American University of Sharjah

American University of Sharjah
الجامعة الأمريكية في الشارقة
Emblem of the American University of Sharjah
Established	1997
Type	Private
Chancellor	Dr. Peter Heath
President	HH Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qassimi
Academic staff	353
Admin. staff	563
Undergraduates	4,850
Postgraduates	395
Location	Sharjah, United Arab Emirates 25°18′35″N 55°29′26″E / 25.30972°N 55.49056°E / 25.30972; 55.49056Coordinates: 25°18′35″N 55°29′26″E / 25.30972°N 55.49056°E / 25.30972; 55.49056
Campus	Urban, 128 hectares (316 acres)
Colors	Burgundy, White
Nickname	AUS
Mascot	Leopard
Affiliations	AAICU
Website	http://www.aus.edu/

American University of Sharjah (AUS) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a comprehensive, independent, non-profit, co-educational institution of higher education. Based on an American model of higher education and grounded in the culture of the Gulf region, AUS brings together more than 5,000 students from some 82 countries and a full-time faculty of more than 350.

AUS offers 25 majors and 48 minors at undergraduate level and 13 master’s degrees through the College of Architecture, Art and Design, the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Engineering, and the School of Business and Management.

The university is licensed in the United States by the Department of Education of the State of Delaware and in the UAE by the Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research, which recognizes all undergraduate and graduate programs, plus has awarded either accreditation or accreditation-eligible status. It is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

All six of the bachelor's degree programs in the AUS College of Engineering are accredited by ABET. The Bachelor of Architecture program of the College of Architecture, Art and Design is accredited by the US National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA), as well as the Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) degrees offered by the School of Business and Management are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).

History

AUS was founded in 1997 by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qassimi, Member of the Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Sharjah. As AUS President, Sheikh Sultan has seen the realization of his vision for a distinctive institution rooted in the region’s Arab-Islamic heritage, in the context of the aspirations and needs of contemporary society in the UAE and the Gulf region.

Study Programs

Undergraduate degree programs

College of Architecture, Art and Design

• Bachelor of Architecture (BArch)
• Bachelor of Interior Design (BID)
• Bachelor of Science in Design Management (BSDM)
• Bachelor of Science in Multimedia Design (BSMD)
• Bachelor of Science in Visual Communication (BSVC)

College of Arts and Sciences

• Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature (BAELL)
• Bachelor of Arts in International Studies (BAIS)
• Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication (BAMC)
• Bachelor of Science in Biology (BSB)
• Bachelor of Science in Chemistry (BSCH)
• Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science (BSES)
• Bachelor of Science in Mathematics (BSM)

College of Engineering

• Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (BSCS)
• Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering (BSChE)
• Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (BSCE)
• Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering (BSCoE)
• Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE)
• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (BSME)

School of Business and Management

• Bachelor of Arts in Economics (BAE)
• Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA)

Graduate degree programs

College of Architecture, Art and Design

• Master of Urban Planning (MUP)

College of Arts and Sciences

• Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (MATESOL)
• Master of Arts in English/Arabic/English Translation and Interpreting (MATI)
• Graduate Certificate in Museum and Heritage Studies (GCMHS)

School of Business and Management

• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA
• Gulf Executive Master of Public Administration (EMPA)

College of Engineering

• Master of Science in Engineering Systems Management (MSESM)
• Master of Science in Mechatronics Engineering (MSMTR)
• Master of Science in Electrical Engineering (MSEE)
• Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME)
• Master of Science in Computer Engineering (MSCoE)
• Master of Science in Chemical Engineering (MSChE)
• Master of Science in Civil Engineering (MSCE)

Governance & Administration

AUS is a private institution, governed by a self-perpetuating Board of Trustees, which adheres to established bylaws. The Board of Trustees is responsible for establishing principles of governance, as well as the direction and management of AUS, including educational programs.

