News
For the first time in the past six consecutive years, the MIT Enterprise Forum (MITEF) Pan Arab will launch the 7th MITEF Arab Startup Competition in partnership with Abdul Latif Jameel Community Initiatives from 20 Arab cities at the same time, on October 28 at 3 PM GMT. In Kuwait, The American University of Kuwait and Injaz Kuwait in Kuwait City will provide the electronic platform for the Kuwaiti entrepreneurs to attend the launch of the competition.
The launching will occur on Google hangout, and will be initiated by a 10-minute introduction to the competition and speaker, by Mrs. Hala Fadel, Chair of the MITEF Pan Arab.
"The Arab world is interrelated and at the same time each country is disconnected from one another when it comes to trade, politics and simply knowing what is going on in another Arab country," says Fadel. "Connecting 20 Arab cities, from Beirut to Sanaa, from Alexandria to Jeddah, From Amman to Casablanca, Gaza to Manama is a one-of -a-kind event connecting over 2,000 Arab entrepreneurs to two distinguished entrepreneurs. We want to connect Arab entrepreneurs to one another and also connect them to the rest of the world."
The following 60 minutes will allow for the thousands of entrepreneurs gathered in physical viewing sites in Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, KSA, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Sudan, Tunisia, and UAE, to connect with major entrepreneur speakers.
The launching will round off with a 20-minute session for questions and answers from the public; one question per viewing site, and a handful of questions asked via twitter in advance. Mr. Fady Jameel, President of Abdul Latif Jameel Community Initiatives International, said: "Our endeavour to launch the Pan Arab MIT Enterprise Forum (MITEF) competition for the 7th consecutive year with our partners MITEF highlights ALJCI's commitment to support future young generations by providing them a platform to excel in their careers locally and internationally."
Local supporters will help in organizing physical viewing sites in their respective cities, and will assist with the promotion and spreading the word to universities, incubators, media, and entrepreneurship related entities/centers in their ecosystems. Entrepreneurs are encouraged to use hash tag #MITEFarabconnect on twitter and Facebook for the launching event.
The competition gives entrepreneurs the opportunity to receive training from top speakers in the region and globally. Besides the prize money, entrepreneurs chosen as semifinalists can also receive networking, mentorship, and visibility. The MITEF Arab Startup Competition offers entrepreneurs three tracks that they can apply to. The Ideas track is for entrepreneurs with ideas, while the Startups track is for entrepreneurs generating revenue. The Global track, introduced this year, is for globally established companies seeking to raise funds from international VCs. The application process will open on October 28 at www.mitarabcompetition.com .
Last year's competition saw 5,000 applicants from 21 Arab countries. Moreover, 250 established companies with the competition's support lead to 2,000 knowledge-based jobs.
About MITEF Pan Arab: Founded in 2005, the MIT Enterprise Forum of the Pan Arab Region (www.mitefarab.org) is one of the 28 worldwide chapters of the MIT Enterprise Forum Global, an avid promoter of entrepreneurship and innovation worldwide. The MIT Enterprise Forum- Pan Arab has a proven record in promoting MIT-style entrepreneurship by organizing each year the MIT Enterprise Forum Arab Startup Competition (www.mitarabcompetition.com), in partnership with Abdul Latif Jameel Community Initiatives (www.aljci.org), targeting 21 countries of the Arab region and bringing in more than 5,000 applications a year.
Abdul Latif Jameel Community Initiatives: In 2003 Abdul Latif Jameel Community Initiatives (ALJCI) was founded as the Community Services arm of the ALJ Group. Today ALJCI runs a considerable set of initiatives. From individual, community and Arab life as a whole in Saudi Arabia and beyond, ALJCI has the welfare of its people at heart. By promoting Arab arts and culture in the Middle East and around the world, working against the unemployment epidemic, enabling research for poverty alleviation, and providing education and training opportunities, ALJCI has successfully promoted positive social change.
Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 24th October 2013
On October 21, Dr. Raymond Farrin, Chair of the Department of Arabic and Foreign Languages, was interviewed on Kuwait's Al-Rai TV about his book on classical Arabic poetry, Tharwa Min Al-Badiya (Abundance from the Desert). He was hosted by Dr. Muhammad Al-Awadhi on the show "Hadith Al-Shubuhaat" ("Speaking of Doubts.")
