AALE Awards Program Accreditation to AUK

The American Academy for Liberal Education's (AALE) Board of Trustees awarded the American University of Kuwait International Program Accreditation for its Arts and Humanities Division, Social Sciences Division as well as the University General Education Program.

The Academy certifies and accredits institutions and programs worldwide that are concerned with liberal education and the liberal arts. Accreditation by AALE signifies institutional integrity and a strong commitment to liberal education. Membership certifies that the institution meets or exceeds the Academy's independently established Education Standards. 

The AALE Board, Council of Scholars and Site Evaluation Visit Team all agree that, "The University's commitment to provide liberal education extends from AUK's administrators and Board of Trustees to the faculty and students." They added that AUK students "are strongly enthusiastic about inquiry, reflection, critical evaluation, debate and preferring thoughtful critique over memorization." Further, the Visiting Team Report added that "the AUK Faculty is commended for the many ways they seek out and implement additional learning opportunities that enhance the quality of education and global experiences of their students."

AALE accreditation demonstrates that AUK utilizes the best traditions of liberal education, and certifies that the Divisions of Arts and Humanities and Social Sciences as well as the General Education Programs meet International Accreditation standards. AUK President Dr. Winfred Thompson recognized the significance of this step forward saying, "Our aim is to aspire to the highest standard of quality, and with this award we are one step closer to ensuring that AUK provides the highest quality education in Kuwait and the region."

The Academy's Education Standards provide stakeholders in higher education, including parents and prospective students, with a clear means of identifying colleges and programs with focused, well-articulated goals for liberal learning in areas such as history, mathematics, science, literature, languages and philosophy, and with coherent approaches to liberal education.

Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Professor Nizar Hamzeh, thanked all those who have contributed to the AALE Self-Study, and in particular members of the AALE Steering Committee chaired by Dr. Rawda Awwad, Assistant Dean for Accreditation and Curriculum. He added, "From my own experience, receiving international program accreditation is not only a tremendous academic achievement but is a testimony to the excellent qualifications, hard work, and leadership and integrity enjoyed by the university faculty, administration and staff."

The American University of Kuwait (AUK) is an independent, private, equal opportunity, and co-educational liberal arts institution of higher education. The educational, cultural and administrative structure, methods and standards of AUK are based on the American model of higher learning. The lanuage of instruction is English.

AUK and Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire (USA) have worked closley together since 2003, when the two institutions signed a Memorandum of Understanding that facilitated a serios of advisory, consultative and cooperative projects. Dartmouth College is a member of the group of universities in the United States known as the "Ivy League", more information on Dartmouth College can be found at www.dartmouth.edu.

Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 11th October 2011