The Board of Trustees

• Chairman - HH Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qassimi, the UAE Supreme Council Member, Ruler of Sharjah and AUS President
• Dr. Ali Abdullah Al Shamlan, Director-General, Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS), Kuwait
• Dr. MaryAnn Baenninger, President, College of Saint Benedict, Minnesota, USA
• Mr. Joseph L. Brand, Senior Partner, Patton Boggs LLP, Washington, DC, USA
• Professor Lord Alec Broers, Member of the British House of Lords, UK
• Dr. Anthony George Coates, Director, Museum of Biodiversity, Bridge of Life, Republic of Panama; Senior Scientist Emeritus, Smithsonian Institution, USA
• Mr Charles Cotton, Director of Cambridge Enterprise
• Mr. Abdul Jalil Yousuf Darwish, Chairman of UAE Enterprises Group, UAE
• Dr. Leroy S. Fletcher, Regents Professor Emeritus, Thomas A. Dietz Professor Emeritus, Texas A&M University, USA
• Dr. Roderick S. French, Chancellor Emeritus, American University of Sharjah, UAE
• Dr. Peter Heath, Chancellor, American University of Sharjah, UAE
• Mr. Hamid D. Jafar, Chairman and CEO, Crescent Petroleum Company, Sharjah, UAE
• Dr. Cornelius Kerwin, President, American University, Washington, DC, USA
• Baroness Onora O’Neill of Bengarve CBE PBA FMedSci, Member of the British House of Lords, UK
• Mr. Riad T. Sadek, Chairman, Al Habtoor Leighton Group, Dubai, UAE
• Mr. Maroun A. Semaan, President and CEO, Petrofac International Ltd., Sharjah, UAE

Campus

AUS is the flagship institution of University City, a 1,600 acre complex that includes other educational establishments and is located some 10 km southeast of Sharjah city centre and about 15 km from the neighboring emirate of Dubai. The university offers students full-facility dormitories, a sports complex and a gym. Other amenities include a health center, a pharmacy, a bank, a post office, a barbershop, a ladies beauty salon and two convenience stores.

Library

The AUS library houses a collection of more than 212,000 items, including 122,000 hard-copy items (books, CDs, DVDs, etc.), 90,000 electronic books, 250 journals in print, and 50 online databases and indexes that are accessible locally and remotely. Facilities include PC workstations, an ‘information commons’ computer environment, two computer classrooms for teaching information literacy and research skills, book, study spaces, including group study and presentation rooms, media preview rooms; circulation/reserves and research help desks and self-checkout stations. The seating capacity is approximately 900 or 20 percent of the current student population. The AUS Archives department is a repository for institutional records that have been created by various academic and administrative departments of the university. The mission of the Archives department is to collect, maintain, preserve, and make available records that are of historical or legal value, as well as records that document the development of the university and the various campus activities.

Sustainability

AUS is working towards creating a culture of sustainability. In support of the plan, the Office of Sustainability has introduced other environmentally-friendly initiatives to actively engage the university community in sustainability practices, such as recycling, a reduction in energy use and water conservation. Within the syllabus, AUS offers related courses such as Sustainable Design for Architects and Environmental Engineering for Civil Engineers, as well as regularly hosting seminars by world-class professors.

Student life

Typical of the American system of higher education, students are encouraged to participate in varied extra-curricular activities, to form clubs and societies, stage events, work for the university student newspaper and literary magazine, and join the various on campus.

Performing Arts Program

The Performing Arts Program provides students with opportunities to demonstrate their talents on stage before live audiences. Productions include choral concerts, piano recitals, vocal concerts and fully mounted theatrical productions.

International Study and Exchange

The Office of International Exchange Programs was established to provide AUS students and faculty with exchange opportunities, including sending and hosting visiting scholars, aiding faculty members in arranging international study tours, developing exchange agreements with universities around the world, and achieving membership in the top global exchange consortia.

