Public Affairs

AUK and Dartmouth College renewed their institutional partnership that promises to build on the success of a 20-year relationship. With this renewal, both institutions reaffirm their commitment to advancing liberal arts education and facilitating cross-cultural collaborations between faculty, students, and staff at both universities.  
 
The partnership was signed by AUK president, Dr. Rawda Awwad and Dartmouth president, Dr. Philip Hanlon, at Darmouth with the attendance of AUK founder and chair of the board of trustees, Sheikha Dana Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah; AUK executive vice president, Ms. Amal Al-Binali; executive director of the Dartmouth-AUK program and Ralph and Richard Lazarus professor of anthropology and human relations, Dr. Dale Eickelman; deputy director of the Dartmouth-AUK program, Ms. Kerry Laufer; professor of engineering at Dartmouth, Dr. Fridon Shubitidze; and professor of marketing at Dartmouth, Dr. Peter Golder.  
 
Sheikha Dana highlighted the importance of this memorandum and how it lays the foundation for a mutually beneficial relationship between the two esteemed academic institutions, “The signing of this MOU today signifies our shared dedication to continuing this partnership for many years to come. It is a testament to our mutual commitment to fostering academic excellence and promoting cultural understanding. We look forward to the many more fruitful collaborations that will arise from this partnership.”  
 
AUK president, Dr. Rawda Awwad, shared the same sentiment, emphasizing how the memorandum signifies a substantial step towards international cooperation and academic excellence, “Over the years, our relationship has grown stronger and more meaningful. Through exchanges of faculty, students, and ideas, we have been able to broaden our perspectives and deepen our understanding of the world around us. This partnership has enriched the academic and cultural experiences of all involved and has opened doors to countless opportunities.” 
 
Similarly, Dartmouth president, Dr. Philip Hanlon, affirmed the significance of this milestone, "I'm delighted to see our relationship with AUK continue and grow. There are so many benefits to be drawn from this partnership, both for our students and our faculty, and any opportunity for our respective institutions to tap into each other's talent is a win for us both." 
 
Under the terms of the agreement, first signed in 2003, Dartmouth and AUK collaborated on numerous programs, including mutually-beneficial faculty and student exchanges. Dartmouth experts in engineering, information technology, library sciences, communications, the arts and sciences, university governance, and other fields regularly visit Kuwait and vice versa. Dartmouth also provides a wide range of administrative and academic consulting services to AUK.  
 
“The document we are signing today strengthens the strong bonds we’ve forged over the last two decades. It paves the way for new initiatives,” said Dr. Eickelman. “We now have a thriving for-credit academic exchange program. We are also preparing to send a Dartmouth faculty member to AUK this spring as our first Fulbright specialist who will consult and teach a mini-course at AUK,” Eickelman added.  
 
This renewal marks the fifth agreement signed over the course of a 20-year relationship. It represents a critical milestone in fostering a strong partnership that has yielded, and will continue to yield, significant benefits for both institutions.  
 
  

AUK founder and chair of the board of trustees, Sheikha Dana Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah
   

AUK president, Dr. Rawda Awwad and Dartmouth president, Dr. Philip Hanlon, signing the renewal of their institutional partnership
   

AUK and Dartmouth representatives