Dr. Al-Awadhi began the program by asking about Dr. Farrin's background of Arabic study in Cairo and later at Berkeley, expressing curiosity about what enamored him especially of the Arabic language. Dr. Farrin explained that he was attracted initially by the Arabic language's strange sounds (to an American ear), its rigorous grammar, its wonderfully rich literature, and its challenging nature "...such that one feels that there is always more to learn and new vocabulary to master, particularly in older texts."
The interview also tackled Dr. Taha Husayn's surprising1925 attack on pre-Islamic poetry, in which he contended that most of what the public considers as "pre-Islamic poetry" was actually forged at a later date. Dr. Farrin pointed out that recent scholarship has rendered this position untenable. "For example, it is clear that the early Umayyad poet Umar ibn Abi Rabi'a patterns himself after the pre-Islamic poet Imru' al-Qays- but could he have done so if Imru' al-Qays' poetry was invented later?" In the end, though, Taha Husayn's skepticism proved useful, as Dr. Farrin emphasized, since it stimulated new research and led to even greater confidence about the authenticity of pre-Islamic poetry.
During the interview, Dr. Al-Awadhi also asked about the contention by some Western scholars that classical Arabic poetry, beautiful as it may be, is not arranged coherently. Dr. Farrin responded with examples of ring composition (according to which the beginning connects to the end and the main element lies in the center, similar to the arrangement of a necklace) in works by Imru' Al-Qays, Al-Khansa', and Al-Mutanabbi.
The interview concluded with some remarks about the structure of the Holy Qur'an. Dr. Farrin referred to the assertions by various Western critics that the Holy Book is not put together cohesively. Against this claim, he mentioned earlier works in the field of 'Ilm Al-Munasaba (The Science of Correlations) that highlight the connectedness of the Qur'an, and gave examples of adjacent suras being closely linked structurally. Indeed, as Dr. Farrin contended, "close examination of the Qur'an from a structural perspective leads to the conclusion that the Book possesses a magnificent design."
The interview may be seen in full by clicking on the link below: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4hfciTII5A
Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 23rd October 2013
Ms. Ghaidaa Mohamad, Instructor of Arabic at the Department of Arabic and Foreign Languages, conducted a 3-day workshop on creative writing at Iris Media headquarters in Selmabad, Bahrain. The workshop was entitled: Gates to the Soul: Mechanics of Creative Writing, and was hosted by the Bahraini Majaaz Cultural Group, and sponsored by Iris Media, Bahrain.
During the workshop, students were introduced to the subject of creative writing through exercises that emphasized new ways of thinking, and paying attention to descriptive details. The workshop stimulated students to explore their creative potential by discussing short films and paintings, as well as by critiquing each other's creative pieces in a supportive and welcoming atmosphere. Students found assignments such as detailed description of paintings, and visiting and describing new places on their own particularly interesting.
On the final day of the workshop, students read their final drafts of poetry, short stories, and creative essays to their classmates, who responded back with written critiques. According to Mohamad: "When the students started to focus their attention on the creative task, sudden joy transpired in the workshop. They started to understand that creative writing is an enjoyable hard work."
Upon completing the workshop, participants received certificates of completion, and Ms. Ghaidaa Mohamad received an appreciatory certificate from Poet Karim Radhi of the Majaaz Group for conducting the workshop.
Majaaz Cultural Group was founded by a group of Bahraini poets, theatre directors, and intellectuals. They hold ongoing cultural activities such as poetry evenings, scenario-writing workshops, and book review nights, in addition to owning bookstore (@majazculture).
Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 23rd October 2013
Photo courtesy: Majaz Culture Group
Ms. Ghaidaa Mohamad, Instructor of Arabic at the Department of Arabic and Foreign Languages, conducted a 3-day workshop on creative writing at Iris Media headquarters in Selmabad, Bahrain. The workshop was entitled: Gates to the Soul: Mechanics of Creative Writing, and was hosted by the Bahraini Majaaz Cultural Group, and sponsored by Iris Media, Bahrain.
