEs. How do you assess the opportunities and uncertainties of establishing a unified GCC SME ecosystem? Indeed, to succeed in building up economic growth sustainably, there must be an entrepreneurship ecosystem in place. Regional incubators and successful SMEs are natural stakeholders of this ecosystem. I believe that for building up a sound ecosystem we should follow the natural flow of the entrepreneurial journey. This means that we start small and focused. We develop and implement a unique business plan to cover leading regional incubators within the UAE, and then the whole GCC. I think it would not be realistic to immediately establish a unified GCC ecosystem. We need to go one step at a time. But we must have a very good road map in front of us. What else could be done in our region to foster a culture of entrepreneurship? Entrepreneurship is a healthy and good virus to have! Once it is incubated properly in a controlled environment, it can be multiplied and implanted into other places. I think the best way to foster a culture of entrepreneurship is to make it part of our lives. This can be best done if we can imbed entrepreneurship programs into the whole spectrum of the UAE education systems starting with the high schools. From your experience at the HKUST Entrepreneurship Center, could you share with us global best practices and benchmarks for entrepreneurship and how growth can be triggered and accelerated in developing economies to enhance performance? Best practices are witnessed in the top USA schools such as MIT, Stanford, Caltec and Harvard. There are also some niche colleges like Babson, which is excellent in delivering national and international innovation and entrepreneurship programs. Of course, Cambridge and Oxford in the UK and many universities in Japan, China, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Singapore do trigger and accelerate economic growth and bring social harmony via very strong and well established entrepreneurship programs. Some of these universities, with their ecosystems, create more financial wealth than the sum of GDP’s of many countries. From my HKUST experience I must point out that we did not define entrepreneurship as the road to just making more money and becoming rich. To us, social entrepreneurship or, as Nobel Peace Laureate Muhammad Yunus calls it, social business was just as important since projects in this area would target social benefits (better education, cleaner and healthier world, social justice, etc.) in addition to financial gains. In your opinion as advice to AUS students and alumni, what should be the motivations, beliefs, and value systems of tomorrow’s successful entrepreneur? We have to shift our paradigms. Now, we are living in the knowledge and information age. Citizens of the world, who have transformed themselves into this new age from the industrial age, are straining their brains rather than their muscles. AUS students and alumni will have to take their seats in this new world and consider entrepreneurship as an alternative for their future lives. Success always comes with hard work. Values such as honesty, open mindedness, taking calculated risks, optimism, passion and perseverance will still be at the core. But now they must work harder since the competition is and will be fiercer everywhere.

“Plaza de Party”: Alumna Reem Lootah’s Innovative Event Planning Business

Tell us a little bit about your background. How did you realize you wanted to become an entrepreneur and how was the idea of your event management business, Plaza de Party, born? I graduated with a degree in multimedia design from the College of Architecture, Art and Design in 2010. For three years, right after graduation, I worked as a promotion producer in the Creative Department of Dubai Media Incorporated. I always knew I had the entrepreneurial spirit in me and believed in the magical power of being my own boss and how this would have the power to dissolve all limits on my creativity. When you work for yourself you really have the freedom to be as creative as you can possibly be and having studied design this was very important for me. I always had a passion for events and started designing and planning small parties for friends and family members even before graduating. However, it took me two years until I had the courage to decide to make this my profession and turn it into a business. For a year I worked on founding my business while I still had my day job at DMI. After seeing how much potential my new business had, I decided to quit my job and focus on developing it. How did you come up with the name Plaza de Party? It took me a while to come up with a name. I made a lot of lists and asked friends for their opinions. Then one day I read the word “Plaza de..” on a brochure I got from Spain as I enjoy traveling. I loved the sound of it and immediately decided to adapt it into Plaza de Party.

What are the most important things to remember on the day of an event? Mostly keeping calm! It is very important for me to be as calm and relaxed as possible, especially while dealing with clients who tend to worry and panic on the day of their event. It is important to assure them that everything will be ready and set up on time. How do you assess the success of each of your events? Client satisfaction is the most important thing in assessing the success of each event. In addition, I can gauge success in part by the audience’s reaction on social media when I post pictures. When I get referrals and requests from guests who attended the event I know that the event has been successful. Which event, up until this point, do you consider as the best one you have planned? Each event is like my little baby and it’s difficult to have a favorite, but it’s always the last event that I work on that feels like the best one. This is due to the fact that at every event I gain more experience and work harder to apply what I learnt from the one before. How did your AUS education help you found your own business? My education at AUS taught me how to believe in my abilities and enhanced my confidence in my individualism, and this is a very important aspect for being an entrepreneur.