Student center

The complex is the focal point for student activity and houses a number of restaurants and cafes, a smoker’s room and seating areas for gatherings.

Student publications

The Leopard Newspaper

Named after the university’s mascot, the bi-weekly gathers together students’ activities - academic, social and sporting. The Leopard is a popular platform for students to display their creative writing and for emerging artists to display their art work.

Notable alumni

• Abdullah El Doukhei, Plant Manager, Dubai Cable (DUCAB)
• Abdullah Fareed Al Gurg, Group General Manager, Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group
• Abdulrahman Al Afalig, Country Communications Manager - KSA, The Boeing Company
• Amr Kayed, Head of Branch Operations, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB)
• Anita Akkawi, Administrative & Logistics Associate, United Nations Department of Safety & Security
• Bodour Al Amiri, Head of Design Department, Sharjah Municipality
• Dana Al Fardan, Vice President, Al Fardan Group of Companies
• Easa Al Ali, Contracts Manager, Etihad Rail
• Farid Abdullah, Branch Manager, Standard Chartered Bank
• Humaid Abu Shibs, Head of Development, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC)
• Jamal J. Al-Musharakh, Second Secretary, The United Arab Emirates Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Khalfan Belhoul, Vice President of Engineering, Department of Civil Aviation
• Khuloud Alhouli, PR and Media Executive, Sharjah Business Women's Council
• Mariam Abou Taam, Head of Client Relations, Zaweya
• Mishal Hamed Kanoo, Deputy Chairman of The Kanoo Group ^[1]
• Mohamad Al Yousef, Vice Chairman, Al Yousef Investment
• Mohamed Al Shahi, Senior Director of Media and Broadcasting, Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (du)
• Mohammed Al Makhawi, Research Specialist of the Office of the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi
• Murtada Jawad, Head of Corporate Communications, Al Ahli Bank, Oman
• Noaf Ahmed Al Naqbi, Head of Certification Bodies Accreditation Section, Dubai Municipality
• Rana Ashour, Structural Engineer, Buro Happold
• Saeed Ezazi, CEO & Marketing Manager, Arts and Media
• Safia Al Sadoon, Vice President, Euphrates Advisors LLC
• Salah Al Zabin, Head of Audit Studies Department, Kuwaiti Council of Ministers
• Salah Al-Shamsi, Former Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chairman of Liwa Investment Holding
• Sameh Dana, Technical & Solution Architect, Nokia Siemens Networks
• Sami Hassouneh, Senior Process Engineer, Petrofac
• Saud Al Nuwais, UAE Commercial Counselor to the United States
• Shamma Al Nuaimi, Head of Government Service Department, Dubai Executive Council (DEC)
• Sheikh Khaled Al Nahayan, Ph.D. Candidate, King’s College
• Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum, First Secretary at the UAE Embassy in the UK
• Sheikh Mohammed Al-Thani, Director of the Office of H.H. the President of AUS
• Sheikh Sultan Saud Al Qassimi, Managing Director, Al Saud Company
• Sheikha Lubna Khalid Al Qasimi, UAE Minister for Foreign Trade and former Minister of Economic and Planning (2004–2008); first woman to hold a ministerial post in the UAE
• Sultan Ahli, Head of Computer Network Security, Dubai Police
• Tarek Karnooz, Account Director, Universal Media
• Terence Fernandes, Managing Director, Gulfco
• Turki Al Yahya, CEO and Managing Partner, Whites
• Wael Saleh, First PhD Awardee
• Yousef Bastaki, Vice President of Projects, Emirates Aluminium (EMAL)

See also

	Sharjah portal
	United States portal
	University portal

• American University of Cairo (AUC)
• American University of Beirut (AUB)
• American University of Iraq - Sulaimani (AUI)
• American University of Kuwait (AUK)
• American University in Dubai (AUD)

References

External links

• AUS website
• Virtual Tour of AUS
• AUS Student Reviews