During the workshop, students were introduced to the subject of creative writing through exercises that emphasized new ways of thinking, and paying attention to descriptive details. The workshop stimulated students to explore their creative potential by discussing short films and paintings, as well as by critiquing each other's creative pieces in a supportive and welcoming atmosphere. Students found assignments such as detailed description of paintings, and visiting and describing new places on their own particularly interesting.
On the final day of the workshop, students read their final drafts of poetry, short stories, and creative essays to their classmates, who responded back with written critiques. According to Mohamad: "When the students started to focus their attention on the creative task, sudden joy transpired in the workshop. They started to understand that creative writing is an enjoyable hard work."
Upon completing the workshop, participants received certificates of completion, and Ms. Ghaidaa Mohamad received an appreciatory certificate from Poet Karim Radhi of the Majaaz Group for conducting the workshop.
Majaaz Cultural Group was founded by a group of Bahraini poets, theatre directors, and intellectuals. They hold ongoing cultural activities such as poetry evenings, scenario-writing workshops, and book review nights, in addition to owning bookstore (@majazculture).
Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 23rd October 2013
Photo courtesy: Majaz Culture Group
The growing collaboration between The American University in Kuwait and the Mubarak Al-Abdullah Command and Staff College (MAJCSC) in the area of non-military academic courses and lectures was sealed recently with an agreement allowing the military students' access to the AUK Library for the provision of information resources to 130 students and staff working on their research papers. The agreement provides MAJCSC with access to the AUK Library's extensive print and electronic resources, which include borrowing privileges and access to full-text scholarly e-content via the library's on-line databases.
This initiative was instigated by MAJCSC Directing Staff, Colonel Stephen Kilpatrick, Wing Commander Mark Presley, LT. Col Abdullah Al-Dosari, LT. Col Jassem Nasrallah. The initiative received the support and approval of Brigadier Abdullah Dashti, who endorsed the idea of extending MAJCSC students' access to a wider array of information resources. Proposing this initiative to the Interim President of AUK, Dr. Nizar Hamzeh, he wholly supported it and worked with the AUK Library Director, Ms. Asma Al-Kanan, to translate the initiative into actual collaboration between the AUK Library and the MAJCSC. Following the signing of the agreement, the College students and staff visited the AUK Library for an orientation session and a chance to explore the facilities and to talk to the Library personnel.
The collaboration between the AUK Library and MAJCSC comes as part of AUK's policy to reach out the wider Kuwaiti community and support the national interest. The new agreement will enable MAJCSC students to access world-class academic publications needed for their research in the area of defense and security. Both AUK and Mubarak Al-Abdullah Command and Staff College look forward to extending and deepening their growing collaboration.
Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 9th October 2013
Photography by the Office of Public Affairs (C) 2013
Since their launch in December, 2012, TESOL Kuwait, the local association of teachers of English to speakers of other languages, has become very popular, with approximately 500 members. On Saturday, October 5, 2013, they held another highly successful open meeting, this time at the American University of Kuwait (AUK).
Educators had the chance to participate in a free event called "Network Connecting: Common Challenges and Sharing Successes." The many teachers who attended this session had the chance to find out how professional development can be more than just workshops and presentations. The purpose of this 'Job-Alike' session was to provide an opportunity for teachers and administrators with similar job responsibilities to join together in a facilitated, highly interactive way. Participants in similar jobs gained the chance to network and develop connections with other professionals focusing on common challenges and successes.
TESOL Kuwait has a number of special interest groups, and one of them is unique in that it is the first in the world to combine the goals of TESOL and the international association for public speaking, leadership, and communication: Toastmasters. At the Saturday event, TESOL Toastmasters hosted an organizational meeting of Toastmasters. Distinguished Toastmasters provided highly entertaining demonstration speeches, and teachers had the opportunity to improve their public speaking skills.
Members who attended TESOL Kuwait's open meeting at AUK included educators of all academic levels ranging from pre-school teachers to university instructors. TESOL President, Yvonne Johnson, led the event with detailed information on their upcoming conference, which promises to be an event not to be missed! International key note speakers are flying in from the USA, and other experienced TESOL specialists will be offering workshops, presentations, and poster sessions at the Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST) over a two day period from November 15 - 16, 2013. There is also a pre-conference at Australian College of Kuwait on 14 November, as well as a conference dinner with the keynote speaker at the newly refurbished Radisson Blu Hotel (formerly the Radisson SAS) on November 15.