Alumni Mohamed Al Taleb and Mohamed Wehbi Pursuing their Graduate Studies together at Birmingham University, UK

Mohammed Wehbi

My design education was also directly relevant to the field I have chosen. Designing a poster, a movie, or an event all require the same creative process at the end of the day. What are some of the challenges you face as an emerging entrepreneur in Dubai and what makes you stand out? With the UAE government’s support of entrepreneurs it is very difficult to point out a challenge. Where do you see Plaza de Party in five years? I would like to expand the range of services over the years, as I gain the required experience, to become one of the best themed events companies in the UAE. What is the most important piece of advice you would give young entrepreneurs starting out today? The fact that they take the first step towards having their own enterprise is already an achievement. They need to appreciate and understand the power of this first step as it is a step that many just spend their life dreaming of taking, but never do. It is important to always have faith in what they are doing and stick to it regardless of the hardships that they may face, especially in their first year.‎

Every boy’s ideal and hero is his father and as I grew up I have spent my childhood watching my father designing buildings and playing with his desk stationeries trying to draw engineering plans so I may look as sophisticated as him. Since that time, I always knew that I will become a civil engineer and when the right time came I applied to American University of Sharjah, in 2006 to the Department of Civil Engineering. With every assignment, exam and presentation I made at AUS I have acquired new sets of skills that shaped my professional prospects. The facilities at the civil engineering department in AUS played a crucial role in polishing my personality and directing me to where my potentials can be utilised. With the support and care of that department I was exposed to the field of academic research in my senior year at AUS, which is normally considered at a postgraduate level. As a result of this fruitful experience, I decided to pursue my postgraduate studies in the field of transportation abroad. Along with my qualifications, AUS’s Faculty members’ recommendations and AUS’s global reputation I have managed to secure seats in various top universities in the United States and United Kingdom. My choice was set to Birmingham University in the UK to study a Master of Science in Road Management and Engineering; at that point I was worried and I didn’t know how my academic background

would hold and face an entirely new educational system. After arriving to the UK, these worries started to fade away and realised that AUS has prepared me well at different aspects, not just in the academic field, but also at the cultural level. Because of the cultural diversity at AUS, the cultural transition that I had to go though in the UK was much smoother compared to others around me. On the other hand, at the academic level AUS provided me with a firm foundation that enabled me to graduate with a distinction in my master’s degree. In addition to that, I was awarded a scholarship to do my PhD in the field of railways to look at track vibrations and associated structural conditions. Along with my duty as a researcher, I was assigned to be the Ambassador of the Master’s Programme for Road Management and Engineering where I assist in maintaining connections between the master’s students and the industry around the globe. As time is passing, more and more crises are developing. It has become a very important necessity to encourage people to continue with their higher education in order to develop minds that can come up with complete solutions to the problems facing the world. Now I am at the end of completing my PhD hoping that one day I will be able to come back to the region as a lecturer and a researcher to transfer the immense amount of knowledge that I have acquired from my studies to future generations.

My journey started by choosing one of the best universities in the UAE, GCC and Middle East, American University of Sharjah. I was enrolled in the ABET accredited civil engineering program in Fall 2009. With the advanced technological facilities, highly qualified faculty, and the friendly atmosphere, AUS has helped a lot in developing and expanding my skills, not only through educational perspectives, but also by providing an amazing opportunity for me and other students to polish our personalities and talents through extracurricular activities. Throughout my years at AUS, I have joined the student leadership program, community service, and was elected as the president of the Iraqi Cultural Club. Also, I was a student assistant at the Office of Development and Alumni Affairs (ODAA) for almost three years. All of these activities had developed leadership skills in myslef, gave me a lot of experience, made me a well-organized person and allowed me to work under pressure quickly and reliably. With four years spent at AUS and the firm foundation and experience I had, I was ready for my next challenge, so I decided to pursue a Graduate study. With all the fields that civil engineering offers, my interest was turned into planning, management and transportation it was really hard to find a university that offers those three aspects in one program. I was offered a place at the University of Birmingham (UoB), the 62nd best university in the QS World University Rankings and the University of the Year in the UK, enrolling in a Master of Science program in Road Management and Engineering. It was a totally new experience for me, a totally new environment and culture to face. However, it is a great experience to see how the other parts of the world think, and how they deal with different engineering problems in a state-of-the-art and high–quality manner. The program was developed around 50 years ago for developing and developed countries making the experience of learning different since it involves real case studies and innovative management skills in planning and designing roads. The program introduced me to a variety of skills and knowledge about managing, planning, designing, financing and maintaining road networks. Currently, I am investigating the effect of weather on low volume roads, anticipating to extent our knowledge about this issue especially in developing countries. In the end, I believe that AUS and UoB has provided me with a solid knowledge, experience, and skills to proceed through a professional and bright career, and I encourage students to pursue a high education studies which will definitely help them with their future.

Mohammed Al-Taleb What field to choose?! That was the question in my mind since high school. However, I was attracted to one field due to the diversity of features it offers from designing, planning, construction, structure, buildings, environment, transport, maintenance, water, treatments and many other aspects it involves. It is a major which allows whoever is involved in it to shape the world around them, and to leave their mark physically on the ground. So, the answer to my question was civil engineering.