For further information about on how to become a TESOL Kuwait member or to attend their conference please go the following website: tesolkuwait.org.
Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 9th October 2013
Photography by the Office of Public Affairs (C) 2013
"This academic year is very unique for all of us because it marks the 10th Anniversary of the American University of Kuwait. On this day, we would like to renew our commitment to academic excellence in teaching, research and service," said Dr. Nizar Hamzeh, Interim President of AUK, speaking to a crowd of 400 students at the AUK Convocation Ceremony for the incoming Class of 2017.
Organized by the Division of Student Affairs, the annual Convocation Ceremony serves as a ceremonial rite of passage for new undergraduate students entering the AUK Community.
The ceremony introduces new students to key components and symbols representative of AUK including the AUK Motto "Learn...Think...Become...", as well as, the AUK Seal, Logo, Mascot, and Colors.
AUK embraces a profound belief in life-long learning, which Dr. Rawda Awwad, Interim Dean of the College Arts and Sciences, described as "an honest, self-reflective, and humble endeavor that should be motivated by a passion for knowledge and the desire to pursue that passion." As she addressed the students, Dr. Awwad recalled the story of Wally Taibleson, a 90 year old graduate of California State University San Marcos, who became the icon of life-long learning.
Dr. John Russell, Interim Dean of the College of Business & Economics, spoke to the incoming class about thinking, another higher order value of AUK, which he analogized to "an electric spark or key that unlocks the potential in knowledge."
Become - the last word of the motto and the end goal of AUK - was what Dr. Carol Ross-Scott, VP for Student Affairs, urged the students to achieve. "To BECOME, you must act on the opportunities and possibilities," she said "Your college education is an opportunity to BECOME someone better...For the past decade, AUK students have been on a journey of excellence and this year we celebrate a decade of accomplishments. It is now your turn to BECOME a part of the journey."
As a tradition of the ceremony, AUK faculty representatives, Athmar Al Salem , Neamat Mosaad , Craig Loomis , Mohsen Bagnied, Shoma Munshi, and Chris Ohan, along with the undergraduate and alumni representatives Maryam al-Faudari and Haya Al-Qassar, respectively, took turns in explaining the connotations of the AUK icons and symbols.
The AUK Seal, the most significant symbol of the University, was described in detail reviewing all four major components of the Circle of Life including the Book-which represents liberal arts and dedication to knowledge; Dhow-historical Kuwait's aspiration, exploration and tradition; Falcon-representing vision, courage and leadership; and the Torch of Wisdom that represents the freedom to purse the big questions of life.
Concluding the event, the Deans and the VP of Student Affairs ignited the flames of knowledge and wisdom, as a symbol of their significant partnership and commitment to the success of students. Candles were lit along the aisles of the celebration hall marking the transfer of knowledge to the next AUK generation.
The Convocation Ceremony is the pinnacle event for the Annual Orientation and Welcome Week festivities for incoming students. During this week, many events were organized to welcome all students to campus including the Welcome Back Barbeque and Get Involved Fair. In addition, specific events were held to help First Year students get familiar with their surroundings. The Convocation ceremony in particular, is designed to promote community unity and help students in their transition to University life at AUK.
Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 8th October 2013
Photography by the Office of Public Affairs (C) 2013
The American University of Kuwait (AUK), in collaboration with Marymount University (MU), has created an opportunity for AUK students to participate in a semester-long study abroad program in the United States. Set to begin in the Spring 2014 semester, the program aims to help students to cope successfully with the globalization, migration, increasing economic interdependence, communication, and travel that are increasingly bringing cultures into ever closer contact with one another.
MU is a small private institution of higher learning located just outside Washington, D.C. in Arlington, Virginia. AUK students who have completed at least 30 credit hours with a minimum GPA of 2.7 have the opportunity to go for a semester abroad at Marymount. In consultation with their AUK advisors, they will be able to take 12-15 credit hours (4-5 classes) in a variety of disciplines.
AUK students will benefit from Marymount's reputation for having smaller classes, where instructors are able to provide personalized attention. MU students come from across the United States and around the world, representing a broad array of cultural, ethnic, and religious backgrounds. More than 300 international students, representing 67 countries make up an integral part of Marymount. This diversity offers the campus community opportunities to learn about the richness of different cultures around the world.
AUK endeavors to produce well-rounded global citizens who possess the skills to function and communicate in diverse regions of the world, thus becoming ambassadors of Kuwait.
Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 2nd October 2013
Dr. Mohsen Bagnied, Chair of the Department of Marketing and Management, College of Business and Economics, presented his latest research contribution in the 2013 Inaugural International Conference on Leadership, Management and Strategic Development. The conference was organized by the Global Institute for Leadership and Management Development on May 13-15 at the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) in Saint Thomas. In his paper, "Economic Implications of the Arab Spring: A Framework for Future Development", Dr. Bagnied and Dr Mark Speece (the co-author of the paper) proposed a framework which can guide policy in the Arab Spring countries toward sustainable development and economic reform. The paper touches briefly on the implications of the proposed model in Egypt, considered by the authors to be the most important Arab Spring country because of its traditional leading role in the Arab world.
The conference was followed by UVI's 18th Global Leadership Development Course, which included presentations by Scholars from different parts of the world. Representing Kuwait, Dr. Bagnied gave a talk on global leadership as it concerns U.S. involvement in world affairs. Dr. Bagnied stressed the importance of genuine involvement in human sufferings from a global perspective. "We need to fight for peace everywhere not just here," he said "We need to fight for people in Burma and Syria or the same things that are happening there will come here." When asked about the way to establish global awareness among American youth, Dr. Bagnied pointed to education as the gateway to establishing "dynamic leadership among communities."
Alongside his scholarly contribution, Dr. Bagnied chaired 3 conference sessions on different topics related to leadership development. He was also featured in a morning radio show in Virgin Island, where he discussed his research, and talked about life in Kuwait. "I was proud to follow the reactions on my radio interview and find that some followers have actually expressed interest in visiting Kuwait," said Dr. Bagnied.
Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 1st October 2013
Photography by the Office of Public Affairs (C) 2013
Humanitarian Affairs, a UK based organization that aims to initiate and support humanitarian relief efforts in countries that are poverty-stricken and disaster-prone, held the 4th annual University Scholars Leadership Symposium in August 2013, in Manila - the Philippines, where youth leaders from over 45 countries around the world met at the Philippines International Convention Center (PICC). The American University of Kuwait (AUK) was the only university from the GCC to be present.
To represent AUK and Kuwait, 6 students were selected based on their commitment, involvement, and dedication to community service, through which each displayed leadership characteristics. The Office of Student Life received the invitation due to the success of its volunteer program "Refuse to Be Ordinary", which is a program established in October 2011, to provide AUK students with information and opportunities to be significant contributors to the Kuwaiti community through service. Two AUK chaperones joined the 6 students to form the AUK delegation:
- Fahad Al Khashti
- Fadwa Al Ajeel
- Fajer Ben Nasser
- Shereen Al Bloushi
- Abdulrahman Chowdhury
- Nour Jaber
- Laveena Lobo (Chaperone)
- Abdulwahab Al Khaldi (Chaperone)
The purpose of the symposium is to gather students from all around the world with the aim to train them to become leaders in their own communities through own humanitarian initiatives, to exchange personal experiences, and to recognize the importance of leading sustainable, humanitarian projects.
During the symposium, the participants also had the opportunity of listening to some key humanitarian and motivational speakers. The speakers have dedicated their lives to help others and shared their own personal experiences with the audience.
The AUK delegates were assigned to construction work in the impoverished area of Bistekville Payatas, in the outskirts of Quezon City, where they helped build housing for local teachers. The experience exposed them to what it is like to live harsh conditions, and they witnessed first-hand how the people came together to make their community a happier and healthier place to live in.
At the closing ceremony, AUK's Fadwa Al Ajeel, a Junior majoring in Finance, and Shereen Al Bloushi were selected to participate in the final segment. Al Ajeel acted as a host in presenting the final speeches while Al Bloushi was asked to speak about her week-long experience in Manila.
Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 1st October 2013
Photography by the Office of Public Affairs (C) 2013