Alumnus Tarek Abouseif Pursues a Master’s in Building Engineering to Establish a Nonprofit Construction Company One Day those links made me want to further enhance my education by pursuing a graduate degree in something I was more passionate about: construction management and building engineering. You pursued your master’s degree in building engineering at Concordia University (Montreal, Canada). Tell us more about this program. It was actually a professor at AUS who first suggested that I join this program after I told him about my passion for construction management and building engineering. The program at Concordia focuses on the management aspect of a construction project. It integrates many of the different disciplines that contribute to a project. The stages range from the economic analysis of the initial project to the handover of the final project as well as maintenance and renovation. This program has really helped me put into perspective many things that I would not have paid much attention to as an undergraduate, things such as: the indoor environment of a building, the energy efficiency and consumption of a building, as well as the environmental impact of a project.

Would you please introduce yourself in a few lines? My name is Tarek Abouseif and I am a 25-year-old civil engineer. I have lived nearly my whole life in the beautiful and welcoming city of Sharjah. I obtained my bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from AUS in 2010, and my master’s degree in building engineering from Concordia University in Montreal, Canada, in 2013. Studying at Concordia was in some ways similar to studying at AUS in the sense that both universities have a very diverse and multicultural student population. In looking back to your upbringing and education, who or what influenced you to study engineering? Living in the United Arab Emirates was the biggest inspiration for me to study civil engineering. Constantly being surrounded by construction intrigued me as a child to further understand how this construction was carried out. In the UAE, one can see construction projects that are just starting and others about to end. Being able to see different stages of unique and massive construction projects, on an almost daily basis, certainly influenced me to study civil engineering. Did your AUS education help you in choosing to pursue a graduate degree? Why or why not? In all honesty, my education in AUS pushed me to put down the books and start implementing what I had learned. My education was intensive and extremely theory-based. Therefore by the end of my degree, I felt that I had to work for a few months, if not years, to be able to relate all that I had learned to the construction industry. The intensity of the education at AUS somehow pushed me away from higher studies. However, once I started working I was able to make many links between theory and practice. In turn,

What were some of the greatest challenges you faced while working on this degree? The greatest challenges always teach the best lessons. At the graduate level, each course contains a minimum of one group project or group case study. Some courses require two or three projects. The difference between the graduate level projects and the undergraduate level projects is that the knowledge must be directly applied to a real life project. Therefore data had to be gathered from existing or completed construction projects. As you can imagine, it is sometimes extremely difficult to get certain information from some construction companies. In addition, one had to encounter, work with and manage multiple groups and group members. It was a very unique and pleasant experience. What are you planning to do after completing your master’s degree? Upon completing my master’s degree, I was overwhelmed by a great sense of accomplishment. But that feeling didn’t last very long when I realized that now I have new duties and responsibilities. I have actually been doing some research about nonprofit organizations. One of my long-term goals at the moment is to establish a nonprofit construction company in the Middle East. It is no secret that many countries in the region have been torn apart by wars. Booming construction usually means a booming economy. Therefore in order to rebuild some of those war-torn places, large construction companies are contracted with hefty profits, unfortunately at the expense of the country’s economy causing the country to fall further in to debt. Personally, I think we need more nonprofit organizations in the Middle East especially in the construction field. Hopefully one day I will be able to make my dream a reality.

AUS Alumni Portal The American University of Sharjah has recently introduced a new online community designed to provide online engagement and communication solutions exclusively to our strong network of alumni with a wide range of benefits, services, and events:

This website will allow you to stay connected with American University of Sharjah and each other. When you log in, you will be able to search for and contact your friends from AUS, share photos, post your résumé, register for events, and much more!

www.ausalumni.ae

The key functions which the Encompass system enhances are the ability to: • Connect alumni with innovative networking • Interact with other fellow alumni and AUS • Post photos, videos, or newsfeeds • Find friends online, create and publish blogs, and embed your Facebook, MySpace, or LinkedIn badges, or content from Flickr or Picasa accounts. To get started, go to www.ausalumni.ae and click on “Register Now!” in the upper right corner above the red “LOGIN” button. Then, follow these three easy steps: 1. Enter your last name (Last Name) and Birth Date (Birth Date) and hit the ‘Search>>’ button. 2. Select your name from the list shown. 3. Enter your Constituent ID, which is your AUS ID (i.e., @000XXXXX, example @00004444) If you have any problems logging in, or any questions regarding the community, please contact odaa@aus.edu

AUS Connect Editor-in-Charge, Rola Habr

We Want You To Stay In Touch! The AUS Ofﬁce of Development and Alumni Affairs is keen to stay in touch with all of our alumni. We hope that you will take the opportunity to tell us about what is happening in your lives. Had a promotion at work? The joy of a new addition to your family? A major move across the globe, or a minor move around the corner? We want to know and share your news with your AUS friends and colleagues. AUS Connect is a wonderful way to stay in touch with your fellow alums, teachers and mentors. It is also a great way to show our friends in the community how proud our wonderful alumni are making us.

Send us an email. Our address is ODAA@aus.edu We look forward to hearing from each and every one of you. Ofﬁce of Development and Alumni Affairs American University of Sharjah PO Box 26666, Sharjah, UAE Tel +971 6 515 2547 Fax +971 6 515 2297 www.aus.edu